Assembling Beekeeping Frames With A Jig & Installing Ritecell Foundation

[@christianshannon3943]

I use 1/4” crown staples and drive one into the side bar to secure the top bar as added strength. Not often does a staple exit out of the wood and if it does I just take a tack hammer and flatten it down . I haven’t seen an older model deep frame jig in a long time . At one time I had to buy two or three different jigs for all three size frames . Now there is one jig that fits all . Titebond II and III is some very strong glue . I took one brood frame and secured a small rope at each end of the frame and secured the rope to two ten pound bags of sugar and lifted the bags of sugar without the frame breaking. I did that test the day after I assembled the frames . Note I placed the rope around the bottom board right beside the end bars to test the joints strength.

[@shannonswyatt]

I highly recommend shooting a nail/staple/brad from the side bar into the top, makes the frames much stronger when prying up.

[@JCsBees]

That's a great suggestion! Thanks

[@Digger927]

Agree 100%

[@CraneofBoulogne]

Good clear information! Thanks for posting this one.

[@bobbybighoof]

This was extremely awesomely helpful

[@bobandre1789]

Thank you so much very informative and concise

[@JCsBees]

Glad it was helpful!

[@trevormgreen]

That’s a great jig, clever about the sliding side which allows the frames to exit the jig. Thanks for sharing!

[@JCsBees]

This jig was given to me so it took me with no instructions. Know one knew what it was even used for. It took a lot of playing around with it to figure it out. lol I agree very clever design.

[@douglasleigaber9124]

Please show dimensions of the pieces that make up the jig. That would be a big help. Im going to go ahead and figure it out on my own but it might save somebody else some time later on. I love your videos. There are dozens of people making bee videos but only 4 or 5 that are exceptional and your on that list. Keep up the good work.

[@JCsBees]

Here's a link to build a frame jig www.beesource.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/10frjig.pdf Glad to hear your enjoying my videos! Thanks!

[@c.johnmason322]

as always, you are my hero. Thank you for sharing so freely this information that makes our lives in the bee yard so much more efficient.

[@PhillipHall01]

You did a great job of demonstrating and explaining! Keep up the good work! Phillip Hall

[@tomfairbourn6998]

Jason I like how you make your own stuff when you can, we all miss American ingenuity today's world

[@JCsBees]

Thanks! I've always been one to make something over buying it if I had the parts to do so.

[@trichard5106]

Thanks !!

[@jasongannon7676]

From one Jason to another Jason that keeps bees, very cool.

[@skooterbumm]

thats the best design frame jig ive seen so far. simple an effective.

[@JCsBees]

It's made by Kelley Bee Supply and I agree!

[@deangraham9078]

I'm new bee keeper from Jamaica. Even here alot of your content is helpful. thanks

[@JCsBees]

Glad to hear that.

[@BESHYSBEES]

We use a staple instead of the brads but yeh same same

[@mileawayhoney2802]

one in the side on top

[@woodchucktinman9893]

That is a great idea for putting alot of frames together fast. Looking forward to seeing next weekend video hive inspection. Thanks.

[@cornbreadbees5385]

I made a frame jig afew yrs ago and love it cant do with out it if you run many hives. I also shoot a nail or staple through the end bar into the top bar it really tightens them up. Thanks again

[@whoDatBeDare]

tightbond 3 for outdoors. Once dried it's waterproof.

[@timcaron9049]

Good one Jason. I love these set up videos. Great ideas. Thanks and take care. Tim

[@mattpeneguy7812]

Titebond is excellent glue. Glue the frames with it as shown and they'll be as strong as possible. But, I saw someone using glue coated quarter crown staples without the step of adding glue separately. It cut my frame assembly time by over half. They won't be quite as strong and I'll see how long they last...

[@JCsBees]

For nearly 15 year I refinished old furniture. Sometime a customer would bring something in piece that used to be a family members and I would have to re-assemble it. I learned then that there is nothing that can replace a good glued joint. I do however understand that gluing takes a lot of time but in the long run it's well worth it. In my case, these frame will eventually belong to a customer so I want them to be happy when they pickup there nucs.

[@alexpaulson4597]

Wow, it's summer in Ohio! I myself just got 12 inches of snow on Thursday and I think I can speak for every single person in Minnesota when I say, I am not too happy about it! lol Anyway, that jig is really slick! Especially if you have a bunch of frames to make up, that would be a real time saver! Regarding the wired foundation... though I am not really that surprised, I find it really interesting that the queen skips the cells over the wire. Great video as always.. Thanks for sharing, and don't work too hard in that balmy weather! :)

[@JCsBees]

Yeah, I was thinking about you when I seen the snow out west. Crazy! I really don't know how we got so lucky here in Ohio as we usually get all the crap weather. I understand not being happy about it. That same snow gave us over 1" of rain which is greening thing very fast. The jig is a huge help for sure but still get overwhelming when you have to set it up a bunch but I know it's way faster than doing one by one. I really don't know how the queen feels the wire in the cells because they lay pretty flat against the bottom of the cells but she knows it's there somehow. Maybe she has a metal detector on her butt. lol I'll try my best to not break a sweat today and tomorrow as we creep into the 70's. Hoping to do hive inspection in the next day or so.

