Supers

[deemann1]

My two hives are nationals I'll be making 4 more soon .I was thinking would it be better to make supers the same size as the brood boxes one size box for all and frames .

 

[Heather]

Trickier to extract... and v heavy to move. Like a double super nearly- imagine lifting when rammed with capped honey. Unless you are strong.

 

[For want of a better word]

My two hives are nationals I'll be making 4 more soon .I was thinking would it be better to make supers the same size as the brood boxes one size box for all and frames .

Look up Rose Hives OSB !

Nos da

 

[Jafer2]

If your young and/or fit then i say go for it. I have 14x12 jumbo brood and supers. Easier to replace store less and all the same.

Downside is its very heavy but i dont have many hives so i dont care and only take out one at a time rather than the whole super. Also cant use an extractor due to size.

 

[Poly Hive]

Of course an extractor can be used for those combs.

Provided one buys the right machine.

PH

 

[REDWOOD]

I think Popeye would have a job moving one's that size, however you could remove a couple of frames at a time if it suits your beekeeping style

 

[wightbees]

I use both and at 47 years old I lift those BB full of Nectar ok, got to admit though those supers are a lot easier to move though!

 

[Millet]

I asked a similar question not too long ago..

https://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=40925

 

[Finman]

.
Smaller supers are handy to extract. They do not break easily. Honey rippens there faster, becaus they do not need so much new honey. I use Langstroths and mediums = 2/3 langstroth.

Mediums can be used as brood frames too, and Langstroths as supers.

 

[oliver90owner]

Finny has hit the nail firmly on the head. They (even 14 x 12) are good for heavy flows, like OSR, but you do not want large format frames when the flow is not so heavy - like most of the UK season!

 

[deemann1]

Thanks for feedback all.
Large supers it is

 

[Finman]

.
You may use large and small supers, or small or large brood, just as you want.

 

[masterBK]

I know a few beekeepers who ended up with hernias or back problems from handling "large" full supers and now no longer keep bees. I also know several older beekeepers in their 80's who use Nationals and use two shallow boxes (supers) for brood in place of standard broodchamber to reduce the heavy lifting problem.

 

[bpmurray]

I put a Brood box on one of mine hoping they would draw it out during the ivy flow. I went back 2 weeks later and it was packed with ivy honey so I gave them a super & took that to extract. This is a new apiary, with about 100m walk to the car. Nearly killed me! I would guess something between 50 and 70 lbs, and it felt like between 500 and 700 lbs by the time I got to the car. So beware - it can get really heavy.

 

[Millet]

I put a Brood box on one of mine hoping they would draw it out during the ivy flow. I went back 2 weeks later and it was packed with ivy honey so I gave them a super & took that to extract. This is a new apiary, with about 100m walk to the car. Nearly killed me! I would guess something between 50 and 70 lbs, and it felt like between 500 and 700 lbs by the time I got to the car. So beware - it can get really heavy.

A wheel barrow springs to mind..

 

[bpmurray]

A wheel barrow springs to mind..

Well I thought to myself "how heavy can a poly broodbox be?" and now I know!

 

[Millet]

Well I thought to myself "how heavy can a poly broodbox be?" and now I know!

a lesson learned.

 

[Poly Hive]

I had a Langstroth leak from it's floor many years ago on the heather.

I was doing a very physical job at the time and was pretty fit and strong.

When I got it sorted and ready to lift...............I bloody struggled with it.

As for humping 50 odd like that......I think not. Or be prepared to spend what you make on osteopath fees.

There is a very good reason for supers, it is called manageability.

PH