Clearer boards made cheap.

bCareful said:

Hello everyone, can you advise me please?

I want to make a clearer board by putting Ported bee escapes, which I already have, into a blank crown board for the dual purpose of clearing the bees from my full honey supers and also to provide access to feeders.
I see that suppliers have boards with one escape centrally placed and another about a quarter of the way across. What do you think is the best arrangement?, bearing in mind that I have:-
1. A full sized box feeder with access 11.5 cm in from each side - do I place the holes directly under the feeder access giving the bees quick and easy entry into the feeder?
2. Also a round feeder of just under 14" diameter with a central access hole - do I make a clearer board to the same pattern as the commercially available ones?

Thank you.

I am a new beekeeper and am sure to have more questions, but things are going very well so far and I am very happy with my bees.

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Poly Hive said:

Please see the pics of two of my clearer boards.

The white plastic has been cut in half, as it is in theory meant to be on the middle of a clearer board but I prefer the bees to exit via the corners which in my experience works more effectively.

The home made one is on the same principle and works just as well.

The batten for the home made one on which the mesh is mounted is stock from B&Q 10mm thick. The exit hole is 8mm. The arrival hole as it were on the top is 25mm.

The price for the whole unit is barely £3 or so.

I hope this give some inspiration.

PH

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itchyhives said:

Do you find the bees will come back up if they are left on for any amount of time?

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drstitson said:

bob bee - standard 21mm stripwood - you'll find it in the horizontal mouldings rack in DIY stores NOT the upright planed timber section.

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