Frame assembly jigs: Walter t. Kelley vs brushy mountain

[Runswithbees]

Does anyone know which frame assembly jig is better? The Brushy Mountain one or the Walter T. Kelley. . . .

[BeeCurious]

I have a Brushy Mountain model.

It's OK, perhaps some have experience with both...

I have some Mann Lake pf-120's and a few hundred wooden frames. I believe I may have prefered using all pf-120's... and skipping all of the glue, stapling, wiring....

[StevenG]

I only have the Walter Kelley version, have assembled several thousand frames with it.
Works well. No complaints at all. Periodically I have to scrape the excess glue off it that oozes out of the frame joints.

[ken rice]

I know this is not either of those, but I built this one with minimal tools and it works great (www.myoldtools.com) click on beekeeping page.

[Mustang]

Does anyone know which frame assembly jig is better? The Brushy Mountain one or the Walter T. Kelley. . . .

I have Brushy's and I have seen Kelley's. Kelley's is better holds the frame tight.

[mmiller]

I know this is not either of those, but I built this one with minimal tools and it works great (www.myoldtools.com) click on beekeeping page.

Thats the one I built. Scrap lumber and about 10 minutes of time. Works great!

Mike

[Risky Beesness]

I know this is not either of those, but I built this one with minimal tools and it works great (www.myoldtools.com) click on beekeeping page.

Same here. Seems to work great and didn't cost anything.

[pascopol]

Mine is same like yours, works great and "cost" me 15 min to make out of scrap boards.

[theriverhawk]

Build your own and save the $30!!!! It works just as good if not better!

[EastSideBuzz]

Thats the one I built. Scrap lumber and about 10 minutes of time. Works great!

Mike

Same here. Its a box with 2 slits in it. Easy peasy.

[lakebilly]

I made the same jig, extended the length to do 20 frames @ a time. pretty simple.

[DC Bees]

I also made the jig,the two boards that slide in i took and added a 45 degree angle on the one edge.Helps make the end bar slide in more easily.

[Cleo C. Hogan Jr]

There is an easier way to make the jig if you don't have a lot of woodworking equipment.. I do, but, I just cut a slot on front and rear, top and bottom and lay a piece of wood in it. I will try to take photos and post to show what I mean. End bars are good and tight for stapling or nailing. You can make it using a spare Medium or Shallow super using just a hand saw. I will try to photograph today and post photo. Nothing complex. cchoganjr

[Intheswamp]

Cleo, did you get a chance to take a picture of your frame jig yet. I'm one of those woodworking tool and abilities deprived folks that could use a simple way of building the jig.

Ed

[ken rice]

Bushkillfarms frame assembly jig

[ken rice]

Look in build it yourself on this forum easy to build works great

[JRG13]

I bought the cheapest super from Mann Lake, I wanted a shallow, but they gave me a medium. I put it together making sure it was square as can be, then chopped about 2" out of the middle. I had two pieces of wood already cut to fit inside a 10 frame box so I just screwed them in place with some end bars in for spacing. Works great, I attach the top bars then remove from the jig and just use two rubberbands to keep all the frames tight to each other and square then attach the bottom bar and done.

[rwurster]

Made mine out of the ribs of used pallets, i do 15 at a time and its made to hold 3/4" thick end bars. If you can I would highly suggest making your own.

Edit: I can assemble deep, medium, and shallows (which i dont use) with it

[Cleo C. Hogan Jr]

Intheswamp..others...Here are three photos of my frame assembly jig. I used a medium as the base. It will hold 1-12 at a time.

As you can see from photo I placed the end bars against each side of the super, then I nailed a 3/4 X 3/4 on the top edge of the super.This leaves a gap of 1 1/8. Do the same on the bottom.

Place from 1 to 12 end bars on each side of the frame jig. This will space them, and keep them straight.

Next you place the top bars on the end bars and glue/nail/staple the top bars to the end bars

Next you turn the jig over and insert the bottom bars. Then glue/nail/staple the bottom bars.

Next you pull the 3/4 X3/4 pieces out, and remove the assembled fram. Place a nail/staple from the end bar into the bottom side of the top bar and the frames are assebled. The jig holds the frames square, and makes it easy to asseble the frames.

I also have a one at a time assembly jig which works great if you are using a nail/staple gun.

Any questions, let me know, cchoganjr@scrtc.com

Hogan Frame Jig (1).jpg

Hogan Frame Jig (2).jpg

Hogan Frame Jig (3).jpg

cchoganjr

[evheide]

Plans for the jig many referred to earlier are posted elsewhere on this forum: http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/downlo...ssemblyJig.pdf