Making a queen cell bar frame, medium depth

[twb]

I plan to make a dozen or so queens this season and I am transitioning to all mediums.  Should I add a cell bar about half way down a medium frame or would it be fine to simply attach the queen cells to the underside of the top bar?  And, should I graft twice as many as I want in case they don't all "take"?

[Brian D. Bray]

I plan to make a dozen or so queens this season and I am transitioning to all mediums.  Should I add a cell bar about half way down a medium frame or would it be fine to simply attach the queen cells to the underside of the top bar?  And, should I graft twice as many as I want in case they don't all "take"?

Yes to all questions.  If you haven't grafted before I'd only expect maybe and 25% success rate, unless you're one of those that bathe in dumb luck.

[justgojumpit]

I made a frame with a bar halfway down, then put cell cups on the underside of the top bar and the mid-way bar.  That was in a deep though.  I think it would work fine in a medium too.  Just need to check on the length of the queen cells and make sure that leaves enough room!

You may also want to look into the hopkins method... I'll be using that next year because it just seems so simple and effective!

justgojumpit

[jsmob]

 I am going to be raising queens this year for the first time. I have been told to start at least twice as many queens as you need. Also I have been told that using the Jenter Queen System will increase your chances. No grafting, just moving plugs.

[Michael Bush]

I make a double row.  One at the top and one that splits the space for the cells top and bottom. I only have a picture of the Jenter version but I also have these for standard cell cups: http://www.bushfarms.com/images/MissedQueenCell.JPG

[twb]

Thanks all.  I will make one before the day is over(hopefully).