Author Topic: My first stab at frames today. (Read 17170 times)

Jen · « **Reply #20 on:** February 04, 2015, 01:25:19 am »

Nice dandelions Yankee!

I'm waiting with bated breath for the first 65+ day. It keep hitting 60. My foots tap tap tapping away..

Yankee11 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 04, 2015, 08:37:10 am »

Come on out to Arkansas.

64 Sat. and may 66 Sunday.

And I have a 20lb bag of Brewers Yeast that's coming in on Friday.

efmesch · « **Reply #22 on:** February 04, 2015, 03:47:41 pm »

Yankee, it looks like you've done some really top notch woodworking on those frames. Just one word of suggestion---note how the bought pieces have no knots and the grain runs straight along the pieces. When the frames are new, it looks as if these "details" are unimportant, but as you use the frames, you'll find the knots to be weak points where the wood will bend out of shape and the grains will often split. A bit of careful selectivity when choosing your lumber and deciding where to make the cuts will go a long way to keep your hard work functioning well much longer.

Jen · « **Reply #23 on:** February 04, 2015, 04:39:25 pm »

Yankee- Awe Thanks for that invite

I'm afraid I would loose myself among the historical bees and honeysuckle brambles and never come back out

Yankee11 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 04, 2015, 11:50:40 pm »

Thanks Ef, I will have to be more careful once I start up production.
Speaking of production, I did a little tonight.

I modified my finger joint jig to be able to cut my top and bottom channels in my side bars. Man did it mow through some blocks quick.

This is two 1x8's, 8 ft long. Cost's 4.00 each. So 8.00 for all these end bars
I got 300 medium end bars
and 75 deep end bars

Lburou · « **Reply #25 on:** February 04, 2015, 11:57:29 pm »

Yankee, I like the thicker end pieces you are making there. Have only seen those in commercial use.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #26 on:** February 05, 2015, 08:28:34 am »

Do you leave the side plates full width?

Yankee11 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 05, 2015, 08:41:38 am »

No.

I am making a jig for my router table and am going to trim about 1/8 of each side. I saw how you do yours with the a table saw and may do it that way. Your way is by far faster.

Does the blade come up high enough to do the deeps?

I did the top channel 3/4 instead of 7/8, that way I can do a single pass with dado blade. I am using mann lake frames as a template. Their end bars are 3/4 at the top and 9/16 at the bottom.

I may change and just do 3/4 top and bottom, then I wouldn't need to cut the shoulder on the ends of the bottom bars.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #28 on:** February 05, 2015, 08:56:32 am »

So last night I was able to cut roughly 375 end bars out of two 2x8's 8ft long.

The two boards were 4.00 each.

8.00 divided by 375 comes to .02 each.

Now were getting some where..

Marbees · « **Reply #29 on:** February 05, 2015, 11:07:11 am »

Nice work Yankee

Thanks for pictures.

Perry · « **Reply #30 on:** February 05, 2015, 01:37:14 pm »

Instead of a router to trim the 1/8" of the end bars, if you have a jointer you could do them when they are blocks.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #31 on:** February 05, 2015, 06:22:04 pm »

What Perry said..
i use the jointer to do the deep side frames. I slap about five of them together and slide them across the blade. turn them over and do it again. The blade on my ten inch table saw will not go high enough to kerf the sides of deep frames.. Jointer works, just need to have a beer handy because it takes a bit. Almost as fast to do them one by one..

apisbees · « **Reply #32 on:** February 05, 2015, 07:13:58 pm »

Quote from: Lburou on February 03, 2015, 10:46:59 pm

Does anybody use "Hoffman" style frames nowadays?

Most use the Hoffman style of self spacing frames. Langstroth frames were a straight end bar that needed to be spaced by the beekeeper so the spacing was correct and the bees had their bee space. Langstroth patented his frame around the 1860's, Hoffman patented his frame with the self spacing shoulders on his end bars around 1900's.

Nice looking frames Yankee. If you don't have one keep an eye out on Craig's list and pawn shops for a jointer it makes making end bars go a lot quicker.

Lburou · « **Reply #33 on:** February 05, 2015, 10:44:52 pm »

Thanks Apis, back in the 1970's when I first started, I had Hoffman style frames and I liked how easy it was to get the frames apart.....Or was it my imagination?

This a picture of what I'm calling a Hoffman frame....Guessing that our frames are all Hoffman style and I'm stuck on the pointed shoulder of the end bars and calling it a Hoffman style frame.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #34 on:** February 06, 2015, 07:49:51 am »

Actually I have quite a few of those frames in service... not sure how much the pointed edge helps though,, I think its a lot like welding, you grind a bevel on both pieces, then fill the groove with weld for the strongest joint.. Just seems like theres mor propolis in thyat joint than two flat mated surfaces. I will pay more attention next time I pull any of those frames.

Lburou · « **Reply #35 on:** February 06, 2015, 09:27:16 am »

Perhaps the placebo effect works in beekeeping too Lazy?!

In any case, I'm excited for Yankee's accomplishments with his frames.

Slowmodem · « **Reply #36 on:** February 06, 2015, 08:39:54 pm »

Quote from: Lburou on February 06, 2015, 09:27:16 am

Perhaps the placebo effect works in beekeeping too Lazy?!

"I'm addicted to placebos." - Steven Wright, comedian

capt44 · « **Reply #37 on:** April 24, 2015, 11:02:35 pm »

I can build the top bar and bottom bar but it's the end bars I have trouble with.
I personally can buy them cheaper than I can make them, Time wise that is.

Perry · « **Reply #38 on:** April 25, 2015, 06:34:20 am »

Quote from: capt44 on April 24, 2015, 11:02:35 pm

I can build the top bar and bottom bar but it's the end bars I have trouble with.
I personally can buy them cheaper than I can make them, Time wise that is.

And there in lies the hardest part of making your own frames. But as the price keeps rising for the pre-made ones, it starts to look attractive making your own.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #39 on:** May 04, 2015, 05:11:08 pm »

Best I can figure. Around 30 cents per frame to make.

As far as time, I can't do it know for all the other bee work that has to be done. BUT, in the winter, I'll be making them then. And, as I go I am finding ways
to shave some time off of the process.

We will be making the taper in the side bars with a joiner while they are still blocks, huge time saver right there.

I just bought 100 frames and need to buy 200 more. That 300.00 would have bought me enough lumber to make roughly 900 to 1000 frames.