Abelo hives?

[wendyt]

Hi everyone, this is my first summer with my own bees and already looking for another hive!! Just wondering if any of you have had any experience with Abelo poly hives.
Thanks for any info....

 

[Madge]

I've just bought some and had them in use now for a week or two - and I really like them. They're the best thought-out poly hive I've tried (and I think I've tried the whole lot apart from Maisiemore's - but I can see clearly I won't like that one either). They just work. No adjusting required.

 

[chrisb]

went to Abelo and seen them up close, good strong construction 160g/lt
inlaid plastic shims where it matters, they are going to be my first port of call when I need more hives

 

[Quis Custodiet]

Have you checked how brittle they might be? How does their insulation value compare with other poly hives? Important questions perhaps!

 

[chrisb]

not as brittle as most out there I have seen that resemble packing you would find around your new TV,
as far as insulation value thick enough to be that above timber. the density is that of Kingspan or Celotex insulation, that has a higher value then polystyrene of similar thickness
are we keeping bees or insulating our houses

 

[local_beekeeper]

Have you checked how brittle they might be? How does their insulation value compare with other poly hives? Important questions perhaps!

Right now the best poly on the market.

 

[mbc]

Right now the best poly on the market.

 

[Quis Custodiet]

...........................
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are we keeping bees or insulating our houses

I can but speak for myself and so the answer has to be - I do and have done both.

On a more serious note it would be interesting to have a qualified appraisal of the polystyrene. It may be, as described by another "the best poly on the market". Then again it may not be.

 

[mbc]

Qualified (ish)appraisal has been caried out by this beekeeper and his bees, imho plenty warm enough for the bees, hard enough so as they don't eat it, tough enough so as this beekeeper hasn't been able to break any of it yet, and ergonomic in design so little squashing bees occurs. My only complaint would be the pointless crown board and a slight worry the marrying surfaces are a little slippy and may cause issues when moving them, hopefully propolis will sort this out in time.

 

[wendyt]

Thanks for all your input, much appreciated.

 

[chrisb]

I can but speak for myself and so the answer has to be - I do and have done both.

On a more serious note it would be interesting to have a qualified appraisal of the polystyrene. It may be, as described by another "the best poly on the market". Then again it may not be.

please tell who of all the manufacturers of polly hives actually give thermal efficiency data for said hives ?
I as of yet have not found any such data so why ask a single manufacturer to appraise there hives when no other sod dose it

 

[Swarm]

I'm guessing thinner walls? 460mm dimension yet 11 frames instead of 10 in a swienty?

 

[Quis Custodiet]

Qualified (ish)appraisal has been caried out by this beekeeper and his bees, ....................................

Thank you for reply, which was interesting. Do the boxes have a skin, i.e. smooth and hard on the outside and softer and tougher towards the middle? Swienty used to make polyurethane hives with that characteristic. When I asked if it was brittle, it was it's likely response to a sharp blow to which was referring. Would it absorb such a blow like typical poly hives or would it be more likely to shatter?

 

[chrisb]

I'm guessing thinner walls? 460mm dimension yet 11 frames instead of 10 in a swienty?

yes thinner walls but higher density then swenty, swenty are more like the expanded polystyrene.
they are harder in feel ! hard outer and inner skin, overall if you manage to shatter one of these then you have done something seriously wrong

 

[Madge]

... My only complaint would be the pointless crown board ...

For the way I manage my hives, no, not pointless at all! I like the crown board. Bees don't get squashed when you fit the roof; it's insulating; you can use it as a feeder board; and it's a travel screen.