Taper on Side Bars

[ApisFlorea]

Could someone please enlighten a newbee about the main reason(s) for having a taper at the bottom of end bars?  Thanks!

[divemaster1963]

Two reasons that I know of.

One. Keeps bees from gluing frames together the full length of frame making almost impossible to seperate frames.

Two. Allow  bee space for bees to navigate around frames


John

[Michael Bush]

The part at the top keeps them from swinging too much when moving them.  The opening towards the bottom is to allow the bees to go around the ends when going from comb to comb.  This probably doesn't matter at all other than in winter when a cluster contracts in a cold snap.

[little john]

Could someone please enlighten a newbee about the main reason(s) for having a taper at the bottom of end bars?  Thanks!

What you are seeing as 'a taper' is actually the spacing between the side-bars which used to run from top to bottom.  This spacing prevents the bees from gluing the side-bars of adjacent frames together.

But how is such a spacing to be established and maintained ?  This used to be achieved by the use of staples or similar to separate the frames ... until ... enter stage left a guy named Julius Hoffman, an American of German descent.  This guy invented the double-width side-bar which is so common today (frames incorporating which are called 'Hoffman Frames'), with the wider top part of the side-bar establishing a precise spacing between frames - well, that is, until the mating surfaces are given their obligatory coating of propolis ...

LJ

[ApisFlorea]

Much appreciated!  Thanks all for helping.

[Acebird]

a taper at the bottom of end bars?  Thanks!

I was going to ask, What taper?  But if you are talking about the side bar I like Michael's answer.