bjosephd
Drone Bee
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2014
- Messages
- 1,129
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- North Somerset
- Hive Type
- Langstroth
- Number of Hives
- 3
Are there many Langstroth users in the UK?
I understand how a hive type gains 'momentum' due to everyone in a locality/association wanting to use what's gone before for ease of frames fitting all and each other's boxes for all the various advantages that brings etc…
I've also read a little on the history and how the National evolved from the old WBC and got standardised by the Ministry for Agriculture and British Standards Institute in the mid 1900s, so I also understand that it's just the way beekeeping has evolved here in the UK.
However, after further research and recently purchasing a flat pack National I'm beginning to wonder how advantageous it really is to go down the National route.
They seem to be a right faff to build and construct, a lot of (and 8 parts) wood and therefore heavy for their size. And the cost seems to reflect that.
Langstroths on the other hand are simple 4 section boxes, more brood space, cheaper (especially from "Bloke River"), and a broader variety of accessories seem available.
The local lord high Don of beekeeping here uses commercial BBs which seems a step in that direction, but they seem hellish expensive, as are 14x12s.
While I still only have one hive I'm still in a position to consider which route I'm going to go down, and once I have a small handful of hives the need for an emergency frame of brood or wotnot from a local beek becomes significantly diminished. I can also get set up with a modest 3 or 4 hives (max) for a fraction of the price of Nationals or Commercials.
Are there seriously any truly significant advantages with Nationals rather than Langstroths? I don't count the weight since as soon as you have a Commercial or 14x12 you're already hefting more weight than a Langstroth.
The rest of the world seems to be running pretty well on Langs, are we just sticking with it because it's our own special British box?
I understand how a hive type gains 'momentum' due to everyone in a locality/association wanting to use what's gone before for ease of frames fitting all and each other's boxes for all the various advantages that brings etc…
I've also read a little on the history and how the National evolved from the old WBC and got standardised by the Ministry for Agriculture and British Standards Institute in the mid 1900s, so I also understand that it's just the way beekeeping has evolved here in the UK.
However, after further research and recently purchasing a flat pack National I'm beginning to wonder how advantageous it really is to go down the National route.
They seem to be a right faff to build and construct, a lot of (and 8 parts) wood and therefore heavy for their size. And the cost seems to reflect that.
Langstroths on the other hand are simple 4 section boxes, more brood space, cheaper (especially from "Bloke River"), and a broader variety of accessories seem available.
The local lord high Don of beekeeping here uses commercial BBs which seems a step in that direction, but they seem hellish expensive, as are 14x12s.
While I still only have one hive I'm still in a position to consider which route I'm going to go down, and once I have a small handful of hives the need for an emergency frame of brood or wotnot from a local beek becomes significantly diminished. I can also get set up with a modest 3 or 4 hives (max) for a fraction of the price of Nationals or Commercials.
Are there seriously any truly significant advantages with Nationals rather than Langstroths? I don't count the weight since as soon as you have a Commercial or 14x12 you're already hefting more weight than a Langstroth.
The rest of the world seems to be running pretty well on Langs, are we just sticking with it because it's our own special British box?
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