Author Topic: Super's not square  (Read 4241 times)

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Offline Newbee

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Super's not square
« on: February 16, 2017, 07:34:22 am »
I built my first hive from parts ordered online, and the 10-frame medium supers I put together aren't perfectly square. They're square-ish, and the deep's came out better (used a carpenter's square!), but I'm wondering if there's a way to fix the supers, or just let the bee's deal with it? They are nailed and glued, I already tried racking them a little, no love..... Short of busting them completely apart, is there any way to 'fix' it? Or should I just plan on lots of propolis?
Thanks.

- Kevin

Offline Perry

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2017, 07:47:35 am »
When I assemble mine I glue and screw and then check them with a square. I then rack them like you mentioned to get them exactly where I want them, then stack them and then put a heavy weight on the top of the stack to get them to sit flat. It usually works well for me. I wouldn't be too worried about giving them a good rack by placing one corner on the floor and pushing down on the opposing corner. If it is a matter of them not sitting flat, lay a 2 by 2 on the floor and rack them that way.
Good luck.
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2017, 10:46:23 am »
"Or should I just plan on lots of propolis?"

........ :yes:..................... :D

i do as perry does to get them square and flat........just one thing, i am a perfectionist......BUT we are not building china cabinets..... :D
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
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Offline Wandering Man

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2017, 11:00:42 am »
I have one box that is not square.  The bees will use the gap as an upper entrance, if I put the box on the right way.  Otherwise, I think they fill in the hole.

I'm pretty sure the foundation I set the hive on is not as level as it was at first.  The bees, being more of a perfectionist than I am, have built their comb perpendicular to the ground, rather than to the walls of the hive.  As a result, those foundationless frames I put in the box have resulted in a box of comb that blends from one frame to the next.  I've given up pulling all of the frames out to inspect that box.  I'm waiting on the nectar flow to hit, then I'll just pull the whole box and see what I can do.

For now, the girls and I have agreed to disagree on what the comb is supposed to look like.
Never argue with drunks or crazy people

Offline Perry

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2017, 11:02:02 am »
For now, the girls and I have agreed to disagree on what the comb is supposed to look like.

 :laugh: :yes: :laugh: :yes:
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2017, 11:07:05 am »
.................. :D
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2017, 01:44:30 pm »
Good that Wandering man!
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Offline Riverrat

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2017, 03:47:09 pm »
Ventilation gap  ;D
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Offline G3farms

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #8 on: February 16, 2017, 08:09:35 pm »
As a result, those foundationless frames I put in the box have resulted in a box of comb that blends from one frame to the next.  I've given up pulling all of the frames out to inspect that box.  I'm waiting on the nectar flow to hit, then I'll just pull the whole box and see what I can do.

Pull the whole super off and turn it upside down, this will allow you to dump all of the frames out together. Makes like a little more simple. Cut the combs out and rubber band them back into the frames the right way..............just a thought!
Bees are bees and do as they please!

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Offline CBT

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #9 on: February 16, 2017, 09:01:43 pm »
Keep a roll of painters tape in the apiary tool box. If you have a problem it's a quick fix.

Offline kingd

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #10 on: February 17, 2017, 06:59:54 am »
I just put them on something level and stack bricks on them,and if that does not work its extra holes for the bees.
 Tape works too if it bothers you too much :)

A friend of mine has what people call welfare hives,Holes,crooked,rotten and everything in between. His bees do fantastic.
Funny thing is,He has cases of brand new woodenware for"just in case".

Offline Perry

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #11 on: February 17, 2017, 07:18:17 am »
I just put them on something level and stack bricks on them,and if that does not work its extra holes for the bees.
 Tape works too if it bothers you too much :)

A friend of mine has what people call welfare hives,Holes,crooked,rotten and everything in between. His bees do fantastic.
Funny thing is,He has cases of brand new woodenware for "just in case".

Also known as "You never know". I have a basement full of them. ;D
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #12 on: February 17, 2017, 10:56:31 am »
"A friend of mine has what people call welfare hives,Holes,crooked,rotten and everything in between. His bees do fantastic.
Funny thing is,He has cases of brand new woodenware for"just in case"."


................. :D
too funny!  mmm, i guess that would probably describe some of mine!
i keep wild things in a box..........™
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2017, 03:22:08 pm »
It would have to be really out of square a long ways for there to be a gap?

   i nail my boxes together in a jig so they usually turn out square enough that no one complains. Flat... is another story, but as Perry said a weight on top as the glue dries can help.

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Offline Chip Euliss

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #14 on: February 17, 2017, 03:39:15 pm »
I use a jig a friend made for me that holds them square until they are screwed/nailed together.  If you put any number of them together, it's a real time saver
Chip

Offline G3farms

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #15 on: February 17, 2017, 07:22:02 pm »
HEY YOU TWO!!!
Post up some pics of that box jig, I am making one and could use a couple of ideas.

Of course I am wanting to put a couple of air cylinders on mine  :D
Bees are bees and do as they please!

.... --- -   -... . . ...   .-- .. .-.. .-..   .... .- ...- .   -.-- --- ..-   ... - . .--. .--. .. -. --.   .- -. -..   ..-. . - -.-. .... .. -. --.   .-.. .. -.- .   -.-- --- ..- .-.   .... . .- -..   .. ...   --- -.   ..-. .. .-. .   .- -. -..   -.-- --- ..- .-.   .- ... ...   .. ...   -.-. .- - -.-. .... .. -. --.

Offline Perry

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #16 on: February 17, 2017, 07:34:11 pm »
HEY YOU TWO!!!
Post up some pics of that box jig, I am making one and could use a couple of ideas.

Of course I am wanting to put a couple of air cylinders on mine  :D

 I smell "patent" in the air maybe? :)
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
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Offline G3farms

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #17 on: February 17, 2017, 07:57:10 pm »
Probably more like a mashed finger or two!
Bees are bees and do as they please!

.... --- -   -... . . ...   .-- .. .-.. .-..   .... .- ...- .   -.-- --- ..-   ... - . .--. .--. .. -. --.   .- -. -..   ..-. . - -.-. .... .. -. --.   .-.. .. -.- .   -.-- --- ..- .-.   .... . .- -..   .. ...   --- -.   ..-. .. .-. .   .- -. -..   -.-- --- ..- .-.   .- ... ...   .. ...   -.-. .- - -.-. .... .. -. --.

Offline Nugget Shooter

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #18 on: February 18, 2017, 09:45:35 am »
Cheers, Bill

Offline Chip Euliss

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Re: Super's not square
« Reply #19 on: February 18, 2017, 12:42:34 pm »

Chip