> So, I thought, what if you put a two or three inch rim under the 
brood nest, and let the bees build comb down from the bottom bars. Then 
you could tip the hive back and cut these comb extensions out 
periodically, instead of raising drones in a special frame. Any thoughts 
on that?

That does work, as strong colonies will usually build neat strips of 
100% drone comb down there, with no bridge or brace comb.  Some of my 
friends run singles with such a spacer under the boxes and they do get 
drones raised down there.  Cutting off the drone comb is, as you 
suggest, quite simple once the bees are smoked up.

---
Allen Dick
Swalwell, Alberta, Canada
51°33'37.58"N  113°18'54.24"W
40 years beekeeping
Current count: 89 hives

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