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Author Topic: Parallel or Perpendicular to frames?  (Read 2686 times)

Offline JackM

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Parallel or Perpendicular to frames?
« on: October 28, 2011, 11:12:37 am »
Been trying to find this through research and I am just getting way confused.  CC Miller Slatted Rack.  I find plans that have the bars running parallel and plans that have them running perpendicular to the frames.  To create dead air space I would think going perpendicular to the frames is smartest.  Surely over the years someone has determined which is better????  Have not read Miller's work yet. 

Also why is this said to reduce incidence of robbing?
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Offline Intheswamp

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Re: Parallel or Perpendicular to frames?
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2011, 11:41:46 am »
Don't take this to the bank, but it seems that the slats running parallel with the frames is favored.  ???

Lot's of confidence in my statement, eh? :)

As for the robbing...  I think this is attributed to using open bottoms in conjunction with the slatted bottom.  In other words, the colony enters and exits through the area of the entire bottom (through the slats).  There is no bottom board below the slats making the hive open at the bottom except where the slats are.  I would imagine this gives a formidable force for robbers to reckon with...lots more bees staring the robbers in the face than would be at a normal front entrance.  Mr. Bray has mentioned to me that he believes robbers from *non-slat bottomed* colonies appear confused with a slatted open bottomed hive...other colonies that were house in slatted open bottomed houses seemed adept at robbing from open bottomed colonies.

If you can get Mr. Bray to respond you'll get lots of good, experienced information from him!

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Ed
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Offline windfall

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Re: Parallel or Perpendicular to frames?
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2011, 12:58:47 pm »
I think slat orientation relative to the entrance is key for reducing drafts...parallel will act as a series of wind baffles.

some folks argue that keeping the slats parallel and directly under the frames keeps the slats from interfering with mite drops. There is an old thread on this here somewhere. But that is only true if you keep your frames directly over the slats...if your spacing varies  then you rapidly lose that argument. And many don't feel that mite drop is all that important.


  Surely over the years someone has determined which is better????   

as beginners we might think this was true of lots of things.....don't get your hopes up, everyone has differing opinions and experience.

Offline BlueBee

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Re: Parallel or Perpendicular to frames?
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2011, 01:19:55 pm »
I’ve only tried parallel slates so I can’t say which way my bees prefer. 

What windfall says makes sense.  If you use parallel slates, they have to respect bee space or you’ll get burr comb between them.  Unless you’re using wood slates that are 26mm thick, they are not going to line up with the frames above and any mites that fall, some will end up on the top of the slates.

Some people use PVC pipe for a slated rack with the idea that if a mite falls on any part of the curved piped they are likely to go sliding off one side or another.  I haven’t tried PVC.

Offline Robo

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Re: Parallel or Perpendicular to frames?
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2011, 02:57:02 pm »
Been trying to find this through research and I am just getting way confused.  CC Miller Slatted Rack.  I find plans that have the bars running parallel and plans that have them running perpendicular to the frames.  To create dead air space I would think going perpendicular to the frames is smartest.  Surely over the years someone has determined which is better????  Have not read Miller's work yet. 
CC Miller and Killion always ran them perpendicular.   It wasn't until the thought that they would catch falling mites that parallel came into the picture.  Even when they run them parallel,  they put a horizontal board in the front.   I run all mine perpendicular.  Personally,  I believe the parallel is just marketing ploy to sell more.  My thoughts are here -> http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,31610.msg257368.html#msg257368

Quote
Also why is this said to reduce incidence of robbing?

I assume because it makes the true entrance further back into the hive.  I don't see them as much help for robbing.
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Offline JackM

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Re: Parallel or Perpendicular to frames?
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2011, 10:20:05 am »
Well it makes sense to me that perpendicular would slow down any wind coming in, and as far as the robbing it would essentially make it easier for the defenders to defend.

I think I will make one and check it out.
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