Frames
Honeycomb
Honeycomb makes up the main structure of a beehive. The perfectly formed hexagonal shapes are the most economical in both size and strength. The honeycomb cells are used for raising brood, storing pollen and, of course, the storing of honey. The cells are made of wax. The wax is produced by the bees themselves and formed into these intricate cells.
A wild honeycomb would be very difficult to manage and extract honey without destroying the hive. Indeed in the old days beekeepers killed the bees at the end of each year to get at the wild drawn comb.
Today we encourage bees to make their comb on frames of a standard size. This way we can manage the colony of bees easily.
A "frame" consists of 7 strips of wood - 1 top bar, 2 end pieces,
2 top securing bars and 2 retaining strips. These must first be selected
(the pieces can be bought in self-assembly kits), and checked for a snug
fit. These may be glued, nailed (or both) securely together. A sheet of
wax foundation embossed with the outline of cells is then slid in and
secured into your frame. These hexagonal outlines (the natural shape of
honeycomb cells) encourage the bees to draw out these hexagons into cell,
forming natural honeycomb.
These frames can easily be removed from the hive for us to carefully inspect
the bees at any time to see how well the colony is doing and to deal with
any problems which might develop within the hive.
All apiarists must have a supply of new, assembled hive frames ready for immediate use in case the colony begins to expand unexpectedly.
The instructions for building hive frames are as follows
1) Making frames for a hive requires some woodworking equipment, but at least the wooden frames can be bought in self-assembly kit form. The sheets of wax foundation can also be purchased.
2) A hammer, nails and screws are among the many tools required when making new frames, a job, which must be done regularly!
3) Laying out frame parts. Frames come in kit form, but do they fit together?
4) Hammer at the ready. There, two ends firmly secured.
5) Secure remaining frame pieces. Slide in wax foundation and secure in frame.
6) One frame complete. Now to continue building more!
And before you know it we are dissapearing beneath a mountain of newly prepared frames!!!