Cut-out Frames
Mar 2nd, 2009 by Robo
Anyone that has done more than one cut-out knows what a pain it is to try and tie the comb into frames. Yes rubber bands may be easier, but they bring there own challenges too as they can sag with heavy comb. My preferred method is to use cut-out frames which are just regular frames cut down the middle, hinged on the bottom and have embedding wire strung around the outside. You simply open them like a book, install you comb and close the frame.
I start by cutting the side bars and top bars in half on a band saw. By using split bottom frames, I don’t need to cut the bottom bars. I then assemble them like I would a normal frame. By making a loop around the bottom bars with embedding wire creates the hinge. I put one on each end. I then string 3 rows of embedding wire on the outside of each side of the frame and hold it with staples.
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Great idea – I will be trying that on 14×12 frames for a colony removal I have planned for early March ’10
regards
Stephen
Great Idea Robo.
Robo,
I’ve never seen one of these used. Do you have a video of your using one of these? I’d have to have a bunch of them. I know you do this as a hobby. I still stick with the rubber bands. I typically vacuum all the bees off and lay the comb down flat on a good surface then place the frame on top of the comb and use it as a template to cut it to fit. It does have it’s challenges though. We need to come up with a solution for this for guys that do this for a living.
@Scott Derrick,
I don’t have a video using these, but hopefully at some point I will. Working by myself doesn’t lend to taking much video
They open up like a book and the comb pieces are inserted and then closed. The wires give a lot more support than rubber bands. I find it very difficult to keep comb in place with rubber bands as the bands stretch and let the combs lay over. Once the brood hatches, I move the cut-out frames to the outside of the hive and eventually rotate them out and reuse.
rob…