| Pictures of the double brood chamber. It is
the size of two Lanstroth deep boxes put side by side. It holds
22 frames or less top bars because my top bars are just ripped
from two bys. The top bar is turned sideways on one of these
so you can see the starter strip. The strip is waxed into a cut
down the middle. The cut is no longer than standard foundation
is wide. You don't want the wax to go to the end of the bars
or the bees will connect it. You can cut the bars down to 1 3/8"
if you like and they will build the combs more consistent width,
but at 1-1/2" they will fill them out a bit more and I don't
have to cut them again. (I am lazy) There is a picture here of
a frame with starter strip. I like the starter strips for these
reasons: They are cheap. They are "cleaner" than foundation
because most of the comb is built by my bees and not from wax
from hives that have been chemically treated. Most of all I like
to be able to see the cluster on the combs as the hive is being
established. This box is standard width and depth for deep Lanstroth
frames. |
