Metal Frame Spacer Options Inquiry

[Musashi]

Hi all,

I've been using the metal 9 frame for a deep spacers that you nail onto the woodenware. I've seen the tool though that you can buy now that you just manually space the frames so there is no need to have a perm metal piece there to guide the frames.

Anyone have any opinion over one or the other? I like the perm guide personally but I live in Florida and SHB's are mega problem. I'm thinking losing thoe metal bracket in the hive would reduce hiding areas for the durn beetles, but I'm worried bee space might get broken if I just space them manually with that tool.

Any feedback would be appreciated!
Musashi

[tecumseh]

musashi writes:
I'm thinking losing thoe metal bracket in the hive would reduce hiding areas for the durn beetles, but I'm worried bee space might get broken if I just space them manually with that tool.

tecumseh:
you are correct. at least by my casual observation I have limited problem with the wood rest lot of problems with the metal self spacing rest.

as far as an acceptable replacement for the hive spacer I use my fingers. grip the top bar with your index fingers and your thumb, each hand about an inch from the end bar. the width of your finger (plus gloves) give me (I do have skinny fingers) about the right spacing. also after a bit of practice you can pretty much set the frame by eye using you hive tool.

[alpha6]

Eyeball it...you don't need a tool. After awhile you will be right on and the bees won't sue you if your off a little.

[Michael Palmer]

I hate those nail in frame spacers. Always bustin' my knuckles on them. I bought hundreds of hive bodies with them installed, and finally got ...... enough to rip them all out. I now use a Maxant frame spacer. Quick and accurate.

[Fuzzy]

Again, if it is cheaper to build one than buy one, then I build it.

Actually, take one of the 9 frame spacers and nail it to a board of the right length. Put nine frames into the hive and put the spacer bar on top to space them properly. It would be better if it were pointy but not $12-$15 better. Of course you can always build a pointy one out of scrap plywood. You need something to do anyway.

Fuzzy

[Musashi]

Dang it people. I just ordered more of those frame spaces but after the advice on here and some hard thinking, I wish I had purchased the manual spacer tool arrggh..It's not the 15 bucks that I hate parting with, it's the delivery charge for ANOTHER order.

Thank goodness for Brushy Mountain though, that free shipping deal has saved me a ton!

Thanks again for the feedback folks! I appreciate it!