[xmonday]

I'm waiting for my first packages of bees, to be shared with two neighbors. They are going Langstroth, I'm going topbar, being attracted to allowing the bees to do their own thing rather than forcing them to do mine.
Does the sloping side Kenya TBH (KTBH) have any advantage over the square cornered Tanganyika TBH (TTBH)?
I understand the KTBH has the shape it has because a natural comb has more or less that shape. Uh-huh. But the TTBH is easier to build. Do the bees care? What difference does it make to them - and to the beekeeper (once the hive is built)?
Does a foundationless frame offer an advantage over a simple top bar?
I'm thinking primarily in the area of unwanted attachments to the sidewalls and floor, and added strength when handing the comb outside the hive.
Is there a down side to foundationless frames versus a simple top bar?
Finally, if the KTBH shape is judged better and frames are useful, has anyone tried building and using non-rectangular frames in a KTBH? (I'm sure someone has.)
Clearly making non-rectangular frames for a KTBH would be an exercise! Would it offer any theoretical or practical advantage over the (many) alternatives?
Seven questions above. Please share your experience and wisdom with a newbie who perhaps has been doing too much reading while waiting for his bees to arrive.

 

[jmgi]

xmonday, I use KTBH's, I get very little if any comb attachment on the brood combs, but the surplus honey combs are a different story, they attach them to the sides of the hive (never at the bottom) because of the extra weigh of the honey, the bees just seem to know to do this. I started using all top bars only, but found that I was getting too much messy comb failure during hot weather with the honey bars, so I started building my own frames to fit the shape of the KTBH's, yes it was alot of work, I made a special jig so all the frames would come out identical, because the bee space along the edges and between the frames is critical. It worked out great, no more comb failure. I have pictures posted of my hives and frames on the top bar hive forum, post #15 of the thread entitled" Am I the only one who..." John

 

[cg3]

I built a TTBR that will take a regular frame. I've had them draw out some foundationless frames and was able to give them frames of honey from my other hives during a dearth.

 

[xmonday]

jmgi,
Thanks so much for the response and the link to the excellent thread (but with the very uninformative title) which includes your contribution and very helpful pictures. Gave me exactly the information and encouragement I was looking for.
xmonday