Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: broke-t on July 14, 2008, 09:55:58 am

Title: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: broke-t on July 14, 2008, 09:55:58 am: I bought 100 deep frames Miller bee supply and they were not consistent. When fitting the side bars to the top bars most had a crack left on the inside of the side bar.

I bought another 100 from Kelly but haven't put them together yet.

Who do Y'all think has the best frames?

What about the #2 frames that some companies sell? Are the useable?

Thanks, Johnny
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: Ross on July 14, 2008, 10:06:08 am: I use only commercial grade from Dadant. They seem to work fine, as do many others. Dadant is close to me so I save shipping.
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: BearCreekBees on July 14, 2008, 10:27:23 am: The best frames I have used were from Kelley. Next best from Dadant- their's are the ones I use most often because I can pick up.
I can also pick up from Mann Lake but have a lot of problems with their frames so I won't buy them anymore.
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: bassman1977 on July 14, 2008, 10:32:32 am: I normally buy from Mannlake. Typically they are good but they recently retooled and the last batch I got were not the greatest. I'm not sure if I will give them another go at it or not. The defects didn't affect the end product at all.
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: JP on July 14, 2008, 10:47:56 am: Quote from: bassman1977 on July 14, 2008, 10:32:32 am
I normally buy from Mannlake. Typically they are good but they recently retooled and the last batch I got were not the greatest. I'm not sure if I will give them another go at it or not. The defects didn't affect the end product at all.

I don't care too much for the economy woodenware from Manlake, its trash, the economy from Dadant is much better, I use the Paris, Texas location, ask for Terri.

...JP
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: BeeHopper on July 14, 2008, 10:50:01 am: I buy all my Frames from Betterbee in NY, quite happy with the millwork.
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: Robo on July 14, 2008, 12:17:23 pm: BetterBee here too. Can't remember the last time I had a frame split during assembly.
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: qa33010 on July 14, 2008, 10:37:27 pm: Kelley, Lapp's and Betterbee. No problems at all.
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: MustbeeNuts on July 15, 2008, 03:33:14 pm: Dadant, also close enough to drive, no shipping. I have used both economy and the commercial. Don't see much of a difference between them. Both are adequate. :-D
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: Michael Bush on July 20, 2008, 01:29:52 am: I can't say I was terribly unhappy with any of my frames from a large number of suppliers, but Walter T. Kelley has very nice frames. My favorite are foundationless frames on 1 1/4" centers from Dave W. on Beesource. :)
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: johnnybigfish on July 20, 2008, 12:34:28 pm: I use Dadants.....Commercial,..Never had a bad one yet!
I put about 20 together yesterday...I split the first one....Then I said,"Screw it..Im not gonna use nails this time. I'll just use glue and see what happens!".
Whattaya think?..Think they'll hold up?
your friend,
john
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: JP on July 20, 2008, 12:46:54 pm: Quote from: johnnybigfish on July 20, 2008, 12:34:28 pm
I use Dadants.....Commercial,..Never had a bad one yet!
I put about 20 together yesterday...I split the first one....Then I said,"Screw it..Im not gonna use nails this time. I'll just use glue and see what happens!".
Whattaya think?..Think they'll hold up?
your friend,
john

I think a good strong glue wood hold up.

...JP
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: johnnybigfish on July 20, 2008, 01:14:45 pm: heh heh...I hope so JP.....I had to use them this morning!. I went out there really early to split a hive and that went well,.....Then, I heard a buzzing! Yep!!..A swarm landing in a tree right near my apiary!
I sawed the limb down and when it fell the bees relocated to another easier to get to limb!..I caught them, boxed them, and walked away, patting myself on the back..Oh yeh,..Paul was with me. Then Paul says, "LooK!..Another swarm!"..I thought he was blowing smoke as he THINKS he's a comedian..I almost walked right into it as this swarm was on one of my favorite limbs to scrape my head on!..So, we caught it, and boxed it!
Sure was lucky that I had built those frames yesterday! I had also just finished putting the little metal strips in 10 hive boxes too.
Oh,...The first swarm still had bees pouring into it 45 minutes ago..I must have caught them before they were finished grouping.

What a GREAT Morning!!.....(I hope they stay!) :)

your friend,
john
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: rdy-b on July 20, 2008, 07:31:48 pm: Quote from: johnnybigfish on July 20, 2008, 12:34:28 pm
I use Dadants.....Commercial,..Never had a bad one yet!
I put about 20 together yesterday...I split the first one....Then I said,"Screw it..Im not gonna use nails this time. I'll just use glue and see what happens!".
Whattaya think?..Think they'll hold up?
your friend,
john
you need the nails -they will not stay together without nails -did you get your cap :lol: RDY-B 8-)
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: Michael Bush on July 20, 2008, 07:51:38 pm: I would not fail to use nails nor fail to use glue...
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: johnnybigfish on July 20, 2008, 10:35:52 pm: Harghhhh!!!
No Nails...Oh boy,......If they hold together, I'll tell you what glue i used! :)
heh, heh,....No cap either :-x (Thats funny, Rdy-b :-D)
They didnt even reply to my "Nasty-Gram"!
I kinda thought I'd be seeing a cap in the mail though! :)

your friend,
john
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: qa33010 on July 21, 2008, 01:05:51 am: Had a frame that was nailed only come apart and one that was only glued with outdoors glue that came apart. Now gorilla glue and well aimed nails. Now if I can just stop hitting my thumb. :oops:
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: johnnybigfish on July 21, 2008, 06:22:22 pm: Yeah, qa!!!
My thumb has a black spot from mashing it against the hammer :-D..With my lousy eyes and lousy aim i sometimes get more than the nail!..THATS when i decided to just use glue, not just because i split the frame!...I just bought nails a couple hours ago.
I've used gorilla glue before but I also still have remnants of it all over the place!! :)
your friend,
john
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: JP on July 21, 2008, 06:27:01 pm: Quote from: johnnybigfish on July 21, 2008, 06:22:22 pm
Yeah, qa!!!
My thumb has a black spot from mashing it against the hammer :-D..With my lousy eyes and lousy aim i sometimes get more than the nail!..THATS when i decided to just use glue, not just because i split the frame!...I just bought nails a couple hours ago.
I've used gorilla glue before but I also still have remnants of it all over the place!! :)
your friend,
john

I use exterior waterproof wood glue and my brad gun.

...JP
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: Kathyp on July 21, 2008, 09:16:00 pm: old stuff gets fixed with gorilla glue. new stuff gets nailed with pneumatic nailer/stapler. have yet to split a frame! i love both the nailer and the glue. they are fun :-)
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: Moonshae on July 21, 2008, 09:32:23 pm: I use Betterbee, and I'm mostly happy with their frames. Sometimes the parts count is off a little, and I got a batch of split bottoms instead of grooved (double stamped box by supplier), but overall, I think the quality is good.
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: pcelar on July 21, 2008, 09:33:40 pm: Quote from: Michael Bush on July 20, 2008, 01:29:52 am
I can't say I was terribly unhappy with any of my frames from a large number of suppliers, but Walter T. Kelley has very nice frames.
Also my favorite for ALL beekeeping supplies.
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: johnnybigfish on July 21, 2008, 10:54:44 pm: When I bought the nails I asked a guy about the nail and staple gun...Even had one in my hand for about 5 minutes....maybe tomorrow!
your friend,
john
Title: Re: Who has best wood frames?
Post by: TwT on July 21, 2008, 11:31:25 pm: Kelly frames is my first choice then Betterbee, glue and 1 1/4" brads, never had a problem and I only get the top grade.