In a message dated 11/07/2009 22:47:34 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

Without  mechanical help, human backs and muscles have to do the lifting.  
Not  Langstroth's fault nor anyone else's.

There are simply some jobs that  require strength. 


Turn the hive through 90 degrees so an end wall is sitting on a shelf at  
waist height. The base is against the inside of your shed wall and the bees 
fly  from holes in it. The cover board has hinges on one side and acts as a 
cupboard  door.  You withdraw brood frames horizontally for examination. You 
will  want to cut a large hole in what is now the lower side of the hive and 
cover it  with mesh for ventilation and varroa monitoring.  Another large 
hole in  what is now the upper surface can contain a sheet of queen excluder. 
 Above  that, at about face height another cupboard door opens to reveal 
the frames of  honeycomb from which you can take one or two as they are 
sealed.  If your  shed is big enough, you can have numbers of such hives and 2 or 
3 combs from  each might make it worth getting your extractor sticky.  
 
No heavy lifting, no awkward bending.  If your shed has wheels and a  tow 
bar you might even want to take your bees on a paid holiday.
 
Chris

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