Product Overview
Assembled Super Tall Bee Hive Shim – 1-1/4-Inch Feeding Clearance
Extra Room for Supplemental Feeding, Without Extra Assembly
The Assembled Super Tall Bee Hive Shim from Lappe's Bee Supply provides 1-1/4 inches of additional vertical clearance above the frames in a compatible Langstroth hive. This extra space helps accommodate fondant, sugar feeding arrangements, and other supplemental feeding materials that need more room beneath the inner cover.
Available in 5-frame, 8-frame, and 10-frame configurations, this wooden hive shim arrives fully assembled and ready for installation. It is particularly useful for supplemental feeding during fall, winter, and early spring. Select the size that matches your existing hive equipment and confirm that your feeding arrangement fits within the available clearance. This model does not have a predrilled ventilation hole or upper entrance.
Features and Specifications
- Height: 1-1/4 inches of additional vertical clearance.
- Available sizes: 5-frame, 8-frame, and 10-frame.
- Hive compatibility: Corresponding Langstroth hive configurations.
- Material: Wood.
- Construction: Fully assembled.
- Primary use: Creating space above hive frames for supplemental feeding.
- Ventilation opening: No predrilled opening.
- Upper entrance: No predrilled entrance.
- Brand: Lappe's Bee Supply.
- SKU: WNTS-2354.
Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Dimensions
Choose the shim size that matches your existing Langstroth hive equipment. The measurements below are outside dimensions.
| Hive Size | Outside Length | Outside Width | Height |
| 5-Frame | 20" | 9-5/16" | 1-1/4" |
| 8-Frame | 20" | 14" | 1-1/4" |
| 10-Frame | 20" | 16-3/16" | 1-1/4" |
Why Choose a Super Tall Bee Hive Shim?
A bee hive shim is a shallow wooden spacer placed between hive components to create additional room without adding a full hive body.
The Super Tall Shim provides 1-1/4 inches of additional height for compatible supplemental feeding arrangements. Its assembled construction eliminates the need to build the wooden frame before installation.
This shim is particularly useful when a shorter feeding shim does not provide enough room for fondant or another feeding arrangement. Choose the height that accommodates your feed while allowing the hive covers to sit securely.
Choosing the Right Shim for Your Hive
Two measurements matter when selecting a feeding shim: the frame-count configuration of your hive and the vertical clearance required by your feeding arrangement.
Match Your Hive Configuration
Frame-count configurations are not interchangeable. Match the shim to your existing hive body rather than selecting a size based only on the amount of feed you plan to use.
Check the Clearance Your Feed Requires
The Super Tall Shim provides 1-1/4 inches of height above the frames. Before ordering, consider the thickness of your fondant, sugar feeding arrangement, or feeding accessory and how it will sit beneath the inner cover.
Choose this Super Tall Shim when your feeding arrangement requires the additional height. A shorter shim may be more appropriate when less clearance is needed. If your feeder requires more than the available space, consider a different feeding arrangement.
The correct choice is the shim that provides adequate room while allowing the hive components and covers to close securely.
What Is Included?
Each purchase includes one fully assembled wooden Super Tall Bee Hive Shim in your selected 5-frame, 8-frame, or 10-frame configuration.
The standalone shim does not include:
- Hive body or frames.
- Fondant or other supplemental feed.
- Feeding accessories.
- Inner or outer hive covers.
- A predrilled upper entrance or ventilation opening.
Supplemental feed and feeding accessories are purchased separately. Beekeepers who want a shim paired with fondant can also consider the separately available Super Tall Shim Feeding Kit Combo.
Using a Super Tall Shim for Winter Feeding
Supplemental feeding becomes particularly important when a colony's stored food may not meet its needs. During cold weather, honey bees cluster together to conserve heat, and their ability to move to distant food supplies may be limited.
At Lappe's Bee Supply, we recommend positioning winter fondant directly above the cluster to improve accessibility during cold conditions. A feeding shim creates space for the supplemental food while allowing the beekeeper to reinstall the hive covers.
Lappe's Shop Tip: More Space Is Not Always Better
Choose shim height according to the actual feeding method. Additional clearance is helpful when needed, but unnecessarily increasing the open space above the winter cluster is not the goal. Use enough room to accommodate the feed and maintain proper cover fit.
Continue monitoring supplemental food availability and the colony's food reserves. The shim supports a feeding arrangement, but colony nutrition and winter survival depend on additional factors, including food placement, colony strength, weather, and available stores.
What Lappe's Checks Before Shipping
At Lappe's Bee Supply, we check assembled wooden hive shims for cracks or damaged wood, warping or alignment problems, and overall condition before packing. We also verify the selected hive size. These checks help us identify visible problems that could affect how the shim fits with compatible hive equipment.
How to Install the Assembled Super Tall Bee Hive Shim
- Confirm hive size. Verify that your shim matches the existing 5-frame, 8-frame, or 10-frame Langstroth hive body.
