HSC measurements

[IndianaHoney]

I recently purchased some HSC frames to try my hand at small cell. I measured the HSC expecting to see an average of 4.9mm across 10 cells, but instead I found that ten cells measures an average of 5.4mm. I assumed that this was because the walls of the cells are thicker, however, when I measure the Mann Lake PF-120, they average 4.9mm, and the walls of the cells appear to be about the same size. Any thoughts on this?

[drobbins]

the PF-120's have no cell wall, the bees will build them much thinner than in the HSC. if you use calipers to measure HSC the inside of the cell is roughly equivalent to 4.9 mm foundation

Dave

[IndianaHoney]

Thank you for the answer Dave. Agreed on the PF-120s and cell walls, I was actually speaking of the base, or outline of the cell bottom. I see your point about them drawing out the PF-120s, guess the wax would be much thinner than the HSC plastic walls. I thought someone had said something about the base in the HSC being larger than the SC drawn comb, but that its really the cell volume that makes the difference. Either way, my goal is simply fast regression with the HSC. It will be replaced with wooden frames after all the large cell bees die off.

[WayneW]

I could be wrong (and in all likelyhood i am :shhhh:) but, i thought that 4.9mm cell size (or at least aporx) was acheived with HSC by dipping it in wax. :scratch:

[drobbins]

no, it's Permacomb people dip in wax to get 4.9
HSC is 4.9 out of the box
check out their website

http://www.honeysupercell.com/

my bees don't much like the plastic combs

Dave

[Michael Bush]

When you have an embossed foundation and the bees build the walls, the walls are .1mm thick. In this case measuring across ten cells is appropriate. When you have fully drawn plastic comb, the cell walls are much thicker. In which case, you care about the diameter of the cell wall plus .1mm. Except the cells on honey super cell are tapered, so actually the inside diameter of the cell is about what the average cell size would be including a .1mm cell wall.

In other words, the inside diameter of Honey Super Cell is pretty close (I don't have one handy nor a caliper handy right now) to 4.85 at the top and 4.75 or slightly smaller at the bottom. This is an average of about 4.8mm. If you add .1mm that would have been included when measuring across ten cells made by bees, you get about 4.9mm.

[jdpro5010]

MB, when talking in general about cell size such as 4.9mm, is this given as O.D.? I think that is how I understand what I read.

[Michael Bush]

The field method of measuring cell size included the cell walls. Basically only one per cell. This is neither inside nor outside. This is useful since the bees are consistent about the thickness of the walls. This is not useful when measuring comb with plastic walls that are thicker. But measuring the inside diameter (from flat to flat, not point to point) and adding .1mm for the natural thickness will give you the correct measurement, if it weren't for the taper of the cell. That removes about another .05mm from the estimate as the bottom is about .1mm smaller in diameter.

[jdpro5010]

Thank You for cleearing that up for me.