Harvest one cassette at a time, without setting up a full extraction day.
The HiveKeepers Full Depth Frame comes with eight removable cassettes and fits in place of a standard full-depth Langstroth frame.
The bees build comb and store honey in the cassettes. When the honey is ready, remove the cassettes you want to harvest and extract using the HiveKeepers Micro Honey Harvester. There is no comb to cut or crush, no manual uncapping and no bulky extractor to clean afterwards.
For beekeepers with a few hives, it is a practical way to harvest smaller batches throughout the season.
Why choose this frame?
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Eight cassettes included. Supplied with a complete set of empty, reusable HiveKeepers cassettes.
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Standard full-depth fit. Replaces a standard full-depth Langstroth frame without modifying a compatible super.
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Harvest as honey becomes ready. Remove individual cassettes or harvest the whole frame.
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No cutting or crushing comb. The cassettes open using the HiveKeepers Cassette Tool for extraction in the Micro Honey Harvester.
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Reusable frame and cassettes. Return emptied cassettes to the hive for the bees to clean, repair and refill.
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Food-safe materials. Made from BPA-free materials suitable for direct honey contact.
How to use it
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Prepare the cassettes. Before first use, heat up some beeswax till molten. Get a small new paint roller and light coat the cartridge surface with molten beeswax.
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Install the frame. Place it in a compatible full-depth Langstroth honey super. Introduce it during a nectar flow for best results.
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Let the bees fill it. Allow the bees to draw the comb, store honey and cap it before harvesting.
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Harvest the ready cassettes. Remove them from the frame, open them with the Cassette Tool and extract using the Micro Honey Harvester.
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Return and reuse. Reassemble the emptied cassettes and return them to the hive. If you have spare cassettes, these can replace those removed for harvesting.
Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Frame format | Full-depth Langstroth |
| Included | 1 frame with 8 empty cassettes |
| Overall dimensions | 483 × 231 × 35 mm |
| Frame height | 231 mm |
| Weight with 8 empty cassettes | 1,135 g |
| Frame-only weight | 399 g |
| Cassette dimensions | 100 × 100 mm |
| Approximate honey capacity | 165 g per cassette, depending on conditions |
| Material | Food-safe, BPA-free material |
| Harvesting equipment required | HiveKeepers Micro Honey Harvester and Cassette Tool |
Frequently asked questions
Will it fit my hive?
This frame is designed for a standard full-depth Langstroth honey super. Check the dimensions against your existing equipment before ordering. It is not the correct depth for a shallow or three-quarter-depth super.
Do I need the Micro Honey Harvester?
Yes. The frame and cassettes hold the honey; the Micro Honey Harvester extracts it. You will also need the HiveKeepers Cassette Tool to open the cassettes.
Do I have to harvest all eight cassettes together?
No. Harvest individual cassettes as the honey becomes ready, leaving the others for the bees to continue filling.
What happens to the wax cappings?
There is no need to remove them manually. After extraction, reassemble the cassettes and return them to the hive. The bees clean and repair the comb before refilling it.
How is this different from the four-cassette frame?
This full-depth frame holds eight cassettes. The shallower version holds four. Choose the frame depth that matches your honey supers.
See the system in action
Watch the HiveKeepers honey-harvesting explainer
Watch how to clean up your HiveKeepers Cassettes
Tutin safety in New Zealand
HiveKeepers equipment does not detect or remove Tutin. If the honey is harvested between 1st Jan and 30th June in an area that could have the Tutu bush, make sure Tutin risk has been managed using an appropriate option in MPI’s guidance before eating or sharing.