Q on 8 frame boxes & "Natural" size cell foundation

[The Whale]

I would like to try the 8 frame set up for a new hive this year. I noticed that all the 8-frame boxes I have seen in various catalogs have only ribbetted corners, not dove-tailed.

Is a dove-tailed box better or does it really matter?

Secondly, where would I buy the "natural" cell (4.9) size foundation? I haven't noticed the catalogs giving any cell dimensions for their foundations so I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

Michael's use of a more natural control for varoa mites sounds really interesting and I'd like to try it with our new hive.

Thanks, y'all for all your great information! YOu've been a tremendous help to us during our first year as new beekeepers.

Linda in Nashville

[Kev]

Secondly, where would I buy the "natural" cell (4.9) size foundation? I haven't noticed the catalogs giving any cell dimensions for their foundations so I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

You can get it from betterbee. It's in their 2006 catalog.

Kev

[Michael Bush]

You can get eight frame finger jointed from Miller:
http://www.millerbeesupply.com/

I think they all work fine.  A rabbeted joint has less exposed end grain.  A finger joint has a better way to nail from two directions.

[Devbee]

Howdy friends!

I ordered a hive of bees a month ago to be picked up by me April 7th, and since then I have been trying to figure out what I need to buy in order to be ready for them.

After reading many, many posts, I want to go with the 8-frame, medium supers and small-cell foundation, but when I went to betterbee as directed to above, I could only find small-cell foundation for deep frames. 

Does anyone know where I can find small-cell foundation for medium frames?  (I plan to buy my equipment from Brushy Mt. by the way).

Thanks!
Devin

[ndvan]

Dadant currently sells it, according to their webpage.  I talked with Brushy Mt. last week, and the lady said they probably will have it in their 2007 catalog, which comes out in February.  I suggest calling Brushy Mt. to see if they have made a final decision, and also to indicate that there will be demand for the product.  I will probably order from them too, if they add it.  Also, there is a person in Georgia (Don Kuchenmeister) who run Dixie Bee Supply, and he makes and sells medium foundation, or I guess whatever size you want it.  However, it is unwired.

[Devbee]

Thanks for the advice.  I just emailed Brushy Mtn. and requested small-cell foundation in medium size.

[Michael Bush]

>Does anyone know where I can find small-cell foundation for medium frames?

http://www.dadant.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?osCsid=48a803b7d9c6ce9a500c4888cafcf481&search_in_description=1&keywords=small+cell&osCsid=48a803b7d9c6ce9a500c4888cafcf481&x=0&y=0