8 frame box atop 10 frame brood box???

[Moots]

Ok,
I run all 8 frame medium equipment...However, I was given a couple of nice 10 frame mediums, along with a hive stand and bottom board.

I couldn't find the thread, but I know in past 8/10 frame equipment discussions someone referenced someone who used to run 10 frame (sized) boxes for their brood boxes with 8 frame (sized) honey supers...I want to say it was their preferred approach for doing comb honey.  Regardless, I remember it being said that they simply used a small board to serve as a top on the exposed portion of the 10 frame box, where it transitioned to the 8 frame box. 

I was thinking about doing the same to be able to put this equipment to use.  So....my question is....Is it as simple as that...throwing a small board on as a cover?  Or, will this cause other issues :?.  For example, the increased potential of rain getting into the hive? I can possibly think of a couple of ways to make it more weather proof...My question is...Is that necessary?

[tefer2]

You could do like Mike Bush did when he switched over to 8 frame mediums
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeseightframemedium.htm
He cut all of them down to 8 frame boxes.
It would help using a 10 frame top to cover the eights also.

[Moots]

You could do like Mike Bush did when he switched over to 8 frame mediums
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeseightframemedium.htm
He cut all of them down to 8 frame boxes.
It would help using a 10 frame top to cover the eights also.

tefer,
Thanks for the link to Michael's page, that picture is exactly what I had in mind.  I don't have any interest in trying to cut down the two boxes, they're already assembled, and finger jointed.

I like your suggestion of the 10 frame top, although, I imagine as the stack of supers grows, the benefit of the larger top would suffer diminishing returns.  :-D
Another thought I had was maybe to attach a piece of visqueen on the underside of the board, long enough to go up the side of the first 8 frame box and tuck it either under the top cover, if it's the only super, or simply between the edge of the first and second 8 frame box....Thoughts?  :)   

[tefer2]

Another thought would be to attach a piece of flashing to the side of the first 8 frame box.
L shaped to cover the open space.
Water would be an issue in heavy rains.

[sterling]

It ain't worth it. :-D

[Moots]

It ain't worth it. :-D

Come on now Sterling...what's not worth it?  :)

I've got a brand new Hive stand, bottom board, 2 boxes, inner cover, and top cover....All of which can be put to good use for the trouble of one small piece of wood and possible a small scrap of plastic or flashing, once I start adding supers.  Sure, at that time I lose use of the inner cover and possibly the top cover, but the rest is still good to go.

If at any point it's not working, or I decide it's more trouble than it's worth, it'll take me about 10 minutes of my time to transfer all the frames/bees to all 8 frame equipment.

I'm having a hard time seeing the downside...  :-D

[buzzbee]

Keep those 10 frame boxes to shake your swarms into.

[tefer2]

Moot's, you can probably ask around for a couple more 10 frame mediums.
For the price of a few hive bodies, you have a full hive now.  :devilbanana:
I run a lot of mine with 8 frames and a 2 frame internal feeder.

[Moots]

tefer,
LOL! That's what I don't want to do...I managed to start off with all 8 frame medium equipment and I've been very happy with that choice.  But this is a nice stand, nice boxes, etc.....would just like to use them, but darn sure don't want it to morph me into a mixed equipment operation.

Buzz,
That's not a bad idea at all, I could use it to shake swarms into, leave them to grow to fill both boxes...then move them to 8 frame equipment when they need more room.  That's a good option I hadn't considered...Thanks!

[sc-bee]

You just cut a small cover/board the size you need. You can add small shims on the end like a mini- migratory cover. It helps to put a brick on top to hold it in place since the board is a little narrow.

As you said above --- you can see on MB's website where he has mixed and matched sizes and covers. I agree buy what you prefer but why waste what you have...... :)

[tefer2]

Oh, why don't you just list them for sale on craigs list.
Buy what you want with the cash.
Better yet, shake your first swarm into them and sell it as a hive.

[danno]

I have a couple of plywood boards cut to 16 1/4  X 19 7/8 or the size of a 10 frame with a hole in the center the size of a 5 frame nuc.  I used them to combine a nuc with a deep  I would do it this way instead of a small 2 inch shim on one side of the 8 frame.  I would worry about the shim blowing off.  I could also see coons actually removing the board

[Moots]

As always....lots of great options and ideas that I had not considered....

Thanks to all for the input!  :)

[sterling]

I thought of something else you could do. That is use it for a nuc. Cut you a divider board so you would have two four frame nucs on the bottom board and cut the other box and make two nuc boxes that will fit on the main box you can still use the cover. Use it as a mating nuc or to make small splits. you will end up with two eight frame nucs.

[tefer2]

Sterling has the best idea yet Moots!

[johng]

Yes, it is just that simple if the 10frame box is on the bottom.

[Joe D]

You can cut them down to 8's, choose one of the ways to add 8 frame supers, cut into make nuc's or cut into and make swarm traps, use them to shake swarms into, or just use them as is.  Its not hard to cut from tens to eights if you decide that way, anyway you will still have all mediums frames.  I made several ten frame mediums last year.  Its what ever you want.




Joe

[Michael Bush]

A 20" long 1 x 3 works fine.  The bees will seal the gap.

http://bushfarms.com/images/TenFrameToEight.JPG