Frame Assembly - Nail Lenght

[Bunn]

Hi all,

I picked up my first hives this weekend and have enjoyed assembling them in the garden in the sun! I'm down to around 1 minute 20 per frame without the foundation...

My only issue seems to be the length of nails when attaching the wedge bar once I've slid the foundation into the frames. The 19mm gimp pins just seem too long and even when going at an angle they are pocking out of the top bar.

I know the simple solution would be to get some 15mm gimp pins, but I'm curious as to what everyone else does to get around this problem?

 

[Bunn]

I appear to have made an error in the title but can't seem to edit!

 

[Codford]

I use 19mm, never had any problems - are you sure you're putting them in the right way?

 

[Nige.Coll]

Your doing it wrong.
Gimp pins are the ones used.
Change the angle so they don't show above the top bar.

I use 20mm in a nailgun and don't have issues, the odd one I get wrong.

 

[Softley]

I knock them through the corner of the 'wedge bar' at about 45°. Only when I get the angle wrong do they poke out the top.

Oh, and depending where your pins came from, you might find some are longer than others.

 

[Fusion_power]

Several of the large suppliers have started selling 19 mm over here. I refuse to use them because I use a pair of channel lock pliers to press them into the wood. I can put 3 into a wedge by the time most people get 1 in with a hammer. I use 15 mm pin nails through the wedge and put them in at an angle so they press the wedge tight against the foundation. 19 mm would be just a tad long and IMO should be changed to 15 mm.

If using wired foundation, the wedge can be attached just about any way you want to put the pin nails in. But when using thin comb honey foundation, it is important that the wedge gets pressed against the foundation.

Many large beekeepers here use groove frames and pour wax into the top groove to hold the foundation in place. They claim it is much faster to secure the foundation as compared to wedge top bars.

 

[Finman]

.
I use 15 mm nails in electrict nailer.

 

[madasafish]

.
I use 15 mm nails in electrict nailer.

+1

Why waste time hammering when you can do 4 in the time to hammer in one?

Lidl had one at £9.99 excellent.

 

[wightbees]

I don't find 15 mm hold very well when using nail gun? What am I doing wrong I wonder

 

[manek]

I use a pair of channel lock pliers to press them into the wood

I'm not sure what channel lock pliers are - the company seems to make loads of types of pliers.

 

[alfazer]

I'm not sure what channel lock pliers are - the company seems to make loads of types of pliers.

In the UK they tend to be called waterpump pliers or slip-joint pliers.

 

[manek]

In the UK they tend to be called waterpump pliers or slip-joint pliers.

Right, I know the sort of thing you mean, thanks.

 

[MuswellMetro]

I have no problem with 19mm(3/4") pins, I think you have put the pins in wrong part of the wedge, try putting them in through the narrow part of the wedge instead of the wide part of the wedge

you can just do it straight down but as others say a 45 degree angled pin is better

 

[REDWOOD]

Read the link, it clearly depicts the angle of the nails in the wedge
http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/frameassy.html