- Prepare the feed. Select your supplemental feeding arrangement and check that its height is compatible with the shim.
- Position the feed. Place supplemental food according to the feeding method and colony conditions. For winter fondant, Lappe's recommends placement directly above the cluster.
- Install the shim. Position the assembled wooden shim above the hive body to create the additional clearance.
- Replace the covers. Reinstall the inner and outer covers and confirm that the components sit evenly and securely.
Important: Do not force the covers into place if the feeding material or accessory is too thick. Poor alignment or excessive feeding-material thickness can leave unwanted gaps that may expose the colony to drafts, moisture, or pests.
What to Expect During Use
Like other wooden hive components, a shim may develop propolis buildup, small wax deposits, discoloration, or seasonal weathering. These changes do not automatically mean the shim needs replacing.
Lappe's recommends evaluating wooden hive equipment primarily by its structural condition and functional fit. A shim should remain properly aligned, sit evenly on compatible equipment, and allow the hive covers to close securely.
Care and Maintenance
- Inspect joints, corners, and contact surfaces for damage.
- Check for significant warping, splitting, or moisture-related deterioration.
- Carefully remove excess propolis or wax when buildup interferes with proper seating.
- Examine the shim before reuse after storage.
- Replace the component when structural damage prevents proper alignment or secure closure.
With appropriate care, wooden shims may remain useful across multiple beekeeping seasons. Their condition depends on exposure, handling, storage, and maintenance.
Is the Super Tall Bee Hive Shim Right for You?
This shim is a practical choice for beekeepers who already use compatible Langstroth equipment and need additional space above their frames for supplemental feeding.
Consider this shim if you:
- Need 1-1/4 inches of clearance for fondant or another compatible feeding arrangement.
- Want an assembled wooden spacer without additional assembly work.
- Use 5-frame, 8-frame, or 10-frame Langstroth equipment.
- Do not require a factory-predrilled upper entrance or ventilation opening.
Consider another option if:
- Your feeding arrangement requires less clearance and a shorter shim would be sufficient.
- Your feeder requires more space than this shim provides.
- You prefer a shim that already includes a ventilation hole or upper entrance.
- You want a feeding kit that includes both a shim and fondant.
Related Feeding Supplies and Resources
Preparing a supplemental feeding arrangement? Explore these related Lappe's Bee Supply products and categories:
- Super Tall Shim Feeding Kit Combo – A separate feeding-kit option containing an assembled 1-1/4-inch shim and two 5-pound fondant patties.
- HiveAlive Fondant Patties for Nucs – Supplemental fondant feeding products.
- Honey Bee Feeders and Feeding Equipment – Browse feeding methods and equipment options.
- Winter Bee Feed and Feeding Supplies – Explore products for seasonal supplemental feeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Assembled Super Tall Bee Hive Shim used for?
The Assembled Super Tall Bee Hive Shim provides 1-1/4 inches of additional vertical clearance above Langstroth hive frames. It is primarily used to accommodate compatible supplemental feeding arrangements, including fondant and sugar feeding.
Does the Super Tall Shim arrive assembled?
Yes. The wooden shim arrives fully assembled, so no assembly of the shim itself is required.
Which shim size should I order?
Choose the 5-frame, 8-frame, or 10-frame configuration that matches your existing Langstroth hive equipment. These configurations are not interchangeable.
Will every bee feeder fit inside this shim?
No universal feeder compatibility is established. The shim provides 1-1/4 inches of additional height, so check the dimensions and placement requirements of your feeding equipment before ordering.
Does the Super Tall Shim include fondant?
No. The standalone product includes one assembled wooden shim. Fondant and other supplemental feeding supplies are sold separately or offered in separate feeding kits.
Does this hive shim have a ventilation hole or upper entrance?
No. This model has no predrilled ventilation hole or upper entrance. Any desired opening must be added separately.
Where should fondant be placed during winter?
Lappe's Bee Supply recommends positioning winter fondant directly above the cluster to improve food accessibility during cold weather. Continue monitoring supplemental food and colony food reserves as conditions allow.
Why won't my hive covers close after installing the shim?
Check that the shim matches your hive size, the feeding material fits within the available clearance, and the components are properly aligned. Excessive feed thickness, propolis buildup, or damaged wooden surfaces may interfere with secure closure.
Make Room for the Feeding Arrangement Your Bees Need
The Assembled Super Tall Bee Hive Shim offers a straightforward way to create additional feeding space without installing another full hive body. Its assembled wooden construction, 1-1/4-inch height, and three available Langstroth configurations make it a useful option when your supplemental feeding setup requires extra clearance.
Lappe's Bee Supply comes from a commercial beekeeping family with experience dating back to 1978 and has served beekeepers with equipment and practical beekeeping education since 2017. We believe the right equipment starts with understanding how it fits your hive and how you plan to use it.
Select your matching hive configuration and confirm the clearance your feeding arrangement requires before ordering.
