Bee Space

[Cussword]

I have National hives with bottom bee space. I also have framed wired queen excluders that are flush on one side. Which way up should the flush side be?

 

[Ely]

If your hive is bottom bee space then that means the top of the frames are flush with the top of the hive. In that case use the excluder in a way that produces a bee space between the top of the frames and the underside of the excluder. I converted my hives to top bee space with a hammer and chisel

 

[Cussword]

Thanks Ely, that does sound like a very drastic way to perform alterations

 

[Ely]

Thanks Ely, that does sound like a very drastic way to perform alterations

Yes. It was a little hairy at times in my non expert hands. A router would certainly be the better option but I didn't have one at hand

 

[Jeff M]

In a bottom bee space hive a steel QE would sit directly on top of the frames. Therefore, shouldn't a framed QE do the same with the underside flush with the frames?
I experimented with a frame on a steel QE and found that if there was a gap between the QE and the top of the frames the bees built brace comb in the gap making it difficult to get the QE off.

 

[itma]

In a bottom bee space hive a steel QE would sit directly on top of the frames. Therefore, shouldn't a framed QE do the same with the underside flush with the frames?

No.

The bottom beespace super (directly above the QX) provides a beespace above the QX.
The frame under the QX is there to then provide a beespace below the QX.
So the QX isn't constantly begging to be propolised to any frames.

Putting it the wrong way up gives double beespace on one side and zero on the other!

The frame needs to provide a proper beespace (~8mm), and the QX needs to be sufficiently rigid that it doesn't sag (because that would make the spaces on both sides the wrong size!) - hence the use of a rigid-wire QX inside the frame.

It isn't perfect (there are bees involved) but it is much better than a sheet-type resting on the bars.
For a little over a fiver, one can get wire QX cleaning 'combs' that make it quicker and easier to remove (the eventual) wax from the wires.


----////---- For a top beespace hive, one needs to put the frame above the QX.
Don't listen to those saying TBS doesn't benefit from a frame, its just that the problem is out of sight with the bottom bars of the super's frames directly contacting the QX (unless there is a rim!)
TBS - rim above.
BBS - rim below.
Simples.

 

[Jeff M]

Cheers itma, makes sense!