Stuck Together Hive Bodies

[snl]

We all (well, most of us) know what a royal PIA it can be to separate stacked hive bodies. What (if anything) has anyone done to help with this? Any ingenious ideas that you've come up with to help?

[beedeetee]

I actually like the fact that they get stuck together. Wind, weather, animals are less likely to have as much impact. What I don't like is when they glue the frames (burr comb) together. A little is okay, but all 10 frames are a PIA.

[hpm08161947]

When burr comb has attached the bottom frames, separating the two boxes can be tough. I usually just pull the top box off, bring along the 6-8 frames that are attached to the bottom, then break them loose and put them back in place... a pain!

[ralph3]

The boxes I build I take the belt sander and round over the top outside edges on supers/hive bodies. They need to be stuck together but the rounded edge prevents you from having to drive in a hive tool you just set it in there and pop it loose. It may also prevent osmosis in the crack during rain.

[gone2seed]

I keep a wide,flat chisel and a hammer in my goodie box.A light tap separates them.It's also easier on the boxes than fighting them with a dull hive tool.

[snl]

I actually like the fact that they get stuck together.

There's always ....one!

[Acebird]

I use to be concerned about this problem until I learned on Beesource that you pry the boxes apart with the hive tool then lift the top box up 1/2in to 1in up and twist. It breaks all the frames loose at once. Lifting all the frames up with the top box is risky. If you bump one of the lower ones it can fall.
The only precaution is the bottom box doesn't have any weight to it so it just moves with the top box when you twist it. Secure the bottom box in some fashion so you can twist the frames free.

[snl]

Ace,
Let's try & limit this thread to just techniques to separate stuck boxes (rather than what's stuck all together & how to handle all that once the boxes are "broken.")

[johno]

Guys I used to hassle separating newly painted boxes, the paint may feel dry but the paint to paint joints always tended to stick together. I solved this by running a strip of 3/4" blue masking tape along thetop of the boxes longest sides
John

[snl]

Guys,
Not talking about unsicking (is that a word?) recently painted hive bodies or supers not in use. Talking about in-use hives where the hive bodies and or supers are stuck together. Other than the sanded, rounded corners and the hammer and chisel......any other suggestions?

[Acebird]

Guys,
Not talking about unsicking (is that a word?) recently painted hive bodies or supers not in use. Talking about in-use hives where the hive bodies and or supers are stuck together. Other than the sanded, rounded corners and the hammer and chisel......any other suggestions?

Well then I have no idea what you are asking for. Stuck together from what? Propolis, wax, somebody previously stappled the boxes together. Most people use a hive tool for all three and don't think much of it.

[BMAC]

Guys,
Not talking about unsicking (is that a word?) recently painted hive bodies or supers not in use. Talking about in-use hives where the hive bodies and or supers are stuck together. Other than the sanded, rounded corners and the hammer and chisel......any other suggestions?

Other than a strong back and hive tool as Ace pointed out. I would also be fresh out of ways to do it. However if you come up with a better way then by all means please let us know cause it is a SERIOUS PITA to get them apart. Especially when the honey starts to cool down and become viscous.

Sorry I have an after thought. Hire cheap labor and sit back and watch them unstick the boxes!

[Acebird]

Are we seriously asking about separating one box from another? Is this a real problem cause I do have one suggestion that might help.

[Acebird]

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/v...eBodies007.jpg
http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/v...eBodies011.jpg

If you look at the way I make my boxes there is an end block on the end of the side walls so from one box to the other is end grain in the corners. I make this block just a tad shorter then the height of the walls and divvy up the difference. When the boxes are stacked it leaves just a small space to pry with the hive tool and you are prying against end grain not parallel grain. I also take the belt sander and 45 chamfer the outside corner just a little.

[jrbbees]

I have considered coating the bottom and top of each box with a very light coat of petrolium jelly.
But I have not tried it.

[snl]

That's the idea Ace.......I guess I was stumbling over the English language. I was just wondering what if anything anyone did by way of modifying boxes to make it easier to break them apart w/o damaging the box.....