Who makes the best quality frames?

[Neils]

As I put together 30-40 of the buggers last weekend and had a play with a few different suppliers I thought I'd do a quick straw poll.

Last year I bought a stack of Thornes seconds frames, never again. By time I threw out side bars with the grooves for foundation on the wrong side, or even not at all out (not a deciding factor in trying no foundation frames, honest) and wrestled with sidebars that wouldn't fit into top bars and other tales of woe I reckon I lost any saving. If I factor in my wasted time, I lost a fortune.

Handy hint from putting together the remainder last week... A dremel with the sanding attachment on it is about the perfect width for the slots on the side/top bars, so factor in another £30 or so on a tool to make the bloody things fit together

Normal Thornes frames aren't much better to be honest, you just don't seem to get missing foundation grooves, overly knotty wood but you do still get parts that don't fit together.

Maisemore: Better than Thornes for frames by a long shot imo. Sadly I think the rest of their stuff (hive parts) isn't as good as thornes.

Paynes: Bought some extra frames when I bought the poly hives and for me they're the best of the bunch so far. Stuff fits, it looks well made, they don't scatter all over the floor when you unpack the box either every things grouped by part using elastic bands and then wrapped in easy open plastic wrapping (boo!, but must less actual plastic as those industrial strength plastic packing bands everyone else seems to use).

I've never used them before, but I'm quite impressed by Paynes so far.

That's my take, anyone else?

[Trog]

Made up lots and lots of Thornes frames last year (for self and for assoc). Normal quality. No problems whatever. Packed by parts, elastic bands round each batch, no un-necessary packaging. I work out on the terrace using a modified B & D workbench, small hammer and a wooden mallet for encouraging side bars into top bar. Lovely as long as I remember to keep the foundation out of the sun and don't mind the odd inquisitive bee!

[Neils]

Im glad someone gets on better with them but for a few years we've been of the opinion that maisemore did better frames but thornes made better hive parts.

I definitely feel that the budget frames are a false economy though. Slightly wobbly boxes I can live with, but having to sand frame lugs is a step too far.

[gavin]

Can't say I've had any particular issues with Thornes frames, but then I've little experience with any other source. Firsts have always seemed good but seconds can have the odd piece with a knot in the wrong place. I use a thwack of the heel of a hand to force the side bars into the top bar and have never needed to trim them. Sometimes the foundation has needed trimmed but usually it is OK.

Does anyone know a good site for instructions on making up frames? Thornes seem to have mislaid theirs in the web site revamp. I'd like to point our beginners at a good set of instructions for making frames and boxes. Sorry, should have said T h * £ @ * s (wee dig there at over-sensitivity on commercialism elsewhere).

[Neils]

Did I not put up my frame assembly photos here? I'll double check and redo it if not.

[Adam]

I've bought mostly Thornes frames - I did get some from elsewhere (one of the above suppliers I think) a few years ago but can't remember where from and I think they had a thornes label on them anyway. Seconds have a few duff bits but not too bad in my experience. 14 x 12 parts need to be decent as they frames are big and heavy - and very narrow and weak where the side bar joins the top. I use 2 nails at this point rather than 1. Parts generally need to be banged together - the side of a claw hammer is what I use, they usually fit together if you hit them hard enough!. Gavin, I don't know what you hand will be like if you do that often. ( I spoke to a retired carpenter a wee while ago and his right has is knackered as he used to do the same thing with a chisel - you have been warned!)
Usually the wax fits ok. A stanley knife trims it easily enough. I did get some Thornes frames last summer where the bottom bars were too short. I called them up and received Manley bottom bars instead....

[mbc]

I bought loads from stamforham at a really good price some seasons ago ( I believe they still offer a good discount for bulk ) and the frames were good on the whole, only one or two not servicable out of many hundreds.
Hello Scottish forum by the way

[Jon]

Hi MBC.
Good to see you here.
Aren't you one of the native bee breeders?
There are quite a lot posting here.

[mbc]

Hi MBC.
Good to see you here.
Aren't you one of the native bee breeders?

Thank you Jon, yes thats what enticed me to this forum.

[gavin]

Excellent to see you here mbc, welcome! You'd be welcome whatever bee you prefer of course, don't want to exclude anyone. Anyone from a Celtic country, or has any Scottish relative within the last 8 generations, who once heard a Glaswegian in their newsagent or who could fly into the country within 24 hrs if they wanted to is welcome here.

Adam, my hands are the delicate, soft hands of an office worker.

I push the side bars into the top bar, stand the assembly upright, and hit the flat of the top bar to force it to settle down onto the side bars. I have been known to use a hammer but often don't unless it needs extra force. I've been doing this for >15 years although I have to admit that my number of hives was fairly low for much of that time. Still, it is a more gentle activity than chiselling, so I think that I'll be fine.

All this talk of frame assembly is making me nervous. I probably need to make up a few more brood box fulls for the coming season .... and supers of course