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How to Wire Bee Frames

The wire in bee frames support the honeycomb that the bees build. The frames are vertical rectangles made from wood that fit into the supers of the hive. Each super is a box that holds the frames. The hive can be one super tall or have several supers stacked. It depends on the size of the bee colony. The top of each frame is an inch or two wider than the super. This lip gives the beekeeper a handle to lift the frame from the hive.

Things You'll Need

Strip of cardboard the length of the frame.
Hole punch
Wooden honey frame
Drill
4 brass eyelets
No. 10 Torx screwdriver
2 wire brads
Tack hammer
3-feet of frame wire (28 gauge carbon steel)

Instructions

- 1
  Punch two evenly spaced holes in the strip of cardboard. This is the pattern for all of the frame wiring holes. Place the cardboard over the left side of the frame and trace the holes onto the wooden frame. Repeat with the right side of the frame.
- 2
  Drill 1.5 millimeter holes through the side of the frame at each of the marked holes.
- 3
  Press a brass eyelet into each hole. Spread the eyelet with the Torx driver to secure the eyelet in the wood.
- 4
  Hammer a wire brad into the front of the frame just below the top hole on the left-hand side.
- 5
  Wrap one end of the wire around the wire brad. Thread the other end of the wire through the hole on the top left side of the frame. Stretch the wire across the frame and thread it through the hole on the top right side.
- 6
  Pull the wire down to the bottom hole on the right-hand side and thread the wire through the eyelet.
- 7
  Stretch the wire across the frame to the bottom hole on the left-hand side.
- 8
  Pound the second wire brad just below the bottom hole on the left-hand side and wrap the end of the wire around the brad.
- 9
  Bend each brad over to secure the wire and prevent the brad from catching on neighboring frames.

Insects & Science