02 02 2021 Layens Frame Variations

FANTASTIC!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! Just a basic frame design. That's all that is needed! Outstanding!!!

Holy smokes this was a helpful video. I have Lanstroth hives and just got an insulated Layens hoping it would be better for bees during our wet Oregon winters. Was looking for an alternative to full wax foundations. I will be trying your method. 🍻🐝🐝🐝

A bench mounted belt sander can round out those table saw cuts nicely. I prefer to use the jointer as well. I saw the bamboo skewer idea on fakebook and will try that next. They are FAR cheaper than 1/4" dowells. Just finished 100 frames and have some leftovers which means I need to build more hives! I built a 20 frame assembly jig made for Layens frames because the one I made for the langstroph frames worked so well. It is not as efficient as the langstroph because of the design but I still thought it was much faster than building them all one at a time. I really enjoy watching your vijeos...thank you for doing them!

I use the table saw method, then use my router on a router table to finish the smooth curve. That method also eliminates any tear out. On another note, ALWAYS use wood glue on all the joints. The glue is the true strength. The staple really just holds it in place while the glue cures.

Great video. A guy from Hawaii on youtube uses a dado blade with a jig on his table saw. Does a great job as well!

Gene, Really like the video. Here’s a thought for frame assembly. Set your jig on top of a piece of plywood mounted to a lazy Susan. You can simply spin it around instead of picking up the entire assembly and turning it around. I use it a lot and it really speeds things up. Got the idea from Jeff Horschoff ( Mr. Ed ) and I love it.

You can also use you table saw and set a fence at an angle across the table. Run the sides over the barely raised blade before cutting to thickness

Many newer table saws have a router jig built into them, a router can be an inexpensive substitute for a jointer. It would be a quick way to reproduce the Layens frame.

Thanks you very much for your video showing and sharing your experience that very kind !!!

Great video..I used table saw and cut them to one inch... Instead of using bamboo I used the cut off from my side bars to be my brace midways

GREAT! I am converting over to Layens and Russian bees after 3 unsuccessful years of Langstroff and Italian bees. This video was a solid way to lay out options on one of the parts I was concerned about. I love the bamboo skewer -- brilliant! One question how do you attach wax foundation starter? Super narrow groove? Staple? Also I am building six layens hives this year BUT I am having trouble sourcing "natural plywood" -- I was considering converting Dr Leo's insulated hive plans to 1 X 6 boards and going tongue and groove replace the plywood. I'm a beginning wood worker with a table saw and I have spent a great deal of time revising Dr. Leo's plans to accommodate the increased thickness of the boards. Do you have thoughts or suggestions??? Any pointers appreciated :) Thanks!

Love the music!

That's a great vido. I am converting over to the layens system of natural bee keeping myself. I to make all my own equipment. I use a router and table to taper the side bars. It works well.

Thanks for the great tips on building frames! Hope all is well, haven't seen you in awhile

So you do not have to taper the side bars? They can just be straight 1 inch side bars? Do you still get the correct bee space that way?

I noticed you did not use any glue on the joints. Was this just for demo purposes?

Gene how do you modify the langstroth frames top bar to work for layers? Because on your video it appears to have the original ends. It didn’t appear you made a splice in the middle. Thanks.

Layens are in metric though nowadays there is a slight difference

I just built 90 frames and used the table saw method then cut the little curve with a scroll saw. I did 10 full foundations for 2 swarm traps and then 10 additional wired frames and used a 1” strip of wax foundation slid into an 1/8” curf like you have done and I heated the wire to help secure the wax. Is the wax foundation strong enough? I like your honey extraction method also! I wondered how to extract without using a spinner. Great Video!

The layens hive is very interesting with the long frames. I'm sure you hear this a lot but how do you get your honey out of the frames..Nice video and thanks for the information!!