9 Frame Spacer Stainless Steel
Stainless steel 9-frame spacer. Resists propolis buildup. Durable alternative to plastic.
- Stainless steel resists propolis bonding better than plastic
- Spaces 9 frames evenly in a 10-frame box for thicker honey comb
- More durable than plastic — will not crack or warp
What it is
A stainless steel 9-frame spacer that fits on top of a 10-frame hive body and forces the bees to space 9 frames evenly across what's normally a 10-frame box. This is used in honey supers, not brood boxes.
Why 9 frames in a 10-frame super
When you give bees 9 frames of space in a 10-frame super, they draw the comb out further — each frame gets thicker, and more honey ends up per frame. At harvest, uncapping is easier because the thicker combs stand further from the end bars. For honey production specifically, 9-frame spacing outproduces 10-frame spacing per super.
Don't use in the brood box
In the brood chamber, 10 frames is correct. The queen uses the full width of each frame for brood; forcing 9 deeper frames just means the queen lays less brood overall.
Usage notes
The spacer is a flat stainless bar with 9 notches cut in it. Sits on top of the hive body's rim and the frames rest in the notches. Stainless steel doesn't rust, doesn't warp, and outlasts plastic versions.
Compatibility
10-frame Langstroth medium or deep supers. Not for 8-frame equipment (different spacing).
