134 Gauge for Frame-3[a]dng. 



A BLOCK FOE MAKING FEAJIES. 



This may be made as follows : Take a rectangular board 

 (Fig. 47) eleven and one-eighth by thirteen and a quarter inches. 

 On both ends of one face of this, nail hard-wood pieces (Fig. 47, 

 e, e) one inch square and ten and three-fourth inches long, so 

 that one end (Fig. 47, g, g) shall lack three-eighths inch of 

 reaching the edge of the board. On the other face of the 

 board, nail a strip (Fig. 47, c) four inches wide and eleven and 

 three-eighths inches long, at right angles to it, and in such 

 position that the ends shall just reach to the edges of the board. 

 Alidway between the one inch square pieces, screw on another 

 hard-wood strip (Fig. 47, d) one inch square nnd four inches 

 long, parallel with and three-fourths of an inch from the edge. 

 To the bottom of this, screw a semi-oval piece of lioop-steel 

 (Fig. 47, b, b), Avhich shall bend around and press against the 

 square strips. The ends of this should uot reach quite to the 

 bottom of the board. Near the ends of this spring fasten, by 

 rivets, a leather strap an inch wide (Fig. 47, a), which shall be 

 straight when thus riveted. These dimensions are for frames 

 eleven and one-fourth inches square, outside measure, and 

 must be varied for other sizes. Instead of the iron and straj), 

 some use two pieces of wood with a central pivot. The ujiper 

 ends of these levers are united by a strong elastic cord, so that 

 the lower ends are constantly pressed against the side pieces of 

 the block. 



To use this block, we crowd the end-bars of our frames 

 between the steel springs (Fig. 47. b, 6), and the square strips 

 (Fig. 47, e, e) ; then lay on our top-bar and nail, after which 

 we invert the block and nail the bottom-bar, as we did the 

 top-bar. Now press down on the strap (Fig. 47, a), which 

 will loosen the frame, when it may be removed, all complete 

 and true. Such a gauge uot only insures perfect frames, but 

 demands that every piece shall be cut with great accuracy, 

 and some such arrangement should always be used in making 

 the frames. 



The projecting ends of the top-bar will rest on the tins 

 (Fig. 41), and thus the frame can be easily loosened at any 

 time without jarring the bees, for it will not be glued fast, as 

 it would be in case it rested on the wooden rabbets. The 

 danger of killing bees is also abolished by use of the tins. 



