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Author Topic: Hive Bodies  (Read 11009 times)

Offline halexaron

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Hive Bodies
« on: February 16, 2015, 07:09:21 pm »
I just finished making all the components for my langstroth style hives.  Once I stacked them I notice some small spacing between the bodies.  1/16 to 1/8 inch on some between a few of the hive bodies.  Should I be concerned??? I can go back in to make shims to eliminate spacing, but looking for advice before I fiddle with it. 

Offline Joe D

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2015, 09:52:43 pm »
They will probably fill in the gap, that will make it harder to get them apart though.  I have a rasp that when one doesn't fit good on another one, before I paint, I will hit it with the rasp and maybe a hand plane.  I also check to make sure that frames fit down it each box and will slide along with out sticking.  Better to make sure before it is full and full frames and bees and frames don't want to move.  The bees can make some that way any how.
Good luck to you and your bees



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Offline halexaron

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2015, 10:13:29 pm »
Thanks Joe, My OCD will likely demand I go back at it with a plane and some sandpaper anyhow. However, Just in case I get overly ambitious, what is the critical distance between bottom of frames in top body and the top of the ones in the body below?

Offline Joe D

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2015, 10:23:30 pm »
At the moment I don't remember for sure, think it is 3/8".  Don't get that ambitious.  I ran across that Stanley rasp, in a salvage store for a couple of bucks, love working with it and an old small plane.  I use almost no sandpaper.



Joe

Online Michael Bush

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2015, 12:38:44 am »
>Should I be concerned???

Yes.  The space should be between 1/4" and 3/8".  Not more than 3/8".  Not less than 1/4"...
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Offline swflcpl

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2015, 03:50:38 am »
It seems halex is referring to gaps around the outer body edge but Michael might be talking the space between upper and lower frames on a pair of stacked boxes. When planing those gaps down halex Michael's numbers apply to the gap you asked about in message #3. Maybe Michael just misquoted the wrong posting of yours.

Offline rookie2531

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2015, 04:32:46 am »
1/8" seems like a big gap to me. Even a 1/16" is getting a bit large. That is if it is that big all the way in across the whole thickness. I would re-examine the way I cut those and try to see what went wrong. Did you cut the box after assembly? Did you use rough cut that was crooked? If the lumber is cupped it will cause a gap, but only on one edge.
Did you use a table saw? If you used a circ. Saw with a guide, was the big part of the base resting on the wood? Just some questions I would ask myself.

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2015, 04:40:42 am »
You did not say what type of joints you are using but how the boards are lining up can cause this problem. If you are using finger joints, you may need to adjust your jig just a little.
Jim
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Online Michael Bush

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2015, 10:16:12 am »
Sorry, sometimes I'm skimming to get through all the posts... if you put more weight on top it might close some of the gap, but yes, they will fill it as others have pointed out.
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Offline halexaron

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2015, 09:29:07 pm »
1st - thanks for all the help folks.  To clarify my problem:  Although I made the boxes with rough wood--I planned and jointed all the wood to 4S.  I cut the boxes to height after assembly which I think is the origin of my issue--dumb mistake.  However I would rather not start from scratch. 
Anyway the gaps I am worried about do not extend the length of the hive body.  Just the corners and partially along the length where the top and bottom of the boxes meet.  Again 1/16 to 1/8 inch gaps.    Shimming will cause the boxes to fit only the box I shim it against, thus eliminating interchangeability.   

I think the group is advising me to leave it to the bees, however upon every inspection I will potentially re-expose the gap.

Offline rookie2531

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2015, 09:49:00 pm »
Cutting the boxes after assembly would not be a major issue if all the corners lined up. it is if a high corner hits the fence when you run into issues. Make sure when you assemble that you are also on a nice flat table and if you like cutting after assembly, put the top side down and when you are sure all sides meet flush at top corners, put the top side against the rip fence and always measure both sides of the blade to the fence.

Offline halexaron

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2015, 09:57:52 pm »
Thanks Rookie--I don't think I will have the issue this weekend as I head back to shop for the rest of the bodies for hive 2.  I may have been a bit careless, since I was "only making a simple box", but obviously I missed something.  Anyway --do you think I should leave it to the bees to fix my mistake? 

Offline rookie2531

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2015, 10:11:23 pm »
Personally, I would use those boxes as top feeder boxes and make more, but I am not experienced enough to know what the bees will do with that big of a gap. If they do fill it, those boxes might be hard to get off and stick down tight as soon as you put it back on.

I also would think, is it 2 deeps that have the gaps between them? If so pick the configuration that has the smallest between the two and put the biggest gap at the bottom between it and the bottom board, because most likely, you wont have to pick the bottom box up, pretty much ever, if you don't want. And they can fill it and leave it filled. And you can always change the boxes out anytime if you don't like it, so, it really don't matter. People use scraps that float to shore, so I'm sure you'll be O.K. :grin:

Offline halexaron

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2015, 10:18:43 pm »
Perfect---I can place the gaps on the bottom board and even custom shim those since I should rarely have to separate them.   Didn't think of that option.  :embarassed:   I will be more careful this weekend as I build hive 2.  Shouldn't have a issue now that I am paying attention.  Thanks for the advice.

Offline hjon71

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2015, 10:27:52 pm »
How deep is the box now?
You could set your fence on 9 5/8 and try to remove the high spots.
Are you sure the boxes are completely squared? You can correct for most errors by checking/adjusting before the glue sets.
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Offline OldMech

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #15 on: February 20, 2015, 11:08:57 pm »
Or you can cut them to mediums and make more deeps?
  I dont usually worry about 1/16th, when it gets close to 1/8th I will tweak the boxes.. set them on something on the high corners and stand on the low corners to twist the box..   this, before the glue sets.. 
   Squaring your table or miter saw will usually eliminate twisted boxes. Assemble them on a FLAT surface, and do not rack them to make the edges flush. By doing this you will usually end up with nicely flat boxes.  I will also set a heavy weight on top of the stack..   I have a lumber yard metal bin of nails that weighs about 90 lbs.. I stack the boxes, and then set this bin on top of them.. it has no problem making them flat.. then the glue dries, and I can remove the weight and have flat boxes.
39 Hives and growing.  Havent found the end of the comfort zone yet.

Offline halexaron

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #16 on: February 22, 2015, 08:50:27 pm »
Thanks OldMech--OCD would not let me get away with a quick fix. I trimmed my problem boxes down to mediums, remade the deeps set aside a medium for a top feeder.  Everything is drying now with first coat of finish on it.  They look great BTW.  I appreciate the advice from all.  Still not sure what went wrong.  I don't think I made any major corrections this weekend, other than paying more attention to squaring everything as I milled to lumber to 4S.  Anyway--problem solved thanks and this site is great.....Hopefully I will be asking bee related questions very soon.   

Offline loumaro

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #17 on: February 23, 2015, 12:09:37 pm »
What is OCD?
Louie

Offline halexaron

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #18 on: February 23, 2015, 07:48:29 pm »
obsessive compulsive disorder.  Just a joke--however I do get a bit meticulous about some projects

Online Jim134

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Re: Hive Bodies
« Reply #19 on: February 23, 2015, 11:39:35 pm »
   I don't know if I'm the only one that notices this 9 5/8 " deeps boxes are the industry standard
9 1/8" frames at the industry standard which leaves a 1/2 inch of bee space IMHO is too big.
The only bee supplier that I have seen make 9 1/2"  boxes is Humble Abode.

 http://www.humbleabodesinc.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1



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