If comb-foundation is to be used, and certainly it will be by the enterprising apiarist, then the top-bar ([Fig, 36, a]) should be twelve and three-quarters inches by one-quarter by one inch, with a rectangular, instead of a triangular, projection below ([Fig, 36, b]), which should be one-fourth by one-eighth inch, the longest direction up and down. This should be entirely to one side of the centre, so that when the foundation ([Fig, 36, c]) is pressed against this piece it will hang exactly from the centre of the top-bar. If preferred, the bottom of the frame ([Fig, 36, e]) need not be more than half as wide or thick as described above.
The timber should be thoroughly seasoned, and of the best pine or white-wood. Care should be taken that the frame be made so as to hang vertically, when suspended on the rabbets of the hive. To secure this very important point—true frames that will always hang true—they should always be made around a guide.
Fig. 36.
A BLOCK FOR MAKING FRAMES.
This may be made as follows: Take a rectangular board ([Fig, 37]) eleven and a quarter by thirteen and a half inches. On both ends of one face of this, nail hard-wood pieces ([Fig, 37, e, e]) one inch square and eleven inches long, so that one end ([Fig, 37, g, g]) shall lack one-fourth inch of reaching the edge of the board. On the other face of the board, nail a strip ([Fig, 37, c]) four inches wide and eleven and a quarter inches long, at right-angles to it, and in such position that the ends shall just reach to the edges of the board. Midway between the one inch square pieces, screw on another hard-wood strip ([Fig, 37, d]) one inch square and four inches long, parallel with and three-fourths of an inch from the edge. To the bottom of this, screw a semi-oval piece of hoop-steel ([Fig, 37, b, b]), which shall bend around and press against the square strips. The ends of this should not reach quite to the bottom of the board. Near the ends of this spring, fasten, by rivets, an inch strap ([Fig, 37, a]), which shall be straight when thus riveted. These dimensions are for frames eleven inches square, inside measure, and must be varied for other sizes.
Fig. 37.
To use this block, we crowd the end-bars of our frames between the steel springs ([Fig, 37, b, b]) and the square strips ([Fig, 37, e, e]); then lay on our top-bar and nail, after which we invert the block and nail the bottom-bar, as we did the top-bar. Now press down on the strap ([Fig, 37, a]), which will loosen the frame, when it may be removed, all complete and true. Such a gauge not only insures perfect frames, but demands that every piece shall be cut with great accuracy. And some such arrangement should always be used in making the frames.