Hoffman Frames

Philippines does not need Hoffman frames. If you are lazy these will be for you. Hoffman frames help space out the frames by having a wider ...

Philippines does not need Hoffman frames. If you are lazy these will be for you. Hoffman frames help space out the frames by having a wider top to the side bar. Problem is these touch and get glued together with propolis by the bees. The bottom bar is too narrow and often means burr comb between the bottom of the bars.  When you open your hive it requires much more force to free the frames. Bees do not like to be disturbed and it will set the hive back. With a little smoke, proper Langstroth frame come out easily without the bees even knowing what has happened. Follow the principle of the bee space and loose the Hoffman's.

USA Hoffman self spacing standard frames are 35mm which is a compromise between both worker brood at 32mm and honey at 38mm.

The wood in a frame should be 22 mm all around as this is the bees preference for brood but also fine for honey.

To achieve brood with little or no drone comb the spacing center to center of brood frames should be 32mm or less ( in theory 28mm should be optimal for the Philippines but I have never tried it ).

For honey comb the spacing should be not less than 38mm so as to have no worker brood in the honey comb.