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fish-stix,

I really appreciate your inputs on this. I am not building a ton of frames and while I'm probably a bit beyond the average hobbiest at this stage (10 hives in the back yard, breeding...

fish-stix,

can you explain where you locate the two 1/4" staples down into the end-bar through each end of the top-bar?

As for boxes, why do you think staples are better than nails for the...

Oliver, ever tried a 1/4" crown staple? Do you think the narrower crown would lead to reduced splitting of the bottom bar? Can I ask what model of 3/8" stapler you use? If I get a new 1/4" crown...

Bill, thanks for the extra detail, but I am still confused about the staples shot vertically down through the top bar into the end bar. Two staples shot vertically down through the top bar into the...

fish-stix,

thanks for the advice. Do you think a 3/8" stapler is worth more than twice the price of a 1/4" crown staple ($200+ versus $100-)?



I have a nailer for all of the tabs on a box...

I understand the placement of the second staple. Unfortunately, the frames I am using (Mann-Lake) make it pretty much impossible to insert a brad or a staple in from the side since the "new" design...

ekervina,

thanks for the explanation. No I understand where you place the brad - into the thicker half of the topbar. I'm not using wedge so there is no 'thicker side' and in fact, it looks like...

ekervina, thanks - this is exactly the kind of experience and input I was looking for.

At 'only 120 frames' don't worry we're in the same leager (I have 10 hives).

Split bottom should be a bit...

thanks acbz. I glue all of my frames with titebond. Why do you say that in the absence of glue a 3/8" crown is better than a 1/4" crown? I'd worry about splitting the thin fingers on the side bar...

Thanks Wisnewbee - this is pretty close to what I am planning on doing. I assume that the staples on the bottom bar are pointed up into the side bar and straddling the groove in the bottom-bar,...

Thanks jrbees. The heads on the brads are pretty small, so I prefer the staples for that reason.

-fafrd

I'm going to take the plunge and pick up a narrow-crown stapler. Mann-Lake uses staples with a 3/8" crown for their pre-assembled frames but the few 3/8" narrow-crown staplers on the market cost...

Thanks. So it sounds like you are seeing evidence that a very small nuc will start more queen cells than needed and then select a few best cells to reach emergence late in the process. I would be...

Thanks Brenton, this is interesting. Two questions for you:

1/ how big is you observation hive (how many frames and of what type - deep or medium)?

2/ any idea how many days following capping...

Thanks muskratcreekhoney. The cell protectors that come with the Nicot system are 'hair rollers' that slip around the cell from below right onto the top-bar. They have a snap-cap on the bottom that...

Mike,

do you recall what the cells looked like when you saw the worker bees pull out the larvae? Like they had emerged successfully (neat hole at the bottom), like they had been attacked by a...

Absolutely - anyone have any insight into that question? (and specifically, workers tearing down cells between days 10 and 13? and also why?)

Also, muskratcreekhoney, when do you put on your...

muskratcreekhoney,

thanks for the post - sounds like you have experienced something like what I saw. Never considered the queen slipping through the excluder, but perhaps when there are more...

Cells were clean before queen was caged. I clean the wax off the edge of the cup and clean the bottom of the cup using a Q-Tip and inspect with a magnifying glass. DOn't think dirty cells could be...

Thanks Michael. These cells can't have been more than day 13 and it was not very hot, so they must have been aborted. Have you ever seen cells opened up by the bees late (day 10-13)?? Any reason...

jdpro5010,

I use the term 'graft' to include the process of transfering the cups with 1-2 day-old larvae from horizontal within the Nicot cage to vertical on the top bar.

This was day 13 from...

Thanks Michael.

this was day 13 (from the day the queen was caged) and from the dull blue eyes on the two cells I opened, it was probably more like day 12 (from when the egg was layed).

Ever...

I've used my Nicot cage about 6 times now. Whenever I have had 2-6 cells, everything has worked out fine (harvested on day 14, successful emergence, mating, etc...).

Late last summer I tried to...

Your interesting homemade job is pretty similar to the Nicot Cage that I use. I have had the most success leaving the queen in the cage until I graft which is usually 5 days after caging and have...

The overall subject is fascinating and I am just reading for now, but I did want to provide a small input on this question:



frazzledfozzle,

after starting your post with the quote button...