# 3 flow frames in a 10 frame langstroth box? **URL:** \ **Category:** Flow Hive\ **Created:** [August 29, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396 "2016-08-29T14:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KDCR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@KDCR](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KDCR)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/1 "2016-08-29T14:43:46Z")
Hi All, As I mentioned in another topic I had the luck to buy 3 flowframes secondhand. I also have the possibility to buy 2 hives in a 10 frame broodbox to get through the winter. I want to try the flowframes but can I do 3 frames in a 10 frame box and still have enough space to have them centered and 3 normal frames on each side? Or am I better to get an actual 8 frame box and put a small piece of wood as an adapter? ---
**Author:** ![bigB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/bigb/32/13247_2.png) [@bigB](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/bigB)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/2 "2016-08-29T15:03:44Z")
I have my 3 flow frames installed in a 10 frame box and it works great. ---
**Author:** ![KDCR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@KDCR](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KDCR)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/3 "2016-08-29T15:14:26Z")
And you are keeping 3 normal frames on each side? or how is your setup? Could you share pictures? ---
**Author:** ![bigB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/bigb/32/13247_2.png) [@bigB](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/bigB)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/4 "2016-08-29T15:52:11Z")
Yes. Three standard deep frames on either side of the flow frames. I can share a pic in a few days. Im traveling at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/5 "2016-08-29T16:17:54Z")
Here is a video from the Flow team on how to adapt your 10-Frame box: I guess you would cut the window a little smaller if you only have 3 frames. 😊 Full instructions are also in a pdf on this page: [https://www.honeyflow.com/faqs/modifying-a-langstroth-box-for-flow-frames/p/143](https://www.honeyflow.com/faqs/modifying-a-langstroth-box-for-flow-frames/p/143) 😉 You could use a Follower board if 3 Flow + 6 traditional frames is too tight. ---
**Author:** ![RBK](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/rbk/32/4134_2.png) [@RBK](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/RBK)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/6 "2016-08-29T21:15:17Z")
Following on from my post here [http://forum.honeyflow.com/t/frame-spacing-and-9-frames-in-8-frame-box/5691/56?u=rbk](http://forum.honeyflow.com/t/frame-spacing-and-9-frames-in-8-frame-box/5691/56?u=rbk) 10x35mm Hoffman is 350mm in a 10 frame box with 370mm internal width (includes space from sides) If you put in 3 flow frames and 6x35mm Hoffman frames: (3x50) + (6x35) = 360mm, which is likely going to be a tight fit. If you managed to get 33mm Hoffman frames you’d be better off. (3x50) + (6x33) = 348mm ---
**Author:** ![Jasbee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/jasbee/32/1493_2.png) [@Jasbee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Jasbee)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 2:09am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/7 "2016-08-30T02:09:25Z")
This PDF has the measurements for modifying an 8 frame for three flow frames. Hopefully this will help you modify a 10 frame. > **[Flow\_Modify\_Lang\_Box\_Manual\_v2.pdf](https://www.honeyflow.com/media/docs/Flow_Modify_Lang_Box_Manual_v2.pdf)** > > 1645.44 KB ---
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/8 "2016-08-30T02:26:57Z")
The other option is you could make a modified five frame nuc box- which will hold three flow frames- and place that on top of your ten frame super with some boards at the sides to cover the box below. If you modify a ten frame box for 3 frames you need to cut down the rear frame rest where the shoulders of the flow frames sit lower than traditional frames. ---
**Author:** ![Dunc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Dunc](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dunc)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 4:40am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/9 "2016-08-30T04:40:39Z")
I’m planning to try 3 frames in an 8 frame this year. My only concern is if the bees preferentially use the flow frames for ripening and the conventional frames for honey. Will have to wait and see. ---
**Author:** ![the666bbq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/the666bbq/32/4728_2.png) [@the666bbq](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/the666bbq)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 7:52am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/10 "2016-09-01T07:52:30Z")
I have a cross cutting concern here. I have read somewhere that it is best to keep frame count identical in boxes for better ventilation and ‘the mites can fall through to the varroa screen’. I have hardly seen a condition where that last statement seems viable but I am a newbee 🙂 But with our flow frames alignment of interframe spaces is never possible so is that really a problem to the bees ? It seems smaller boxes mostly use uneven numbers (3 or 5), and the bigger even (8 or 10). I was planning on 9 for the brood, so that I could use 2 flow frames flanked by 2 and 3 standard frames for the super. Is that wise ? ---
**Author:** ![KDCR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@KDCR](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KDCR)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/11 "2016-09-05T14:39:52Z")
Looking forward to those pictures 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bigB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/bigb/32/13247_2.png) [@bigB](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/bigB)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/12 "2016-09-19T14:46:41Z")
![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/8/8ab93a90cdebed2933e784b46b3e92cb05db9152.JPG) 3 flow frames are about the same width as 4 standard Langstroth frames ---
**Author:** ![RBK](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/rbk/32/4134_2.png) [@RBK](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/RBK)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 8:36pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/13 "2016-09-19T20:36:18Z")
3 flow frames are 150mm 4 standard langstroth frames are 140mm (4x35) Total width of your configuration would be 360mm List of configurations here, although I haven’t got the 3 + 6 configuration, will add it tonight. [http://forum.honeyflow.com/t/flow-frame-fitment-in-langstroth-supers-metric/8575](http://forum.honeyflow.com/t/flow-frame-fitment-in-langstroth-supers-metric/8575) -edit- Just added the 3 + 6 configuration. ---
**Author:** ![KDCR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@KDCR](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KDCR)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 7:48am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/14 "2016-09-21T07:48:57Z")
Thanks BigB! that makes is very clear! ---
**Author:** ![KDCR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@KDCR](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/KDCR)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2016, 7:49am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/3-flow-frames-in-a-10-frame-langstroth-box/8396/15 "2016-09-21T07:49:14Z")
Nice calculations RBK!