One size box

[Newbeeneil]

According to wikipedia the bs riser is 5.5" tall so 5 shorts and 6 rises. The Rose modules are 190mm or 7.5" so 4 makes exactly 30".
By the way, Farrar in his writings uses a single box system with dadant supers (170mm which is just under 130mm effective comb), and total heights of 11 supers (57" effective comb) for very good hives.

Easy way to think about it is super = 6” Rose = 7.5 & BS brood 9”

 

[thorn]

I agree entirely, as I’ve said I will try to have a go at OSB this year but can not see any real advantages of Rose boxes over supers.
Regarding cost I buy supers and frames as seconds so pay approx £15 & 50p but have never seen any OSB sizes in a sale.
The cost for these items on the Thornes website is approx £30 and £1.70 respectively
Hardly the 10% you quote although the boxes are easy to make so I would make my own if I went for that size.
Even the cost of the foundation is significantly higher, £1.05 compared to 74p.
The need to have 20% more supers than Rose boxes mitigates these elevated prices slightly but using supersI could make up a 30” tall hive for 60% of the price of a Rose hive of the same size and as I already run standard supers on my hives I can use my existing ones.
As I’ve said before I like the idea of a OSB but I’m yet to be convinced that Tim Rowe’s choice of size was based on anything other than it was halfway between a brood box and a super.

Presumably, if you're posting in response to the OP's question, you only use shallows, and don't use national deeps.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Presumably, if you're posting in response to the OP's question, you only use shallows, and don't use national deeps.

That is the configuration I am looking to use as a trial this year.

 

[ericbeaumont]

Tim Rowe’s choice of size was based on anything other than it was halfway between a brood box and a super

Tim is on record as stating that his choice of box size was determined by the weight he could carry comfortably. That weight may have been fine when he was a young man, but now that he's older and perhaps less strong, the convenience may prove to be transitory.

Langstroth size wasn't determined by anything scientific: apparently he used the timber from a recent stained-glass delivery. As for National, that was probably cobbled together by well-meaning types drinking afternoon tea.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Tim’s decision probably seemed reasonable when he made it but as you say he may now be wishing he had used BS supers.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Langstroth size wasn't determined by anything scientific: apparently he used the timber from a recent stained-glass delivery

nice way of saying 'champagne bottle'

 

[Ian123]

Tim’s decision probably seemed reasonable when he made it but as you say he may now be wishing he had used BS supers.

Suppose there’s an opportunity for a new book or new method then

 

[Newbeeneil]

Suppose there’s an opportunity for a new book or new method then

Watch out or pargyle will have patented the new “Super” system of beekeeping!

 

[fian]

Suppose there’s an opportunity for a new book or new method then

What do you want to be:
A frame mover then the decision parameter will fall on the size of the nest you want to work with.
A box mover then the parameter will be the weight you want to load (from 15 to 25 kilos or from 30 to 50 pounds).
A 14"x12" frame full of honey it weighs just under 4 kilos/8.2 lbs.

 

[pargyle]

Watch out or pargyle will have patented the new “Super” system of beekeeping!

Have I missed something ? I was thinking of much bigger boxes with a hydraulic lifting and tilting mechanism that is operated with compressed air from a foot pump ... zero lifting required. Nothing like it yet ... definitely patentable ...

 

[JamezF]

I'm thinking I should just train the bees to store honey in much bigger cells. 12oz hex glass ones would work nicely for me...

James

 

[Newbeeneil]

I'm thinking I should just train the bees to store honey in much bigger cells. 12oz hex glass ones would work nicely for me...

James

Already been done.

 

[Ian123]

Already been done.
View attachment 35307

Aren’t the bees a bit crunchy on toast!

 

[Newbeeneil]

Aren’t the bees a bit crunchy on toast!

Adds texture!

 

[Antipodes]

Tim is on record as stating that his choice of box size was determined by the weight he could carry comfortably. That weight may have been fine when he was a young man, but now that he's older and perhaps less strong, the convenience may prove to be transitory.

Langstroth size wasn't determined by anything scientific: apparently he used the timber from a recent stained-glass delivery. As for National, that was probably cobbled together by well-meaning types drinking afternoon tea.

I know young beekeepers who use all shallows-(4.7 inches), including for the brood, on account of the weight carrying issue.

 

[pargyle]

Adds texture!

And protein .. more protein value in a bee pro-rata to size than a deep fried crispy locust ....

 

[rolande]

This thread reminded me of the rhyme repeated by Donald Sims in his 'sixty years with bees' (pub: Northern bee books)

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

This thread reminded me of the rhyme repeated by Donald Sims

Still in my view the best scrooge
He was outstanding in the Ladykillers as well

 

[user 6228]

Still in my view the best scrooge
He was outstanding in the Ladykillers as well

Ladykillers? that was Alec Guinness doing an Alistair Simms impression. or are you thinking Sylvia Syms? as in

 

[pargyle]

Ladykillers? that was Alec Guinness doing an Alistair Simms impression. or are you thinking Sylvia Syms? as in View attachment 35316

Ice cold in Alex.... yes you are right - it was Alex Guiness in the Lady Killers ....