Innovative frame construction for pre-wired foundations

I used pre-wired wax foundations during my study in USA (very long ago 😉). I always missed such possibilities in our AŽ hive. I did innovative design and tested in my hives as well with the student Alen Skubin for his undergraduate thesis. Since we were not able to buy prewired foundations in Slovenia, we made them by our self. Alen prepared special device to do that. You can check English abstract and figures in his thesis (most interesting from Fig.17 to Fig. 32). I wrote about that also in the book. Yesterday I did honey extraction from few such combs and it went great like Alen described. Here is link to mentioned thesis:
http://www.digitalna-knjiznica.bf.uni-lj.si/zootehnika/vs_skubin_alen.pdf
This works great in classical arrangements of frames in AŽ hive.

Such a frame from my experimental hive. When it is built it is ridged enough and flow nicely over round bars.

QA: Isn't it strange to turn comb upside down into unnatural position?

Yes, for most World's beekeepers that sounds weird. It is also hard to except by the beekeeper that wants to be as much as it is possible to the natural situation in a hive. In the past that was also hard to except by Slovenian beekeepers as well,  but nowadays many are practicing that. Many questions arise from the beekeepers like: (1) wouldn't drop out fresh honey from the cells, (2) wouldn't have larvae problems staying in the cells. I'd like to play with demonstration that even water will not flow out of the cells if the comb is turned in horizontal position and cell are facing straight down. Also larvae don't have a problem to develop and also bees for feeding the larvae. Of course, typical frame from the Langs' hive can't be turned upside down. I'm experimenting with new frame design that I will be able to use in my new experimental hive for AŽ type of beekeeping. I'm using plastic tabs to hang the frame in Langstroth hive body and I have a chance to re-position taps to other side and hang the frame back in the hive in the way that empty space to the wooden bar is on the top. Bees usually fill such gap with beeswax cells and reinforce the structure. This is grate during extraction if such comb become comb in the honey section of the hive. In AŽ hives we don't need to handle with the taps, we can just turn around the frame. We have two possibilities, just horizontal flip or diagonal and turning also front side to the back along with upside down. This usually brings honey reserves on the comb toward hive entrance. Bees instinctively remove food source from entrance side to the top and the back. In this way we are stimulating bees to use reserves from frames in brood section and to enlarge brood area.  In this way we are also enlarging comb area for two rows of the cells. If we are doing that during regular examination the such action doesn't mean extra time. In general I prefer completely build comb in the whole frame.

My experimental frame prepared for upside down position in my experimental Langs' hives that are used to practice transfer into AŽ type of the hive.

Oh, flipping of the frames  for extra comb building need some fresh nectar flow that bees will do it well. When you are rearranging the brood location regardless flipping changing the position, enlarging space for brood be aware that bees need to take care for proper thermoregulation. Don't do that if it is expected significant drop of temperature in next few days.

QA: Extra combs from OA treated hives, hive ventilation

I will try to collect some question and post some answers that I would fill they might be of the wider interest. This two I've got in this spring.

Q1: If you use oxalic acid fumigation in the fall, does it affect the honey left over from winter?  Can you extract that honey or is it best to just feed it back to the girls?
A1: Oxalic acid as it is used in the hives leaves some residues in the honey, but levels are far bellow of the limits for the food consumption. From that point of few “honey” as you mentioned can be consumed. But regardless of that, winter stores are not real honey, because in most cases it is based on sugar feeding. At list never sell such extracted “honey” to the consumers. There are several possibilities. Full combs if they are not dirty (potential Nosema infestation) can be used for making splits. Nice partially field can be used back in colonies, but better in the brood chamber. Scrap the wax covers of the honey and bees will empty the cells and use for the brood. The safest way of use is to extract and use for fermentation for med or if not perfect taste, distill for brandy (be aware of legitimacy for doing that!).

Q2: Under what conditions would the rear door flap(s) be opened? One or both upper and lower? My recollection is that you said in very hot weather or in winter if you have foam in the back and wish to let condensation escape. Does it help with air flow when they are drying honey for example.

A2: It is true that flaps were constructed mainly to insure ventilation during transportation. Later have been recognized that at list upper one can be opened also during the winter when you have installed foam inside. I open them also during high nectar intake to make them easier with ventilation of the hive. If the bee house is not to bright, too much daily light than this will not disturb them. In such case is good to shade the windows as well. In hot regions it is also good that bee house has at list good passive ventilation, taking colder air from the back or side and release it at the top.
It is good to mention her that some professional beekeepers are using only foam through out the whole year, no extra doors at the back. Especially when they build several hives together as a chest.

Upper flap opened in this new hive (upper door opening in the book)