Missing Pins

[MikeT]

While I was cleaning up and checking through the super frames of the 2 hives
I bought in September, I noticed none of the top bars were pinned to the side bars. I remember when I inspected the Brood in September some of the brood frames seemed loose. I am therefore concerned that the pins may be missing from the brood frames as well. I have ordered a Rampin tool which I hope I can use to push pins into the frames while they are still in the hive.

I doubt if anyone else has had this problem but do you think the Rampin will do the job?

I cannot understand how a beekeeper can leave out such important pins when the top bar gets so levering about to remove the frames. I am sure the propolis will not hold the frames together when I want to inspect in the spring.

 

[itma]

The nails should go into the topbar horizontally - invisible from the top.
On hoffmans, one at each side should go in through the side of the hoffman 'wedge' so it goes in at about 45° to the axis of the tobbar.
Its at the bottom of frames that one most often finds 'wrong' nailing.
11 nails per frame, every frame. 4 into the topbar, 4 attaching the bottom bars to the sidebars, and three to hold the 'wedge' against the foundation.

In spring, many/most frames should be pretty empty and no bother to remove for renailing (if actually needed). Leave well alone until then!

 

[MikeT]

I believe they have been deliberately missed as the bottom bars are nailed correctly. Nothing has been simple this time round. I am hoping with the Rampin I should be able to push pins into the sides by removing one frame, possibly 2 for room to use the tool. This should not disturb the bees too much. I shall not do this until the spring inspections.

 

[k9rml]

I would think you would struggle with the rampin as it needs a solid flat board to lay the frames on so as to push the gimp pins home, even then you sometimes need a small hammer to finish the job off.

 

[will]

I believe they have been deliberately missed as the bottom bars are nailed correctly. Nothing has been simple this time round. I am hoping with the Rampin I should be able to push pins into the sides by removing one frame, possibly 2 for room to use the tool. This should not disturb the bees too much. I shall not do this until the spring inspections.

If you buy ready made frames from certain suppliers they only put nails in one side on the top bar

 

[jonnybeegood]

The nails should go into the topbar horizontally - invisible from the top.
On hoffmans, one at each side should go in through the side of the hoffman 'wedge' so it goes in at about 45° to the axis of the tobbar.
Its at the bottom of frames that one most often finds 'wrong' nailing.
11 nails per frame, every frame. 4 into the topbar, 4 attaching the bottom bars to the sidebars, and three to hold the 'wedge' against the foundation.

In spring, many/most frames should be pretty empty and no bother to remove for renailing (if actually needed). Leave well alone until then!

Do you really need 4 in each top bar? I only use 2, both in the square side on hoffman frames, i couldnt pull them apart so the weight of a full frame wont, +one in each side is more likely to split the sides surely?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Do you really need 4 in each top bar?

Yes,
quite a weight in these when full of either brood or stores.Have not split one frame yet through nailing from each side - you just angle the nails a bit as ITMA

 

[bontbee]

Why risk wrecking a comb for the sake of two pins....?

I tried a rampin and have gone back to a "toffee"/pin hammer. It's lovely to tap away in the shed on a winter's day, and think it would be straightforward to add two pins to frames, even with drawn comb.

 

[MuswellMetro]

I believe they have been deliberately missed as the bottom bars are nailed correctly. Nothing has been simple this time round. I am hoping with the Rampin I should be able to push pins into the sides by removing one frame, possibly 2 for room to use the tool. This should not disturb the bees too much. I shall not do this until the spring inspections.

in your disease inspection you should shake the bees off the brood to inspect the eggs,pupa and larvae , so do it then with a pin hammer

 

[jonnybeegood]

in your disease inspection you should shake the bees off the brood to inspect the eggs,pupa and larvae , so do it then with a pin hammer

Would you really use a pin hammer on frames with young brood? Surely they would end up all over the floor Lol

 

[MikeT]

I am not happy with using a hammer on combs with brood in. As Jonny says the young uncapped brood may fall out. When the Rampin arrives I will try it out in an empty brood box. I think I should be able to get enough pressure to get the pins in. I have not used a Rampin for at least 50 years, and cannot remember how effective it was.

At least I can do the super frames without any problems!!!

 

[YorkshireBees]

Although I use a nail gun for frame assembly (speed / quantity) I still use a rampin tool for the top wedge. So long as the wood is soft enough you should get the pins in ok.

 

[MikeT]

Thanks Yorkshirebees will give it a go after I have had a dummy run on the super frames as a trial.