Horizontal Hive w/ Modified Frames

I make my own frame components, so if I were to do this I would just make longer end bars to make 16"+- frames.

But if you don't want to manufacture custom end bars from scratch, you could 'splice' two deep frames with the aid of a wood 'patch'. An easy way to do that is to buy individual frame components, such as these frame end bars:
http://www.kelleybees.com/Shop/39/Hives-Components/Frame-Hive-Repair/4314/End-Bars

Cut the bottom off one end bar, the top off a second end bar and splice them together by gluing a wood 'patch' over the joint. Put the patch so that it will be inside the frame when assembled. Use plenty of Titebond glue on all contact surfaces.

The easiest way to add mechanical fasteners would be staples from a pneumatic gun, but if you don't have one, brads or small wood screws could be used as an alternative. I'd predrill if you use screws.


The above is offered as advice on one option as to how to get suitable frames, not an endorsement of the size chosen. My suggestion would be to first try a horizontal hive with standard deep frames before you switch to custom oversized frames. There is a lot to be said for the ability to move resources back and forth between standard hives and the horizontal hive.

Thanks all, I appreciate your feedback.

I attended a lecture this spring by Dr. Leonid Sharashkin who is working with bees in a horizontal hive,
with 18" frames. He is from Russia where he keeps bees and he has a small farm in Southern Missouri where he has bees. He has also translated a book ("Keeping Bees With A Smile" by Fedor Lazutin) about natural beekeeping in horizontal hives. The theory is that bees thrive more in horizontal hives when the middle frames are untouched and only the side frames are moved around. Also, with this type of hive, there is no moving heavy supers around, because the only place with frames is the main (long) horizontal hive. Since I no longer have any bees because they have all died over the past 3 years, I decided I wanted to give something else a try.

I have 2 new packages of bees that will arrive next week. Since I have procrastinated building a hive from scratch, I decided to use the equipment I already have to make a horizontal hive with deep frames. If I were building them from scratch, I would make the dimensions more "normal". Instead I am cutting and gluing what I have.

The photo I provided in my original post is of 2 deep hives that each had one side removed. I used dowel pins and glue to put them together and I will use a metal mending plate to add more support. Tonight I did a little work on my frames. I glued a medium frame to a deep frame, nailed them together (hammered the nails into the groove) cut off the bottom tabs and it fits perfectly. When I'm finished, I'll post more pictures.

Of course, the real test will be having the bees settle in and see how productive they are. Then see how they survive winter.