Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: Tucker1 on October 26, 2009, 10:02:35 am

Title: Feed Back from those that have moved to 8 frame boxes.
Post by: Tucker1 on October 26, 2009, 10:02:35 am

Awhile back there was a bit of chatter on the forum about the pro's and con's of moving from 10 frame boxes to 8 frame boxes.  Some of you have since made the move.  Could you please inform the rest of us that are still considering the move, what your experiences have been? Did you get the results you expected? Were there any unexpected benefits? Was it worth the effort? ,etc??

Regards,
Tucker1

Title: Re: Feed Back from those that have moved to 8 frame boxes.
Post by: darren on December 03, 2009, 10:26:17 pm

I started with 8 frame boxes and when i went back to the shop to buy boxes , purchased 10 framers in error. The 8 framers are definately easier and lighter to handle, especially if laden with bees and honey. Highly recommend for older beek's , lady beeks and casual dudes like myself.

Title: Re: Feed Back from those that have moved to 8 frame boxes.
Post by: Michael Bush on December 03, 2009, 10:55:41 pm

I converted to all eight frame mediums after 29 years of ten frame deeps and shallows.  I have never regretted it.

Title: Re: Feed Back from those that have moved to 8 frame boxes.
Post by: slaphead on December 04, 2009, 06:36:06 am

I've run 8-frame and 10-frame hives side by side for a year so take this as a provisional assessment.  The bees have seemed equally happy with both types of equipment.  Colony build-up may have been slightly quicker in the 8-frame boxes but this is from a limited sampling of hives (2 8-frame and 4 10-frame). Using all medium boxes was definitely an improvement over the traditional mix of 2 deeps plus mediums for honey.  It allowed me to move drawn frames up into a new box and this greatly increased the rate at which the bees drew out the frames in that new box.  This was particularly important for the natural comb hives.  Colony inspection takes a little longer with my all medium box hives but I'm OK with that.  I will keep the 10-frame equipment already in my possesion but gradually transition all the brood boxes to mediums.  New hives will be 8-frame with all medium boxes and insulated tops to keep condensation down on the inner cover.

Hope this helps a bit.

SH

Title: Re: Feed Back from those that have moved to 8 frame boxes.
Post by: sparks on December 04, 2009, 09:33:42 pm

I started this year with all 8 frame mediums and would do it again.  The only downside for me was the need to transition purchased nucs to the medium box.  That was a pain the first time but I now have a better idea of how to handle the move.  My back likes the 8 frame boxes and the lumber is cheaper to build the medium dimension.

Title: Re: Feed Back from those that have moved to 8 frame boxes.
Post by: wfuavenger on December 17, 2009, 11:10:38 am

I just asked a nuc supplier in the fall to ensure I had 5 frame nuc's with medium frames.

How did you transition deeps to mediums?

Title: Re: Feed Back from those that have moved to 8 frame boxes.
Post by: sfisher on December 17, 2009, 01:39:40 pm

wfuavenger, who will you be getting your 5 frame medium nucs from?

Title: Re: Feed Back from those that have moved to 8 frame boxes.
Post by: wfuavenger on December 20, 2009, 01:45:14 am

Pmed you about it

Title: Re: Feed Back from those that have moved to 8 frame boxes.
Post by: Michael Bush on December 20, 2009, 11:54:26 am

>How did you transition deeps to mediums?

The most straightforward way is to do a cutout and tie the combs into medium frames.  Many other options are possible.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesferal.htm#moving (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesferal.htm#moving)