Hive Types

[olhillbilly]

There used to be only one type you could get from the Monkey Wards farm catalog. It was a ten frame hive. Now I read bout all kinds of hives. 10 frame, 8 frame, Langstroth, Top bar, Kenyan Top Bar. Where does it end.

What stuff I have is the old ten frame. Mite even came from Monkey Ward, um or Sears, cant remember. I am kinda liking the idea of the 8 frame bein lighter for us humans. Not that I would suspect the bees would care much, long as they have a place to live. I'm lookin for free plans to build 8 framers. I'll find some.

So I been lookin at pictures of Top Bars. This is a new fangled thing. Least to me it is. I think since Kenya has it, it must of been around for a while. I'm still somewhat, um no, mostly confused about them yet. Some pics show a super on the bottom of em, some show supers on the top. The Kenya style, I dont see how or where you would put one. And most have a long door on the side. Is that just for checkin things out? If I get this right, Top Bars are just slats of sort are laid across the top and the bees build downwards making the comb to fit the box without a frame?

So, I do hava a question and think I seen it mentioned somewhere in reading. And maybe you mentioned it before. Can ya just use this Top Bar hangy down system with a standard 8 or 10 frame box?

[olhillbilly]

Found some plans.

www.woodworkersworkshop.com/resources/index.php?cat=402

[beenatural101]

HB, "langstroth" refers to the hive design by Lorenzo Langstroth. See, removable frames were bein used at the time(late 1700's i think, but don't quote me on dates), he figured out the bee space 1/4 to 3/8 inch between the combs and designed his hive around it. All modern box hives 8 frame 10 frame ,deep, med or shallow, all are langstroths. I like the med depth 8 framers, and all my stuff is the same size. Also with more "room" in smaller increments I can add or take boxes away as needed. If you give the bees too much room here the hive beetles will give ya problems, not to mention the wax moths. Plus they do tend to be lighter when full.
Now the top bar hive was designed by some scientist type for use in poor countries, simple, and rater non-invasive way of checkin the bees. Upside all natural comb, but you can do that in a langstroth frame, just use 3/4 inch 45 molding or glue ya some popsicle sticks in there. Another upside a more natural trough type cavity for the bees to use. Have seen langtroth troughs 4 feet long while bee readin. Also a lot more wax harvest, and less honey. Gotta use a press, there is no "slingin" honey in an extractor off a top bar. The "Top Bar Hive" itself is new, but the concept goes back to greece and egypt. Lots o those basket type hives they had used top bars, also the hives built in pottery had them as well. .Archaeologists can tell alot from diggin stuff up.

[beenatural101]

I think the mediums are 6 5/8 deep, but can't lay hands ona tape measure lol!

[olhillbilly]

I think yer prolly right. I think Deeps and Meds are what I have. I may shy away from the Deeps an try yer style.

Gotta use a press, there is no "slingin" honey in an extractor off a top bar.

Another use for my wringer washer. ;D

Would installing that 45 molding on a standard frame work? Meaning, would they fill out the frame and keep it more inline? I have had (in the past) used no foundation and had combs cross over frames. Makes pullin a frame kinda awkward.

[beenatural101]

I bet got a link posted on the fb page, but the sharp edge will give em a good start, I recently just stuck a few frames in here and there after cutting the old wax out. checked em a week later and had straight comb, well pretty straight, stuck each one between brood like 2 brood 1 empty 2 brrod 1 empty. left the wax in the grooves an i was suprised they went so straight. any top bar or foundationless frame needs to have some kinda guide, mine was just the old wax in the groove top an botton, it worked, but I am sure it wont work all the time. newfangled beekeeping is less "benevolent neglect" than it once was and a lot more inspectin for disease, doin mite counts, dowda, and just paying attention. The link shows em cut that 3/4 x 45 mold in sticks to fit then glue and staple em it. got a guy on fb that is doin it, he started with a topbar.