Langstroth straight frame (vertical)

01 · STRAIGHT SIDE BARS

No built-in spacing mechanism

The side bars run straight and flat from top to bottom, without the widenings a Hoffman frame carries. That means the frame does not set the distance to its neighbour by itself: you keep the spacing, with spacers, castellations or by placing them with judgement. In exchange you gain flexibility — it fits whatever spacing system you already run — and simplicity in the part. The rule not to skip is the same as in any brood box: do not mix straight and Hoffman in the same box, because then neither criterion is in charge and you end up with crooked combs.

02 · THE THREE DECISIONS OF A FRAME

Format, side bar and wiring

A frame is chosen by three things, and confusing them is what leads to buying a hundred that do not fit:

03 · THE WIRE AND ITS JOB

Holding the comb when it is heavy, hot or spinning

The wire is not decoration: it holds the comb so it does not give under the weight of honey, does not drop in summer heat and stands the force of the extractor. This frame comes wired in a vertical layout, in stainless steel — which does not rust in hive damp and does not stain the wax — and already assembled and tensioned, which is the most tedious step of building frames. Check the tension before waxing: frames travel, and a slightly slack wire is re-tensioned in a moment.

04 · BEFORE YOU BUY

It weighs about 350 g. Before ordering quantity, measure the top bar and the internal depth of your box and compare with a frame you already own: it is the only thing that decides whether it fits, and it takes a second against a hundred useless frames. If what you want is an unwired frame or a kit — to wire it yourself, or to take comb honey sections — write to us before ordering: we have been asked, and we would rather tell you what there is than let you buy the wrong one.