Q- raising frame ?

[Smudger55]

Hi , anyone know where to purchase queen rearing frames from ( to add cup kits on) as I for some reason can not find any from the usuall retailers .....

 

[nantmoel]

Hi , anyone know where to purchase queen rearing frames from ( to add cup kits on) as I for some reason can not find any from the usuall retailers .....

Why not make one out of a normal frame or even completely? Very simple

 

[Smudger55]

Not to sound thick , but how

 

[sipa]

Mann lake do them for Langstroth, not sure about other sizes

 

[B+.]

Not to sound thick , but how

Some people cut a rebate into the side bars and slide a 1/4 inch thick cell bar in.
Personally, I cut about 3" off the top of a spare set of side-bars and screwed them to the inside of a normal frame. My cell bars have little notches so that they fit into the grooves from the top. I did it this way so that they couldn't slide out sideways from the frame

The only difference is whether you want to slide the cell bar in from the side (option 1) or from the top (option 2).

 

[Plenty of honey]

I make one with removable bars, which most do. B+ mentioned this. Then you put the bars back in when you have grafted and makes it all a lot easier. Its very much personal choice. I have also tried buying a ready made one, that incorporates a small feeder in the top of the frame. With this, personally i find they empty it too quickly and you sacrifice a potentially good place to put grafts.
Putting on a feeder is just as good. and you dont have to open the hive to refill it. I understand this is for a Dadant hive frame, but its all the same. Take a frame apart if you have to, then rebuild it with extra pieces if necessary.

http://www.icko-apiculture.com/fr/cadre-d-elevage-dadant.html

If its your first year queen rearing, i wouldn't worry about as many as you can cram on the frame, instead probably better to get your queen less set up as strong as you can. Max no of nurse bees. Even if you've done 20 grafts, that might well be enough for your needs.
Better to have really strong , well fed cells, than small ones, possibly not fed to the max in the larval stage.
I do find i get different size cells, mean each batch can be different. if the flow stops you've got a job to mimic it and generally, the queen cells turn out a little smaller.

 

[Poly Hive]

Screw or glue blocks onto the side bars to suit. I put three sets or two onto a brood frame and one set on a super frrame.

I use plywood, cut a strip about 25mm wide then cut holes in it to take ten or 12 cell cups.

Pretty basic stuff.

PH

 

[Smudger55]

Many thanks , I am sure I can manage that ....@(poly hive )

 

[Tom Bick]

I simply drilled a hole through the sidebar so as to screw through into a strip of timber cut to the same width of the side bar. The bar is not removable but has the advantage that I can swivel it making the grafting easier. A nice simple solution for only the odd frame of grafts.
It really is one of the simplest jobs to modify a spare frame and no need to buy a purpose made frame.
Good look and have fun.

 

[mbc]

https://www.abelo.co.uk/shop/queen-rearing/cell-bar-frame-and-cups-british-standard/

 

[Poly Hive]

It does help if one can move the strips of ply as the started cells can then be batched and put in supers to be finished, thus avoiding the frame size issue that otherwise could be a bother.

PH

 

[keith pierce]

always handy to have a few an stand by

 

[bontbee]

I simply drilled a hole through the sidebar so as to screw through into a strip of timber cut to the same width of the side bar. The bar is not removable but has the advantage that I can swivel it making the grafting easier. A nice simple solution for only the odd frame of grafts.
It really is one of the simplest jobs to modify a spare frame and no need to buy a purpose made frame.
Good look and have fun.

Ditto - and if I can do it, anyone can! (The strip of timber was a spare top bar, cut to length and put into position upside down.)