Romanov comb sections

Romanov frames with sections for comb honey production

I designed my own frames with sections for comb honey production because I was not completely satisfied with supplies that were available on the market.

I had set some main objectives:
1. The design must be very simple, with a possibility to replicate the design by any beekeeper at home;
2. The cost of frames with sections must be lower than existing products;
3. Materials used must be bee-friendly;
4. Packaging should be attractive to the customer. Therefore sections should fit to standard comb honey containers.

Advantage #1:
5 3/8" X 19"(18") X 1 3/8" wooden frame - fits standard 5 5/8" or 5 11/16" Shallow Supers without any modifications of Shallow Supers!

Advantage #2:
The frames are very strong.

Advantage #3:
No need to use any additional dividers.

Modified standard 5 3/8" X 19"(17 3/4") X 1 3/8" frame.

Just three dividers were added.

My section (top) versus Basswood section

Advantage #4:
Because the design of my section is very simple - just a table saw is needed to make it.

4 1/8" X 4 1/8" X 1" wooden unassembled section for my frame or
4 1/16" X 4 3/16" X 1" for modified standard frame
As an alternative to wooden sections, a solid square form made of plastic can be used.

As you prepare to fold the strip in order to form the section, you can use a file to score lines, where the bends are.
You also have to immerse the strips in a water tank for 25 to 30 minutes, before you start to fold them.

4 1/8" X 4 1/8" X 1" assembled section with a starter strip

Note: dimensions of standard Basswood sections are:
4 1/4" X 4 1/4" X 1 7/8"

Frame with sections

Advantage #5: Low cost.

New frames with new Super are ready to install in the hive.

These sections were installed on May 12, 2008.

Here you can see bees' work in progress on May 14, 2008.

Progress on May 17, 2008.

Advantage #6: Bees like wooden frames more, than plastic frames.

Advantage #7:
No need to use a comb cutter

Advantage #8:
In a traditional cut comb production, all portions of cut combs should stand on a grid to let the honey drain from the outside cut cells. This process is messy and takes time. With my sections there is no need to do this.

Advantage #9:
I think my sections look more attractive than cut combs to the customer.

Advantage #10:
My sections fit
4 1/8" X 4 1/8" or 4 1/4" X 4 1/4"
Comb Honey Container

Advantage #11:
One Shallow Super contains 40 lbs. of market-ready honey in 40 sections! This is the maximum potential yield for a Shallow Super.