8 frames in a 10 frame honey super

[challenger]

I've gotten some heat locally about using 8 frames in my 10 frame honey supers. I'd like to know if others are doing this if anyone has some personal experience using 8 frames in a 10 frame honey super?
Thanks-Howard

[TwT]

I only use 9 drawn out frames in a 10 frame super, have heard of others using 8 drawn out frames in a 10 but seems a little to much for me, I use 9..

[Brian D. Bray]

I've gotten some heat locally about using 8 frames in my 10 frame honey supers. I'd like to know if others are doing this if anyone has some personal experience using 8 frames in a 10 frame honey super?
Thanks-Howard

The less frames used for a patricular sized hive body the greater the problems that will be encountered.  Using 9 frames in honey supers is okay if the honey is being extracted, otherwise it's a good way to clog up a hive when used in the brood chamber.  The brood cells will still be standard depth brood cells and the honey/pollen cells will bulge out and be in the way when trying to remove a frame for inspection.  Good way to rip all the caps off the cells and kill some bees.
8 frames is even worse, the bees will begin building bridge comb between the frames and you'll have a mess to undo.

[challenger]

Just to try and justify my 8 frame HONEY super use. I got this idea from a book called  Natural beekeeping by Ross Conrad. He mentions in his honey supers only that he uses 8 frames. He says that for honey storage the bees will build the comb deep and using 8 frames allows for more honey than 9 or 10. I'll give it some time and keep an eye on it.
Howard

[Robo]

I've done 5 in a 10 frame box when I alternated foundationless with comb.   They overdrew the comb right into the open space of the foundationless frames.   What  a mess, couldn't get any frames out without ripping the combs and honey spewing all over. :roll:

You will probably be OK if you use drawn comb,  but it will make for more of a mess extracting as your cappings will have much more honey in them to drain.    Personally I don't see the benefit even if the bees can store a little more honey in theory.  Nine frames allows for thick enough comb for easy uncapping.

[Michael Bush]

Once they are drawn eight works fine in a ten frame super.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#framespacing