Anyone know what frames these would use?

Newbeeneil · Feb 2, 2024

Interesting offering from our friends at Bee Equipment. Ready made "Hybrid National Boxes" for 15 quid!
Unfortunately I can't find what the frames fit them so the boxes are pretty useless.
I suspect a very cheap purchase by Patrick that the new management have got to try to shift!

https://bee-equipment.co.uk/products/bargain-basement-national-hybrid-assembled-brood-box

jenkinsbrynmair · Feb 2, 2024

it was his attempt at locking in customers to buying his non standard kit a few years ago - handy for firewood I suppose

savoyard · Feb 2, 2024

The side-bar dimention is 9.25 inches, a National Brood frame is 8.0 inches tall. A smith frame might fit, but the box is too deep.

If it were me, I wouldn't touch them.

JamezF · Feb 2, 2024

savoyard said:
If it were me, I wouldn't touch them.

Indeed. They don't exactly look well-made either. And there's no indication of the type of wood used.

I'd not be surprised if you'd need to make your own frames if you wanted to use them.

James

warsaw_hive · Feb 2, 2024

The brood frame is langstroth brood (deep) depth, the super is 2/3 (medium) langstroth depth. So just buy langstroth frames and shorten them.

Smith frame top bars are too long.

I'm not against using non standard kit (and I think more people should), but those dimensions don't make a lot of sense to me. Plus it's an incredibly ugly box, which I suppose is an achievement in itself considering the national is already pretty ugly. It's a no from me.