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Beverley Beekeepers' Association

The local Beekeeping Association for East Yorkshire

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Frame Assembly

Unless you are very rich, or you buy second-hand frames, you will get your frames in the un-assembled state:
A top bar with a loose ‘wedge’ piece


Two side bars (usually with a grove on the inner surface)
Two narrow bottom bars.

You will also need some frame nails. Buy a big box of these, right from the start. You'll use them all.


Assemble your frames in this order

1. Remove the wedge from the top bar with a blunt knife or similar


2. Assemble the frame ‘dry’; without glue or nails but with only one bottom bar. Don't put in the bottom bar on the wedge side. Check the frame is square.


3. Nail as shown in this diagram. A nail either side at the top of each side bar fixing them firmly to the top bar. A nail upwards into the side bar to secure the bottom bar.


4. Hold the wired foundation with the three loops at the top.
Bend these over so they are at right angles to the foundation. Place these bent wires in the space that the wedge occupied.


5. Insert the wedge to hold the foundation and nail through the wedge, through the foundation, into the top bar where the wire loops are bent over.


6. Nail in the second bottom bar.

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