Made my first Frames, (from kits). I was tasked with making brood frames for a national super.
1. Cut the spare from the top with a sharp knife.
2. Hammer the sides into the top. Make sure that the top lugs of the sides are flush with the
top so that it is easier to take off the propolis with a hive tool at a later date.
3. Lay the frame on its side and drive one small nail vertically down through
the sides and into the top to lock them to the top.
4. Put in one of the bottom spars, (above the thicker part of the top.)
5. Turn the frame so that it stands on its top and drive one nail
vertically down into each end of the new bottom piece.
6. Take the foundation and if it is wired, bend the loops at right-angles to the foundation.
Slide the foundation into the frame so that the loops face out and touching the top. The loops
will be sandwitched betwen the top piece and the piece removed in the first stage.
7. Using three small nails tack the long piece that was cut from the top back into its original position.
The nails go diagonally down into the top piece from the side of the last piece. I used the Dyer method
so the three nails are placed just next to the loops so that frame recyceling is easier.
NTS: Some bee-keeping tests demand that you put the nails through the loops for strength. Some keepers use a dab of wood-glue to hold the sides to the top. The nails are put into the ends of the bottom and NOT horizontal, as with the sides so that the bottom can be removed more easily for rebuilding.
NTS: The spaces inside of the hive are VERY exact. Where they are not a bee-space the bees will probably fill the space with propolis.
A bee-space is between 5 and 9mm
NTS: Buy a Pin Pusher Tool like this one:
The tacks drop inside the tube and then you simply push them in rather than using a hammer.
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