Hello Everyone.

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Thanks. I don't want to just clutter the other (not "New Bee") forums with drivel and annoy folks,

Why not? you won't be on your own!

 

[Laz]

To digress, my Grandad on my Mum's side was a pattern-maker in the shipyards, making casting blanks to machined tolerances in hardwood. That was him of course not me, I claim no such skill, but I still have a few of his bespoke tools designed and made to carve and cut particular items. They're bonkers, I have no idea of even how to use them, I guess they were to reach around certain shapes on the lathe or elsewhere.

My Dad was a patternmaker in Swan Hunters shipyard in Wallsend, he went on to become a master, after he died I ended up with 3 wooden toolboxes full of things, the uses of some of which I know, the rest... beamed in by aliens! Welcome to the forum, enjoy!

 

[demig]

Welcome, we are a friendly bunch in Northumberland. I started with my son the year before last with the Alnwick and District Beekeepers, getting a lot of experience from the "old timers" every Saturday at the association apiary proved very useful! Clearly you never stop learning in this hobby and spending time on the forum, talking to other beeks and going to an association apiary is invaluable.

Lots of folk round here (morpeth, alnwick) use nationals, a few smith hives up towards the borders I believe.

Demig

 

[Arfermo]

To digress, my Grandad on my Mum's side was a pattern-maker in the shipyards, making casting blanks to machined tolerances in hardwood. That was him of course not me, I claim no such skill, but I still have a few of his bespoke tools designed and made to carve and cut particular items. They're bonkers, I have no idea of even how to use them, I guess they were to reach around certain shapes on the lathe or elsewhere.

My Dad was a patternmaker in Swan Hunters shipyard in Wallsend, he went on to become a master, after he died I ended up with 3 wooden toolboxes full of things, the uses of some of which I know, the rest... beamed in by aliens! Welcome to the forum, enjoy!

The shape of a ship requires specialists in crafting woodwork/metal to fit accurately. True experts in their field and no doubt still in demand - in Far East mainly now I expect.

 

[madasafish]

The shape of a ship requires specialists in crafting woodwork/metal to fit accurately. True experts in their field and no doubt still in demand - in Far East mainly now I expect.

CNC machining now I would expect - straight from CAD.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

CNC machining now I would expect - straight from CAD.

yup - lazer cutting lofts for the hull metalwork panels, bracers etc, it's getting to the point it's almost a great big airfix kit

 

[Wrongfoot]

Welcome, we are a friendly bunch in Northumberland. I started with my son the year before last with the Alnwick and District Beekeepers, getting a lot of experience from the "old timers" every Saturday at the association apiary proved very useful!
Lots of folk round here (morpeth, alnwick) use nationals, a few smith hives up towards the borders I believe.

Hi Demig, I've now been to a frame building and introductory session with the Hexham BKA. You are right that it's nationals around here and apparently mostly the standard rather than deep brood. Keeps things simple if I want to build a hive and integrate with the locals.

A few trips to their beginner sessions at their apiary this summer should help me prepare for a first year asa BK in 2016.

 

[itma]

Hi Demig, I've now been to a frame building and introductory session with the Hexham BKA. You are right that it's nationals around here and apparently mostly the standard rather than deep brood. Keeps things simple if I want to build a hive and integrate with the locals.

A few trips to their beginner sessions at their apiary this summer should help me prepare for a first year asa BK in 2016.

Just a passing observation, that you have to watch out for the terminology - some folk have been known to get something different to what they expected!
The National family of boxes has three sizes - "shallow" (taking SN series frames and commonly used as honey crop supers), "deep" (taking DN series frames and commonly used as a brood box) and "extra deep" or "jumbo" (which is much more often called 14x12 and sensibly used as the brood box).
SN frames are 14x5 and DNs are 14x8 but nobody ever seems to call them that ...


The Smith hive mentioned above (and earlier) uses frames with identical comb sizes to SN and DN, but having shorter lifting lugs on the ends. The reason for the short lugs is that it enables the carpentry of the box to be simpler, and consequently Smiths are particularly popular among self-builders (rather than flatpack assemblers!)