[@alexpaulson4597]

It's starting to warm up some here, and there is a little rain on the way. I am hoping that takes care of the snow here and things can green up as well! I am getting tired of still having to light a fire in my wood stove! The only thing that comes to my mind with the queen rejecting the wire cells is maybe she can detect a slight different in pH or even an odor somehow. Makes you wonder, but I think there is a lot about bees that we don't really understand. Looking forward to your hive inspection!

[@richardnoel3141]

Gréât Vidéo Jason ! (Again) perfect explanation of the jig!!

[@JCsBees]

@Richard Noel Thanks! The jig has surely been a huge help this week as I prepare for up coming splits. The bees are packing in the pollen like crazy. I am anxious to see what this weeks first inspections tell me.

[@richardnoel3141]

Jason Chrisman good luck but I think you will be pleasantly surprised. You put your bees to bed well so I reckon your gonna be good!!👍🐝🐝🐝

[@dcm727]

I made one of these and it works great! Thanks Jason.

[@JCsBees]

Yes, they are a huge help if you have very many frames to assemble.

[@SquirrelsForAll]

Thank you, Jason! Another wonderfully helpful video. :)

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Keep the 78 degrees south of us till after morels start heat wave just kills it

[@JCsBees]

My neighbor just found a few mushrooms, I plan to go looking some time Easter Sunday. Best of luck to you.

[@johnnywright1592]

Bees can get out plastic vents on those nucs

[@JCsBees]

How do you figure? They are stapled on.

[@johnnywright1592]

They come out the holes not where it’s staple I have a video of it I got a nuc the other day in that one got stunk in palm of hand. We couldn’t figure out where they were coming from.so I just laid a shirt over went home. Got home there 6 on the vent so I watched them go in and out.Nothing against you love your videos keep up the awesome work.would love to share video if you would like

[@DeathlordSlavik]

I got my first package of bees exactly 1 week ago today and they have already built comb on all of the frames with the largest comb taking up about 1/3rd of the space available on its frame amazing how quickly they build. Of course it may have helped that I made a feeder for them out of a jar and let them eat out of it for the first 5 days, I placed it inside the hive and ended up having to refill it everyday, I stopped because I saw how much pollen they were bringing in and figured they probably didn't need the sugar water anymore as they are probably collecting more then enough nector.

[@peterlightbody8443]

Interesting

[@LarryLeesBees]

Do you have a video or a link on making that awesome jig? Would love to make one, need the dimensions.

[@JCsBees]

I do not sorry but you can get this same jig from Kelley Bee Supply.

[@LarryLeesBees]

Thank you for the info Jason. I appreciate it.

[@wombox1]

Dimesions www.beesource.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/10frjig.pdf

[@obtonwint7122]

Big up j c s like ur video I learn a lot from u am in the bee keeping myself

[@JCsBees]

Glad the videos are helping you.

[@bradgoliphant]

Hello my friend Jason. I'm putting together a beehive and made a big mistake that I would like to ask you help with . I did NOT use 90* corner brasses to make sure they set straight, and now the box down line up with one another. So I have taken them apart, ordered the corner brasses, yet don't know how to correct the screw holes that are already set? I feel like even with the brasses intact, the screws are going to go right back into the same pattern and the boxes will again be off centered. I've had some suggestion to using the corner clamps and gluing the boxes together making sure it aligned, and then let it set for 24hrs before re-screwing. What would you recommend? It would be so helpful to hear back from you. This is a project that is very important to me. Thank you so much. Brad

[@JCsBees]

Hello Brad, I've been in your shoes a few times before. lol I don't use the metal corners, instead I use clamps and a big carpenters square to make sure everything is where I want it. In your case, I would try the suggested tip, glue and let sit then screw. Just make sure everything is square before you walk away to let it dry. Good luck!

[@kwil5379]

Good Job Jason! Like the jig a lot, although I’ve never understood foundation? When I started keeping bees I never used it, and I just never got into using it. I use an F frame from Kelley that has a tapered top bar and the bees draw it out nicely. I extract them all the time and they also make nice cut comb honey. Cold weather coming back down here in Southern Ohio, I bet up there too?

[@JCsBees]

I have played a little with going foundationless and it does work but I think it takes a lot more time and when selling nucs time is not an option. That's another reason I paid extra for the premium foundation. Kelley is who sell the frame jig I used in this video. The did a great job on it. Yes, it's chilly and raining cats and dogs here. Keep warm and dry!

[@mattpeneguy7812]

I also use the Kelley F style. I also put a nail on the side bar and run 50lb test monofilament in an X for support. You can still extract or make cut comb....just need to avoid the fishing line. I also started using glue coated quarter crown staples to assemble the frames. It saves some time. Getting the glue into the frames took the most time for me.

