Bee space question for those who build their own

I have always built my own boxes, bottoms, and tops. Since the last time I built boxes, I've learned that because of SHB, frame rests are no longer being used. The plans that I've always used specify that there is a 1/8" allowance for frame rests built into the design. So now I am wondering if I should lessen the rabbet for the frames by that 1/8"? But if I do that, am I going to upset the bee space of the box design--will I have 1/8" too much space between my boxes?

How do folks handle this? Or is it even anything to worry about? Thanks for any and all input!

:scratch:

Rusty

I don't know. I am using a plan my mentor has used for many years. 3/8" from inside of the box, 5/8" down from the top. No frame rests in his design.

I do the same as jdmidwest.

Rabbet should be 5/8 deep. Top bar of frame is 3/8. You then have 1/4 between top of frames and top of super. This is just room for bees when you slide a super into position to not crush the bees. Make all supers the same.

Deep supers when fully dry should be 9 1/2. With a 9 1/8 deep frame, bee space of 3/8 is maintained between frames in one super to the next.

THANK YOU! Looks like I am good to go without having to change a thing!

:applause:


Rusty

Old style boxes had a 7/8" rabbet and a folded metal frame rest, so the frame actually sat on a ledge 5/8" from the top of the box. The new style has a 5/8" rabbet and a flat (or no) frame rest. Nothing else changed.

The typical box configuration is to have 1/4" space above the frames and 1/8" space below the frames, so they end up 3/8" apart. You don't want to get too small, certainly, as the bees tend to propolize spaces less than 1/4" and getting the boxes apart without ripping the bottom bars off the frames will be difficult. Too wide, they make burr comb, but that's much less of a problem if you inspect regularly keep the burr comb cleaned up. Fresh white comb isn't very tough.

There was a very complete survey posted a couple months ago about which frames and boxes from all the major sellers fit together. Quite a few violate bee space in combination, it's something to watch for.

Peter

Some manufacturers make their boxes with the beespace at the top while others make it at the bottom. Some split the difference, which is what I like. Whichever way you choose it OK, just try to avoid mixing the various types in a single colony. -js

I'm using a box of frames from Dadant I bought in 2005 and it does appear that if I go with fresh, kiln-dried lumber, I will not have to change my plans at all. I had toyed with the idea of using some lumber I've had on hand for awhile, but once I looked closely I realized that some of it had warped, so I am off to the local lumber yard for new boards. Since I'm gonna do this, I might as well do it right!

Thanks for all the help!

Rusty