Medium Frame Plans

[bassman1977]

Does anyone have plans for building medium frames?

[bassman1977]

Nevermind.  I found this on a Mr. Bush post (after 2 hours of searching).  Thanks.

http://www.beesource.com/plans/dadantfr.pdf

[super dave]

i built 40 frames once -- then i found out how cheap they are and how much time it took to build those things with set up and all -- that was the end of that-- and i love to work with wood

[bassman1977]

i built 40 frames once -- then i found out how cheap they are and how much time it took to build those things with set up and all -- that was the end of that-- and i love to work with wood

Yeah, after studying the plans it seemed to me that they were more trouble than what they are worth, so I am not going to bother.  Still...I am in need of over 850 frames and at 55 cents a pop (not including shipping) that's a lot.  I am still making out though since I am building my own boxes at least.  I figure to save a heap being able to make 2 1/2 medium boxes at 5 bucks a pop.  It took me about 20 minutes to make one.  I'm not complaining.   

On another note, I made the 1 1/4 inch top bars for my Kenyan Top Bar Hive.  I am going off of Mr. Bush's design from his website.  The only thing I am doing differently is, instead of using the triangles, I am cutting slots in the center of the bar in order to attach starter strips to it like that.  They came out real nice.  I have to pick up some more lumber in a week or two and to finish these projects.

[super dave]

wow     850-- i wonder how long that would take 

[bassman1977]

wow     850-- i wonder how long that would take

Good question.  Just assembling the frames will take a good while, let alone if I actually decided to make them from scratch, on top of it.

[Michael Bush]

If I were making them from scratch, I'd make the top bars 1/8" skinnier and the end bars 1/8" skinnier.  You get correct spacing and 11 frames in a ten frame box...

[bassman1977]

If I were making them from scratch, I'd make the top bars 1/8" skinnier and the end bars 1/8" skinnier.  You get correct spacing and 11 frames in a ten frame box...

I definately agree with that.  I also considered making the boxes a little bit thinner so the 11 frames weren't so tight.  The outside dimentions would remain the same.  Ever consider anything like that?

[Michael Bush]

>Ever consider anything like that?

I need all the insulation I can get.  I have considered making them out of two bys to make them thicker...

[beesbeesbees]

To this point I have made maybe two dozen hive boxes and the frames to fill them.  I have a hard time imagining making 850 frames at once.  It gets monotonous cutting out 50 at a time.  The top and bottom bar machining is pretty straightforward but it would take me several evenings.  It's the 1700 side parts that would drive me bananas.  After you rip the 850 pieces of lumber, bevel one side 1700 times and make jigs to cut 3400 slots top and bottom you will stand at your router table for another week cutting the material off the sides 3400 times.

I don't know that they are more trouble than they are worth but at that scale I might rather spend the $558 to buy 900 frames.  However, if I am short by only a couple of boxes and have a weekend to spare I'll be making sawdust in the garage.  Plus, as Mr. Bush says, it allows opportunity for experimentation and possibly improvement.

...boxes out of 2x lumber?  Maybe for an overwintered nuc.  I happen to have a few boards of southern yellow pine laying around...