[@scottpfeiffer6405]

I must say you might offer that plastic Pro Nuc with an added cost. Some folks might pay the extra money to get one... I know I would.

[@JCsBees]

I will surely consider it for next year. I already purchased wax coated boxes for this years nucs.

[@AvocaSingleTrack]

Hey Jason. When i make foundationless frames, I run Kevlar braid fishing line, in a inverted W pattern between the top and bottom bar. I don't see any avoidance in comb above where the line is. Great video as always...and thanks again !

[@JCsBees]

@Steve Mixed Bag Glad to hear foundationless works for you? I have very few foundationless frames but I do have some.

[@mattpeneguy7812]

What lb test do you use? I tried 15lb monofilament and the bees chewed it up. I switched to 50 mono and it seems to work better. And, i wondered if braid would work. Good to know it works Btw, you meant spectra, correct? I haven't seen kevlar fishing line.

[@dmartin1920]

Where did you get those pie plate size entrance disk. At very start of video over your right shoulder. Looks like 8 in diameter. Thanks

[@JCsBees]

I got those from Amazon.

[@phillipduncan2497]

Did you use a brad nailer or a stapler on the frames. The end on the gun looked too wider for a brad nailer.

[@JCsBees]

My gun shots booth staples and brads but I used brads.

[@mayan9458]

I’m just gonna call you the beekeeping Macgyver cause it seems you can build just about anything.

[@LtDan-ni5rw]

I've heard many people saying that you should not glue anything in the hive, some even say you shouldn't glue the hive body. I see that you are using glue on your frames but I was just wondering if you ever heard of this and what your thoughts are. I'm leaning towards glueing myself as it is more structurally sound but I have some concerns about contamination by formaldehyde from the glue.

[@JCsBees]

Glue has never been an issue with my bees over 11 years but it may be due to the fact that Titebond glue is food safe. If I were you I would be gluing all my joints.

[@LtDan-ni5rw]

Thanks so much for the great vids. Sounds like I'll be using Titebond!

[@ptolemaiccherokee7337]

what type of beehives do you use ? they look similar to Haidoutibeehives

[@theopieshow1320]

Id like to make my own jig do you have a link to the directions?

[@JCsBees]

Sorry but I don't. It can be purchased from Kelley Bee Supply.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Only a carpenter would say nails just hold it till the glue drys

[@JCsBees]

Guilty!

[@timHclem]

I pour my glue in small silicone bowl and apply it with silicone basting brush. It allows even coverage and pretty much stops runs. It’s easy to clean up, too. Here’s another tip: buy your own, DO NOT use your wife’s.

[@dmartin1920]

Wheredidyougetthose pie plate size entrance selectors?

[@JCsBees]

Like the ones at the end of the video when the bees were bringing back all the pollen? If so, those came from Amazon.

[@SuperBuickregal]

What brand of frame-brad/nailer/staple do you use recommend?

[@JCsBees]

I just use a cheapo I got on Amazon a couple years ago. Seems like I got it for $35 or less.

[@johngrant8046]

Hey jason are you selling the provap yet

[@JCsBees]

I am not selling them but if you go to my ProVap video I have listed someone who is selling them.

[@wm005]

Where do you buy your frames that you build? Great video, great channel...

[@JCsBees]

Thanks! I got the frames and foundation from Mann Lake.

[@Ricky34225]

I’d like to visit with you about foundation Jason over the phone

[@JCsBees]

How about email? [e-mail]

[@duanemiller5566]

He he what can we say your puns are all the "buzz " lol

[@gregwaskom552]

Acorn heavy wax is alot cheaper and they draw it out really fast.

[@JCsBees]

I am aware of Acorn but figured shipping would make it more than the Ritecell foundation. Mann Lake ships for free since it's over $100 order.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Mann lake has foundation without wax 40.00 cheaper just use your own wax

[@JCsBees]

It's too time consuming to paint be painting every single sheet. I'd rather spend the $40. lol

[@buildingwithtrees2258]

Its 40 here :(

[@Digger927]

I'm very disappointed Jason, I spent almost 18 minutes watching how to make frames with a jig and when I got done...I didn't have even one complete frame. I think this is a case of clickbait, however I'll forgive you if you send me like 100 assembled frames with foundation this week. Lol, looking forward to the hive inspection. Take care.

[@JCsBees]

Sorry bud but that how all tutorials work. If it worked the other way, I would be watching how to build a portable livestock shelter. lol I will tell ya though, even with a jig doing a 100 frames is a bit overwhelming.

[@Digger927]

@@JCsBees Lol, yeah it's a tragedy isn't it. Yeah I hear ya, last time I ordered frames I ordered a couple hundred deeps and mediums. Even with the jig like yours, it took a good while to get through them all. I bought some foundation like you have in this vid and cut some of it in starter strips and hung in the top bar, that seemed to work pretty well and saved a lot of money. I always have mixed results with plastic foundation. Some hives draw it out okay and others just kind of flip me off. The later in the season it gets the less likely they are to draw it out seems to me.