frames

[hypostatic]

Hi all,

Just got 2 smith hives which has 2 brood boxes and 4 supers. However i need frames for 1 of the brood boxes and some more frames for the supers.

Wheres the best place to get them and does anyone on here have any spare i can have or purchase?

Can contact me on here or 01501-744817

Dave

[Neils]

My preference currently is paynes, but I'm not sure whether they do Smith frames.

I'd be wary of buying used frames as they can be excellent vectors for introducing disease into your hives, for the sake of a few pounds I think you're much better off buying new.

[Ruary]

My preference currently is paynes, but I'm not sure whether they do Smith frames.

.

Smith frames have the same dimensions as British Standard for National hives with the exception that the lugs are shorter.
It is easy to trim National frames to length with a pair of secateurs.

[Neils]

I did consider suggesting that, but as I've never used smiths I thought I'd keep it simple

[hypostatic]

thats great guys, you mentioned paynes, is there a web link i can have?

Thanks again

[hypostatic]

its ok guys i got it

[Rosie]

I always wait for Thorne's sale and buy their seconds.

[Neils]

Never again for me with seconds frames. If you don't value your time they're ok, but the quality is shocking. You can add a chisel and a dremel/sander of some description to the list of tools needed in the frame assembly guide.

A significant number if the last batch either had no side bar grooves or they were in the wrong side (Hoffman frames)

[Black Comb]

My Thornes sale ones were ok last year.
I've heard MM aren't so good, but have no personal experience.

[Neils]

MM Is Maisemore?

Generally between the two I tend to think that Maisemore make better frames and thornes make better hive parts. Payne's don't appear to make 14x12 in cedar so I've only tried their frames which were a dream compared to the seconds to assemble.

It might just be that I got a batch of what should have been used as firewood packaged as seconds from thornes, but I'm unimpressed with any of their seconds stuff, the brood boxes don't fit together properly either and I had to chisel and sand down the inside top on a few at one end in order for the frames to fit.