frame numbers vs honey yield

[David1976]

My supers are all currently nationals with 11 sn frames per box and i have had these for the past few seasons.

Next season, im looking to maximise my output where possible, im looking at the following options

1. 10 sn frames
2. 9 sn frames
3. 10 manley frames

Out of interest, from personal experience has anyone noticed greater yields with different frame setups? And, if so, was it worthwhile?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

reduce them to ten if you must, but anything less is just a fiddle with little increase in yield

 

[ericbeaumont]

greater yields with different frame setups

4-4.5lbs per SN frame on 9-frame castellations was not unusual, but I went over to Manleys because they don't rattle around in transport, and I can either extract, sell complete (side bars protect on the way home) or cut for smaller comb packs.

Save money by using unwired foundation; I use only cut-comb unwired; extract gently the first time.

 

[Swarm]

This year was possibly an exception but I had SN frames on 11 frame spacing that weighed in at 4.5lbs.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

As I hate uncapping it's 9 in a National and 8 in a WBC for me. It also means that you can scale up a little without buying any more frames - just the supers.
Oh, and the castellations.

 

[The Poot]

I largely use 9 per super - my extractor takes 9 frames so it makes the process a bit simpler. I found with nine the yield is better than with eleven.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

so you're saying that the fewer frames you have the more honey you get.
I can smell something - and it isn't the ivy flowering

 

[Swarm]

I largely use 9 per super - my extractor takes 9 frames so it makes the process a bit simpler. I found with nine the yield is better than with eleven.

I understand your reasoning, makes the extracting process far simpler.

 

[robmort]

I largely use 9 per super - my extractor takes 9 frames so it makes the process a bit simpler. I found with nine the yield is better than with eleven.

I use 9 too for similar reasons. It's obvious that with less woodwork in the box, the bees pack more honey into the space as the spacings between frames are just the same.

 

[The Poot]

so you're saying that the fewer frames you have the more honey you get.
I can smell something - and it isn't the ivy flowering

No it’s not flowering here yet either.

 

[The Poot]

I use 9 too for similar reasons. It's obvious that with less woodwork in the box, the bees pack more honey into the space as the spacings between frames are just the same.

Yes, that’s what I’ve found - the foundation is drawn out wider to create the normal bee space between the frames and with only nine there is less foundation midrib and less wax capping to remove, thus less wastage of honey when extracting.

 

[deemann1]

Yes i get between 27 to 32 pounds for a national super with 10 frames each super fills 10l bucket

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

Anything less than ten frames in a national box and your increasing the probability of breaking the lugs quite drastically.
Ten is the ideal.
I've tried aĺl sorts over the years, now settled on commercial supers with manley frames for spun frames and national manley for cut comb, still have thousands of SN4 in the system which are gradually being replaced. It's the castleations that are a pain, literally, as I keep cutting my fingers on them.
Also we have twenty frame extractors, odd numbers wouldn't work.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Also we have twenty frame extractors, odd numbers wouldn't work.

I find that, regardless of how many frames the extractor holds, it only becomes a (minor) problem when you get to the last box

 

[Newbeeneil]

Anything less than ten frames in a national box and your increasing the probability of breaking the lugs quite drastically.
Ten is the ideal.
I've tried aĺl sorts over the years, now settled on commercial supers with manley frames for spun frames and national manley for cut comb, still have thousands of SN4 in the system which are gradually being replaced. It's the castleations that are a pain, literally, as I keep cutting my fingers on them.
Also we have twenty frame extractors, odd numbers wouldn't work.

What do you do to cut your fingers on castellations? I've used them in supers and brood boxes for the last 7 years without a single cut and I use nitrile gloves.

 

[Wingy]

Another consideration for better yield is use drone foundation, bigger cells, less wax, more honey. I do this in my Langstroth hives.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

What do you do to cut your fingers on castellations? I've used them in supers and brood boxes for the last 7 years without a single cut and I use nitrile gloves.

Psoritic arthritis is taking its toll slowly, biggest issue is loss of feeling, I'm lethal with knife, I always have cuts on hands as becoming ever more clumsy.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Psoritic arthritis is taking its toll slowly, biggest issue is loss of feeling, I'm lethal with knife, I always have cuts on hands as becoming ever more clumsy.

Sorry to hear that. I have recieved burns on my middle fingers due to loss of feeling caused by carpal tunnel issues. Loss of touch is frustrating and painful!.

Edit...........Just read that last sentence and it makes no sense..... lack of feeling is unlikely to be painful but it is no fun to find you have an enormous blister on the end of your finger!

 

[jeff33]

I personally use 11 frames BN when undrawn and only 10 frames when drawn. I haven't found much difference in yield but for me the difference is during uncapping. With 11 frames I mostly need to use a fork but with 10 a knife which is quicker and easier.

 

[OXFORDBEE]

What do you do to cut your fingers on castellations? I've used them in supers and brood boxes for the last 7 years without a single cut and I use nitrile gloves.

I’ve short chubby fingers and large palms. Not a great combination for being a pianist or playing with castellations! Got injured several times so got rid of castellated runners and now suffer less.