A different super construction method?

[Barry Tolson]

I've seen some pictures of supers from outside the US that are different looking from what I am used to seeing, ie no hand hold dado's, 2 opposing sides smooth...the other two opposing sides seem to have a cleat on top and bottom with these sides inset by the thickness of those cleats. Through my research,so far, I've found no information on these, yet they seem fairly common in Canada and the UK. Anyone have any thoughts?

[justin]

with normal tools a person can build their own woodenware, all except for that dado. it's the diy answer. glue and drywall screws i believe.

[Hambone]

When I have to make a super or 5 that kinda how I make them. I use a cleat as a handle on 2 sides w/ 2 sides smooth, but I put the cleat about center. Got a pic you can link?

Sounds like it might be made to stack for commercial use.

[Michael Bush]

The DE hives were the same. I think it's from the British Standard design. Basically the "cleats" make the handles and provide some strength and the frame rest, which is 3/4" instead of 3/8". It doesn't require a Dado blade nor even cutting a rabbet to build it and it has a firm grip with a 3/4" cleat instead of a 3/8" deep hand hold..

[BEES4U]

I did a search, here on Beesource.com, for you:

The British National Hive.
There is a major difference!
Here is the answer with a little help from my web search:
http://www.scottishbeekeepers.org.uk...nal%20hive.pdf

18 & 1/8" X 18 & 1/8" X 8 & 7/8"

Regards,
Ernie Lucas Apiaries

[BWrangler]

Hi Guys,

The link above didn't work for me. Try this one:

http://www.scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/learning/documents/number%204%20national%20hive.pdf

It's a neat idea. And with the right tweaking could make a hive very easy and simple to build. I think my vertical tbh design is going to get reworked.

Regards
Dennis

[Barry Tolson]

Mr. Bush's constuction description sounds like what I have seen. If memory serves, these hives are seen in the queen rearing video from Bee Works.

[Barry Tolson]

Just looked at the link. The drawing for the brood chamber looks like the construction method about which I am asking. Interesting. It would be easy to build like this in Langstroth dimensions, I would think.

[Barry Tolson]

After searching Google Images it seems that this construction method is fairly typical of the British Nat'l Hive. This picture shows a breakdown of the parts:
http://www.eastridinghoney.co.uk/Flatpack.jpg
I would think that even without the single box joints, it could be glued and nailed to make a sturdy box.

[Michael Bush]

The only problem with building a Langstroth hive this way is this method leaves a 3/4" frame rest where a Langstroth has a 3/8" frame rest. So either you top bars have to be 3/4" longer or your end bars have to be set in 3/8" more from each end or you have to modify the technique to take up more space somehow, or add a 3/8" nail to the end bars of the langstroth frames... etc.

[Barry Tolson]

Perhaps cutting and attaching a filler strip of the appropirate size could take up the extra space. I'll put this on my to-do list later when the now is flying.