Frame info for those moving to medium hives

[tillie]

I have in my basement 100 shallow frames, unbuilt, for honey supers.  As I move to all medium boxes, I wondered if I could take the top and bottom bars of the frames and substitute end bars for medium boxes instead of the end bars for shallows that I have now.

FWIW, Walter Kelley carries what they call "frame repair parts" and I can order 100 end bars for medium boxes without having to order all new frames -

Thought you all would like to know.

Linda T in Atlanta

[pttom]

Brushy Mountain also sells just the medium end bars.

[Wes Sapp]

So does Rossman 22 cents each.

[tillie]

WTKelley is 100 for $12.00

Rossman:  100 for $22.00

Brushy Mtn:  100 for $20.05

My math is terrible so I may not have it right.....
Others may also sell them - the relief for me is knowing that you CAN buy them separately!

Linda T in Atlanta

[doak]

Don't panic, if you have 100 frames you will need 200 ends.
doak

[Michael Bush]

They will fit better if you get the end bars from the same manufacturer, but most can be made to fit.  Kelley's has a double box joint on the bottom and ends.  The rest seem reasonably interchangeable.  Yes, all the frame manufacturers only make one top and bottom and the difference between a shallow and a medium is just the end bars.

[tillie]

Thanks, Doak - see what I mean about math!   

Actually I only have 50 frames, so maybe counting is my problem as well as math!  I'd like to order the end bars from the same manufacturer but I bought them from Dadant who doesn't appear from their website to sell the end bars separately.

Not only do I have those in my basement but I also have a set of 10 deep frames that I won as a Bee meeting door prize and thought I'd never use - but now I can at least use the top and bottom bars. 

Linda T in Atlanta

[Michael Bush]

Try calling Dadant and I'll bet they will sell them.  If not, try Mann Lake.  Theirs seem to be built the same as Dadant's and Brushy Mt.'s.  I like Kelley's, but they will be built differently.  Western Bee Supply's should fit, as they make all of Dadant's equipment (because they are owned by Dadant).

[tillie]

FWIW,

I didn't understand the pricing on Brushy Mountain - they sell 10 end bars for $2.05 - enough to do 5 frames.  So you could outfit a 10 frame box for $4.10 or an 8 frame for $4.10 and have 4 end bars left over for the next box.....by far the best deal, but their site still announces at least a 2 week delay on shipping....not that I am in a hurry at the moment but someone may be.

Linda T in Atlanta

[pttom]

Tillie, My web site says 2 days.

[tillie]

Two days is much better than two weeks - when my small swarm arrived and I wanted medium boxes, it said two weeks, so they must have caught up!  Hooray..

Linda T in Atlanta