Author Topic: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super  (Read 7047 times)

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Offline Slowmodem

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How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« on: January 17, 2014, 08:38:11 am »
I want to demonstrate how heavy a super full of honey weighs at our upcoming course (I am speaking on safety, back injury prevention, etc.).

I had a 10-frame deep I wasn't using, and some 2 X 4s and a woodworking father!  :)

Cut 2X4 to fit inside super and insert screws:





Trim the shim to go around the block (there's a total of four shims):



Check the fit of the block (the box weighs 15 lbs and each block weighs 30 lbs for a total of 75 lbs):




Trim the top:



When it warms up some, he's going to paint the top and bottom before tacking them on.

Hopefully it will hold up to use.  I hope that it will be a useful training aid.
Greg Whitehead
Ten Mile, TN
Beekeeping at 26.4 kbs

Offline Perry

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Re: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2014, 08:42:46 am »
My back aches already, just looking at it.
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
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Offline Slowmodem

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Re: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2014, 10:00:19 pm »
I've been having some trouble finding numbers for weights of supers full of honey.  I've come up with the following.  If anyone has better numbers, or other thoughts on the subject, please give me some feedback.

                          8-Frame               10-Frame

Shallow:          40 Pounds                        50 Pounds

Medium:         50 Pounds               65 Pounds

Deep:         60 Pounds               80 Pounds


Sorry about the alignment.  I hope you can figure it out.
Greg Whitehead
Ten Mile, TN
Beekeeping at 26.4 kbs

Offline Perry

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Re: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2014, 11:25:00 am »
Th numbers I have heard are awfully close to what you have there.  :yes:
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2014, 11:48:55 am »
I think, that time, needs to be factored in here...
   Ten years ago, a full deep weighed pretty much exactly as your little chart shows.. but I have to tell you that in the last ten years something has changed dramatically.   The earths core has shifted or something, because now a full MEDIUM super weighs in the neighborhood of 120 to 140 pounds!!!
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Offline efmesch

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Re: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2014, 04:11:26 pm »
I've been having some trouble finding numbers for weights of supers full of honey.  I've come up with the following.  If anyone has better numbers, or other thoughts on the subject, please give me some feedback.

                          8-Frame               10-Frame

Shallow:          40 Pounds                        50 Pounds

Medium:         50 Pounds               65 Pounds

Deep:         60 Pounds               80 Pounds


Sorry about the alignment.  I hope you can figure it out.

That explains my back problems!  ;D

Offline Slowmodem

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Re: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2014, 09:42:14 pm »
Our short course was today.  I haven't heard an official number, but I'd estimate there were 200 people there.  It was held at the county high school in the cafeteria in the morning, then break out classes in the afternoon.  I did a presentation on how to be a safe beekeeper.  I started out with a sting and stinger, venom, histamines and anti-histamines, epi-pens, bee suits, veils, gloves, hive tools, smokers, splinters, and other things that can hurt you.  I had an outline, pictures to pass around, epi-pen training simulator, etc.  I went through my presentation and looked at the clock and a whole 10 minutes had gone by.   :o  I had 45 more minutes to deal with!  I gained a new respect for teachers today.  I had an interested and attentive class.  I can just imagine what it's like to have an apathetic or unruly class.  Anyway, I opened it up for questions on beekeeping in general, and there were enough questions about hives, pests, extracting, etc., to fill up the remaining time.  If anyone in the class took pictures, I'll try to post one or two.

But the 75-lb. super was a hit.  Everybody wanted to try it.   :)  I think many people were surprised.

I told them that I didn't want to scare them away.  But I didn't want them to invest time, money and effort into something and then find that they can't physically do it, or else it's too hard or too much effort to do.  I tried to be realistic about it.  It's usually July and 90F in the sun and things have to be done.

I think I did ok.  I tried to stress that safety isn't limited to beekeeping.  People need to think about what they're doing and what could go wrong, no matter what they're doing.
Greg Whitehead
Ten Mile, TN
Beekeeping at 26.4 kbs

Offline iddee

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Re: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2014, 09:52:03 pm »
 :goodjob:
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2014, 09:52:55 pm »
Well done!
   I have to go assist Monday, should be interesting..  and have an advanced class on Thursday, know the instructor well.. so am trying to think of the hardest questions I can just to see if he tells me to shut up   ;D
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Offline efmesch

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Re: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2014, 04:59:20 am »
.....  I can just imagine what it's like to have an apathetic or unruly class.
You can TRY to imagine, but until you've been there you'll have NO idea just how rough it can be. :o

Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: How to build a 75-lb (34 kg) super
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2014, 11:48:10 am »
I've heard it said many times.  There are two types of beekeepers.  Those with back problems and those that will have back problems.