John Day queries why 9 vs 10 frames and why a follower board.
 
Running a hive for the first year with 10 frames is not a problem, as
the frames are new and clean and there is plenty of room to manipulate.
However, after a season (or two) the frames don't fit together as well
as they did when they were new (and clean) and it becomes quite tight
having ten frames per brood chamber.  Enter two follower boards and
9 frames: the two fbs are narrower than the frame they replace, are
much easier to remove than the tenth frame and provide plenty of room
to move the remaining 9 frames once the fbs are removed from the hive.
I don't have the dimensions for a fb, but recall that they are 3/8 inch
thick.  3/8' is not a common lumber stock (subscribers of more than a
year may recall a query posted this time last year requesting a source
for 3/8' stock).  It turns out that the wood used in bee shipping
packages is 3/8' and can be salvaged to make up follower boards!
Score one for the frugal beekeeper!
 
Aaron Morris - I think, therefore I bee!