As a person who is not large and not used to heavy lifting, I can tell you
about some things that I have learned to get around the huge job of removing
and replacing supers weighing up to 80 pounds.

One of the best things is another person. Two people can remove a full super
without much trouble. If the frames are stuck between the supers, one can tip
the super up and the other can pry them loose.

Once it's loose, where to put it? If the super is going back on (like when
you are working in the brood area in summer), we always set it on a stand.
This is made out of old supers. Mine is two deeps and a shallow, nailed
together with some long slats. It has an inner cover on the top. The hole
makes a nice handle to pick it up with.

I always put the hive cover on it, upside down, then the inner cover, then
the full supers of honey at a slight angle so they don't go down into the
cover. Unless robbing is a problem. Then you want the bottom AND top sealed
off with covers.

After you work the hive, the supers can be put back on, without having to
pick them up off the ground. This stand is especially helpful if you are
under-supering -- putting the empties under the full ones -- which we do. It
is extra work, but when you remove the honey the full ones are on top!

Isis Glass
Ann Arbor MI
USA

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