I appreciate standards and think we have them already but within some
specific companies and even between some companies.

But as soon as you set up official standards between companies, you
increase the cost appreciably. Especially with all the variables that
are associated with wood. Go to any lumberyard and you will find
dimensional differences even is the same lots. I have boxes built from
lumber from different yards that have different internal dimensions
because of the planing and sanding differences between yards.

If we built all our hives of a better dimensionally stable material,
then standards would work, but even then, would cost because of the
better material, closer tolerance machines and quality control to the
standard.

Who sets the standard? I have always been of the opinion that when two
beekeepers meet to talk you have at least three opinions on proper
beekeeping.

And who enforces the standard? Please do not say the government.

Finally, we are not talking precision machining but building wooden
boxes and frames. And we want them cheap and close enough to swap with
occasional burr comb. Which is exactly what we are getting. I, for one,
have no problem with any of the equipment I have bought from Kelly and
Dadant. And do not want to pay a lot more for marginal, if any,
improvement.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, ME