Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[BBC]

I had planned on making Delon-style wire frames for my 14x12 Long Hive - but discovered that the bees I have are not at all troubled by the presence of wire, and that they had simply built their combs in my Russian 'Alpine' hives from wall to wall, incorporating the wires in the process - and so I see very little point in using wire frames anymore - other than as one method of supporting combs.

Some people fit skewers or thin dowel rods to their Top Bars in order to support comb - and so I thought it logical to install similar supports, but at the sides of the comb and thus benefit from the non-attachment to the hive walls that this provides. Hence - the 'Framed Top-Bar'.

However, there's still a need to support combs during the building phase, and I did consider incorporating a catenary-shaped wire, thusly:



But finally settled on the proven method of using a few strands of nylon fishing line instead:



Hardly an Earth-shattering innovation - but I'm posting this just in case it's of interest to anyone who may be thinking along similar lines ...

Colin
BBC
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Bees build Brace Comb for a reason, not just to be bloody-minded.

[biobee]

That is called a 'frame'.

The whole point of top bar hives is that you don't need to use frames...

[BBC]

[Adam Rose]

Adam : "It's a princess".

Colin : "No, Adam, it's a dog".

Adam : "It's a dog-princess hybrid".

[Barbara]

Adam, if that is a picture of your dog princess you have gone right down in my estimation. You have a good point though.... is there really a need for a dog princess?

Colin, I understand the potential need for support in a Tanzanian TBH or your Russian Alpine hives in this case, as there will be more weight in the comb for the same surface adhesion than a Kenyan.... I just don't really understand the need for wires if you are putting a frame around it.... I have never entirely understood why some foundation is wired. It always seemed to be more of a nuisance than an advantage.

I think the problems you were having with attachment with the Delon style frame may have been because it is difficult to maintain an exact bee space between it and the hive wall with a wire frame. You may experience the same problem with your wooden frames or worse still they may propolise the gap between frame and hive wall.
I do feel that making frames and even more so with wiring them is over complicating a Top Bar Hive for no obvious reason/benefit.... I can't remember why you preferred to go with a rectangular profile TB hive in the first place, which is why I don't understand your motivation for frames and wiring support I suppose. Can you remind me, so I can understand where you are going with this?

[BBC]

Barbara - I've sent you a PM - Colin
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Bees build Brace Comb for a reason, not just to be bloody-minded.