Good quality frames

thorn · May 19, 2020

I'm not much good at woodworking, but I am able to assemble frames reasonably well. However, the lot I'm assembling at the moment are very poor, and make the job take twice as long as it should.
I don't know where they came from. My bee buddy sourced them. I'll get the next lot.
Who's selling really good frames at the moment?

Erichalfbee · May 19, 2020

Most of my frames are from Maisemore
They slot together like a dream

jenkinsbrynmair · May 19, 2020

Maisemore apiaries have their On-site sale (which, this year is actually a mail order sale) on 26,27,28th of June, their 'second quality' frames in bundles of 50 are second to none - all I ever buy nowadays

Levitt53 · May 19, 2020

I bought some once that were very well made but not quite cut right and because they were such good quality they were a nightmare to manipulate. I actually like worse quality as they are easy to piece together. I had one side bit the other day that was very bowed but putting it on my aga overnight with loads of heavy books on top sorted that out. I can't remember where I got them from but I usually get mine from Maisemore as well.

Erichalfbee · May 19, 2020

Oh and in my experience Thorne wax doesn’t perfectly fit Maisie’s frames and vice versa

Cuckmere couple · May 19, 2020

ive been getting mine from STB recently and happy with them

Angry_Mob · May 19, 2020

I had both Thornes and Maisie second frames this year, the Thrones were better as they had less knots and were machined better so they slotted together more easily.

Hedgerow Honey · May 19, 2020

Always use thrones, buy a few thousand in Jan Sales every year.
We did get some pre-wired broods from Bee Equipment two years ago that were also very good.

iann41 · May 20, 2020

i always buy Thornes seconds and use their wax foundation. I trade in my cappings wax for the foundation which saves a bundle. Frames i get in the sale in bundles of 50. dirt cheap.

Swarm · May 20, 2020

Well I found the opposite, Thornes were more ill fitting than Maisemore. Maisemore also feel like they have a bit more meat in them.
Best frames I ever bought were from NBS. Proper, solid frames that were perfect … but expensive.
Maisemore get my vote for frames, wax or boxes.

roche · May 20, 2020

Kemble Bees for frames and foundation for me. Nice match between frames and foundation and the quality of the wax is superb.

jenkinsbrynmair · May 20, 2020

Swarm said:
Well I found the opposite, Thornes were more ill fitting than Maisemore. Maisemore also feel like they have a bit more meat in them.
Best frames I ever bought were from NBS. Proper, solid frames that were perfect … but expensive.
Maisemore get my vote for frames, wax or boxes.

I've found the tolerances on Thorne's frames and boxes over tight leading to occasional splits when tapping them together.

GuyNir · May 20, 2020

Maisemore frames and wax for me. Excellent quality, always get it on sale.

Swarm · May 20, 2020

roche said:
Kemble Bees for frames and foundation for me. Nice match between frames and foundation and the quality of the wax is superb.

I forgot KBS, best foundation by a country mile but not the same discounts with bulk orders as other suppliers which is why my association discontinued. Shame.

Swarm · May 20, 2020

jenkinsbrynmair said:
I've found the tolerances on Thorne's frames and boxes over tight leading to occasional splits when tapping them together.

That's it, I had to tap the ends of the bottom bars to flatten them a bit, too many split side bars.

Swn58 · May 20, 2020

thorn said:
I'm not much good at woodworking, but I am able to assemble frames reasonably well. However, the lot I'm assembling at the moment are very poor, and make the job take twice as long as it should.
I don't know where they came from. My bee buddy sourced them. I'll get the next lot.
Who's selling really good frames at the moment?

I used to buy 'seconds,' but often found them difficult to work with. All my last lot of frames have come from Simon the Beekeeper. Good price and good quality. They have been excellent and their delivery of items is second to non. I just received 110 super wax foundation sheets in under three days!

The Poot in Somerset · May 20, 2020

I usually buy from Thrones but the best I've had were from NBS. Perfect fitting every time. Their stuff is excellent but at a premium.

jenkinsbrynmair · May 20, 2020

The Poot in Somerset said:
I usually buy from Thrones but the best I've had were from NBS. Perfect fitting every time. Their stuff is excellent but at a premium.

Everything they sell is at a premium

drex · May 20, 2020

Only ever used Thornes sale seconds. One in a hundred may be a problem. Some of my recycled frames must be ten years old now

iann41 · May 21, 2020

I do agree that Thornes frames are a little tight, but I buy seconds and expect to do a little manipulating when assembling them. I pre-drill all the nail holes so avoid splitting the wood and shave a tiny slither off two opposite corners of the bottom bars. It's all a bit time consuming but I save money by buying seconds.

Good quality frames

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