Chris,
 
I have to start this by saying that I have no Top Bar Hives myself.  I
am planning to start one or two next spring.  I think that the width of
the top bars is critical so that bee space will not be violated.  Jim
Satterfield has posted that the width for Apis Mellifera must be 35 mm,
or 1-3/8".  That is the width of fully drawn comb plus bee space.  I
think that if you went narrower, your combs may not be deep enough and
if wider, they may build more burr/brace comb.  Again, that's just my
opinion.  Joel or Jim??
 
Cheers,
Kevin Palm
Grafton, Ohio
 ----------
From: Chris Allen
To: Multiple recipients of list BEE-L
Subject: Re: Q: Top Bar Hive questions
Date: Wednesday, December 04, 1996 6:18PM
 
At 07:28 AM 4/12/96 PST, you wrote:
>... if anyone had tried adding spacers between the
> bars after the comb isinitially drawn?
>Equivalent to frame spacers for positioning 8
>or 9 frames in a ten frame box.
 
I imagine using wider top bars might be more economical.
You could experiment with a range os sizes.
 
If you find 1 size is too wide, shave it down & use it again.
 
 
>  --------------------------------------
>
>        Also a question about harvesting the honey/wax. I keep
>imagining a device something like an old fashioned washing
>machine wringer.
 
Have you considered a meat mincer?
Regards
 
Chris Allen