{"id":6176,"date":"2021-11-11T12:36:33","date_gmt":"2021-11-11T17:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beekeepingfornewbies.com\/?p=6176"},"modified":"2022-09-11T17:41:20","modified_gmt":"2022-09-11T21:41:20","slug":"beehive-frames-and-foundation-a-beginners-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beekeepingfornewbies.com\/beehive-frames-and-foundation-a-beginners-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Beehive Frames And Foundation (A Beginner’s Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated on September 11th, 2022<\/p>\n

Langstroth hives<\/strong> are the most common beehives used in North America. The hives consist of vertically stacked, modular boxes. Each hive box contains movable frames for holding beeswax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what are beehive frames and foundation?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beehive frames and foundation create a space where bees build wax comb to store food and raise brood. Rectangular frames hold a wax or plastic sheet of foundation embossed with hexagonal cells serving as a base for drawing straight comb. Frames are movable for inspection, transfer, and honey extraction.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beekeepers may use frames without foundation, a practice naturally called \u201cfoundationless\u201d beekeeping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While an individual frame with foundation may cost less than $2, total costs add up as you need as many as 10 frames per box. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The options available when it comes to frames and foundation can be confusing if you are beginning backyard beekeeping. In this article, we will help you understand the choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Use Hive Frames<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Langstroth frames and foundation facilitate beekeeping in several ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Langstroth hive is a modular system of vertically stacked boxes containing movable frames. The Langstroth hive’s design focuses on the concept of “bee space.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, bees will not propolize or build wax in any space that is about 3\/8 of an inch wide, the distance of bee space. Areas of that size are left open for the bees to travel within the hive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frames are designed to leave a bee space gap between each frame and each component around it<\/strong>: adjacent parallel frames, frames above and below, sides of the hive box, bottom boards, and covers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bee space prevents components from being connected with beeswax and thus remain movable. <\/strong>Movable frames can be taken out of the hive for inspection, relocated to other hives needing food or brood, or removed to extract honey as efficiently as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frames help keep bees building comb in a straight line so they are easier to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honey is efficiently removed from sturdy frames and foundation using centrifugal extractors that spin at high speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See our article on why we think the Langstroth hive is the best beehive for beginning beekeepers<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Beehive Frame Construction & Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Frame heights vary to correspond to the depth of different hive boxes. However, all frames are the same width and length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Regardless of size or material, frames are rectangular structures consisting of:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • A top bar,<\/strong><\/li>
  • Two side bars, and<\/strong><\/li>
  • A bottom bar.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The top bar is longer than the bottom bar. The extra length permits the frame to sit on the frame rest ledge in the hive box and provides bee space between the side bars and the adjacent walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The top bar is also wider than the bottom bar. Tapered side bars are wider at the top than the bottom. Notches in the side bar provide attachment points for both the top and bottom bars. Thus, the side bars are the widest part of the frame at both the top and bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This tapered design allows the sidebars of adjacent frames to touch at the top but leave bee space between the top bars and fully drawn comb in the frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hive boxes are defined not just by their depth (deep, medium, shallow) but by their width in terms of the number of frames they can hold (10, 8, or 5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hive frames can be either wood or plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Plastic Hive Frames<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    Manufacturers generally mold plastic frames and foundation as one piece. Unfortunately, this style does not permit the beekeeper to choose a wax foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With plastic frames and foundation, the only selection options are for height and embossed cell size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Green plastic frames with larger embossed cell sizes serve as drone brood frames.<\/strong> The larger cell size helps concentrate drone brood on these frames so that beekeepers can mitigate Varroa mite infestation by removing them from the hive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    Green neon identifies drone foundation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n