9 frame spaces and deeper comb?

[hmeadq]

If I put in a 9 frame spacer will the bees draw out the comb deeper?

I ask because when I was doing honey this fall I noticed when the comb was drawn out even a little bit more it was SO much easier to uncap and the comb looked better when I was done.

[Michael Bush]

>If I put in a 9 frame spacer will the bees draw out the comb deeper?

In the supers, this is a great idea because they will draw it deeper. You can even put eight in. You don't have to buy the frame rests, you can buy a "comb" that will let you space them evenly or even make one yourself.

http://www.beeequipment.com/products.asp?pcode=660

or here's the spacer frame rest for eight frames in a ten frame box:

http://brushymountainbeefarm.com/products.asp?pcode=652

Or seven in an eight frame box:

http://brushymountainbeefarm.com/products.asp?pcode=656


Or just space them out by eye.

I ask because when I was doing honey this fall I noticed when the comb was drawn out even a little bit more it was SO much easier to uncap and the comb looked better when I was done.

It IS much easier to uncap.

With wax I can usually get away with 9 frames of foundation, but with plastic it usually works better to crowd ten frames toegether in the center until they are drawn comb, then, the next year you can space them out to eight or nine frames.

[hmeadq]

Will I get any of the "fins" of wax inbetween. When I first installed my bees I got one of these and I thought it was because I was unevenly spaced...

[Michael Bush]

You usually get those on bare foundation, not drawn comb, and more often on plastic than on wax and more often when they are spaced 8 than 9 or 9 than 10. That's why I usually crowd ten together in the center on bare foundation and space them 8 or 9 to a ten frame box when it's drawn comb.

But with real beeswax foundation, you can often get away with 9 frame spacing on bare foundation.