(English version from Polish original, by Wojciech Wlazlinski
July 20, 2008)
The Top Bar (TB) is nothing new and its function is known for ages also in Poland as Snoza. Because of differences between Snoza and TB I present I called it Dzwigar in Polish language.
Contemporary availability of tools, let to develop some modification and higher precision, also in relation to natural requirements of bees. The function of ancient Snoza and modern TB is the same, namely, to allow non distractive pulling out brood combs if necessary and honey storage combs before harvesting. In both instances some destruction occurs during pulling out combs or could occur but with modern TB and proper techniques damage of combs should be none. Also, the modern TB is a roof of hive without access above it.
Initial advices on grooves
filled with wax, string soaked with a wax, strip of foundation in the middle of
bar didn’t convinced me, but idea of triangular lower part of a bar or
something similar seemed to me reasonable and this was what I practiced for
some time. The edge (tip of triangle) is attractive for bees to initiate a comb and large
surface of attachment means strong attachment. Easiness of cleaning of such bar
after cut off comb of honey is also convincing.
Later I tested wholes in the bar for easier traveling between bars, especially for wide hives (24” 61 cm.).
Testing all this including different shape, width, and length of bars lead me to conclusions which in turn realized itself in new shape and construction of Top Bar (TB) presented in the pictures.
1. Some of the most important observations was that width of 1 1/4 “ 3.175 cm. and 1 ½” 3.81 cm., advised by beekeepers is too narrow. Initially I follow such advices, but not any more. May be this is OK in some different altitude, latitude, mood, or different reason, or hive, but here in my hives in Chicago area I am definitely convinced about it now. So 1 3/8” 3.5 cm., and 1 5/8” 4.1 cm., or even 1 ¾” 4.44 cm. are in my practice. 1 5/8” is sometimes too narrow too but putting ¼” slat between bars when necessary solves this problem. I had to use too many such slats before. Thickness of some honey combs reaching 2 ¼” 5.7 cm. or even more. Often one ¼” slat is not enough.
2. I abandoned the triangular shape, put it in personal museum of my imperfections :-), and made lower part flat, constructed as on the picture.
Attachment of comb on triangular, flat, or any shape is strong, very strong
disregarding a shape of lower surface of bar. If combs brakes under its own
weight the line of separation is about 2” below attachment
3. Both ends of bars on which
the bar rests are cut slightly tilted down and in, (similar angle as walls of
hive). Such thing makes lifting heavy with honey bar on my fingers a bit
easier.
4. Distance between of the end of lower part of bar and wall of hive on both sides should be about 3/8” (bee space)
These 3 photos above shows that initiated little combs are not in the middle of this bar. This is because
the former comb on triangular bar was bulging strongly, so bees initiated
these little combs in proper distance. I was aware that next comb will
bulge even more on triangular too narrow bar, but I wondered what bees will do
having flat surface instead of triangular bar. With triangular bar initiation
would be on the tip of triangle because this is attractive but later direction will
change to correct mistake, and this initiate not straight line.
As for now I am quite satisfied with this new kind of bars. Future will show for how long. With triangulars I was satisfied for some time, but not for too long. Triangular bar could be useful as the first or two first bras when installing new colony in a new hive, but even without it bees will start combs in proper distance parallel to the vertical wall above entrance which is very close to this vertical wall. Good practice is also to hang a queen cage for a few hours between the first and the second bar above an entrance (entrance in long side of hive) to form a cluster, before releasing her when installing a new packet. Bees will need only to measure a distance to the vertical wall to start a comb properly and parallel to the wall disregarding width of bar, or distance of triangular tip of bar to this wall. This tip, if not exactly in the place of their choice only confuses them. There is great difference for combs construction and nucleus organization whether the entrance is in short wall of hive or long wall, and where is situated in this long wall.
