Building Beekeeping Frames From Scratch

This video shows us attempting to build frames from scratch for the first time in late summer 2022. It took a little bit of trial and error but the end results were decent. One concern we had with our final result was the lack of a smooth taper on the sides of the frame. We were concerned that the steep shoulder, or step, would create issues during uncapping, especially if we moved to any automated or partially automated uncapping tool in the future, like the hand crank steam uncappers from Lyson. We experimented with the bandsaw for a while but did not like the results. A little while later, we came up with a jig to use on the table saw to put a nice taper on those pieces, although that process is a bit precarious. Stay tuned for that video if you're interested in making your own frames.

[@Reevestkd]

Love it!

[@bamabeesqueens]

Swiffer sheets.

[@robertramoneda8283]

Love the effort, but I thought you might like a couple quick tips to seriously speed up your production and improve your design. The key to making side bars is using a wood jointer. Take a look at this video, specifically about 24 minutes in, by Roger's Shop, Cutting Hive Frames Part I. End Bars. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3jdn4p4idiAhNEsi=RA3eu4jE-tpj5oVU

[@blitzbee]

Thanks for the tips! We'll check out that video.

[@robertramoneda8283]

@@blitzbee Hive Frames Part II of a 2 part series,kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYrUoaKjmK5sY8ksi=zSKkwnAJ3roS9971 is a good video on the top bars. If Tomas Bacon of Union bee company ever puts his videos back up, you should check them out. He uses a shaper with 4 or 5 thin kerf saw blades stacked up. This allows you to rip 3 or 4, 3/8" side bars at a time. This really speeds up the process. You might be able to do the same thing on the table saw, kind of like a dado blade, with 3/8" spacing, without the chipper blades. Hope that made sense. Anyway. Keep up the good work! Just wondering, what state are you located in?

[@robertramoneda8283]

@@blitzbee One last comment and I'll move on. Just wanted to point out, when you guys are ripping the top bars and bottom bar notch, to accept the sidebar ears. Make a table saw sled. Then when you cut with the 3/8" dado blade, you can rip 10-20 at a time, and you don't have to worry about kickback, like you do when you just run them across the table top, one at a time. Good Luck.

[@blitzbee]

We appreciate all the suggestions! And we're in Locust Grove, Virginia.