Mann Lake Frames

**jtravisbayne** · 02-12-2011, 10:06 AM

Just a friendly word of advice. If you plan on cross wiring your frames, Mann Lake's frames do not have pre-bored holes in the end bars. At least the 225 frames I just received don't

Looks like it's time to dust off the drill press.

Travis

**arnaud** · 02-12-2011, 10:17 AM

Yup, I noticed this last spring. Had to drill them as well.

**theriverhawk** · 02-12-2011, 12:13 PM

When I ordered frames from them, they asked me how I wanted them. I ordered some with and some without.

**northbee** · 02-12-2011, 02:00 PM

Yup, They will send you undrilled end bars unless you specify drilled ones on your order. When I made my order last year and got un drilled ones I called then and they sent me out new ones and credited me for the ones Isent back. Saved me drilling thousands of holes.

**concrete-bees** · 02-12-2011, 02:41 PM

yeah Mann Lake does the hole less ends for the plastic foundation - since no wiring is needed -..... so why pay some one to drill holes when not needed

but yeah they should ask you over the phone which ones you want

**odfrank** · 02-12-2011, 06:49 PM

Another Mann Lake problem: the opening on their migratory cover is only 20 inches, allowing only an 1/8" allowance to fit on top of a box. This works fine for brand new boxes, but my honey supers are over 30 years old, and few still retain their original size. When I supered up my hives, I had to take them back to the shop for a trip through the table saw.

**jtravisbayne** · 02-12-2011, 08:32 PM

I didn't call Mann Lake to place my order. I ordered online, and the only choices I was prompted for was the type of top and bottom bars; nothing about drilling the end bars.

I've tried Duragilt foundation in the past, which needed no cross wires, but had mixed results. Some frames, the bees would draw out just fine and others they would chew the wax off of. I decided to go with wired foundation and cross wire this year, so I need the holes in the end bars. I also bought wire, eyelets and an eyelet punch along with the frames, but they don't mention on the end bar hole option in their catalog or website despite selling the gear to do the cross wiring. Oh well.

**Solomon Parker** · 02-12-2011, 10:04 PM

Had a similar problem last year, they really need to make it explicit. You can put it in the special instructions box during ordering.

**BeeCurious** · 02-13-2011, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by jtravisbayne

I didn't call Mann Lake to place my order. I ordered online, and the only choices I was prompted for was the type of top and bottom bars; nothing about drilling the end bars.

I did the same thing. I ordered a case of pf-120's at the same time to meet the $100 minimum for free shipping.

I don't remember how I learned that the frames didn't have holes, but Mannlake intercepted the case of frames, issued a credit, and my pf-120's were delivered for free.

**Honey-4-All** · 02-13-2011, 09:19 AM

I have a similar but "opposite" problem with the DADANT pre-made wood frames with plastic foundation. Their frames come with the holes drilled. And for no reason except to weaken the frame and give my friends the wax moths a little cave to burrow into.

I've asked them to resist the urge to drill them as it wasn't assisting us at all.

Haven't succeeded yet in that endeavor. Might have to consider ML pre-mades once again. The drawback there is their recent price increase.

Just like hand roll down crank windows on cars I guess you need to specify what you want when you order. The old standard is not the new standard. With wax out and plastic foundation in the only reason to say "drill baby drill" would be so we can throw diesel in the bee trucks.