1/3rd Width Frame, for use in mating nucs

Reduced size bee hive frames are often used for mating and other breeding purposes, this page gives a description of a type of frame that is one third of the normal width of a British Standard deep frame that was developed to match the Triplefold frame.

Constructional details are similar to Half Width Frames.

The plain side bars and bottom bars are 9 mm thick, Top bars on simple frames are 11 mm - 14 mm thick (whatever is to hand at the particular time of making a batch), the complex sides and cell space sides are 18 mm thick. The bridge plates either side of the cell space are 2 mm thick (some bone shaped lollipop sticks are ideal for this purpose).

All parts are grooved to accept the edge of foundation and the side bars are drilled for nylon or wire reinforcing. Only 3 holes are drilled in the complex sides of the type shown below.

In order to overcome the problem of introducing queen cells, a version with Cell space was also designed and is shown at far right.

The drawing at left shows the unusual wiring pattern that is brought about by the inclusion of the cell space. The foundation to fit this unusual shape is produced by using a template shaped like the one at right (the stepped shape is due to the use of some wooden components shaped as in the version shown in the wiring drawing).

Many variations in the construction of this type of frame, occur among my stock of mating nuc frames, the differences are not significant, but usually reflect the availability of off cuts of timber or things like normal topbars with broken lugs that can be re-sawn to produce half or one third width versions.