Base size

[Penninetrader]

we had the guillotine in the UK long before the crapauds stole the idea - lot more efficent than an axe (the sword was another continental affectation) so you can get through a lot more per hour

From that I gather you have a list, so you are for efficiency over drama. A lot of our ways have been implanted. One has to smile and ignore much. Bee time soon. Keep well you and yours

 

[Erichalfbee]

Bee time soon

Thank heavens!

 

[Ely]

From that I gather you have a list, so you are for efficiency over drama. A lot of our ways have been implanted. One has to smile and ignore much. Bee time soon. Keep well you and yours

Still too far off for my liking. It's unusual I can get into the hives in March.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Still too far off for my liking. It's unusual I can get into the hives in March.

Same here....Mid April usually

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Same here....Mid April usually

my first april inspection last year saw me have to split a few

 

[Spiney Norman]

I like to use hive stands supported by stakes in the ground. Easy to make. Easy to get level. Don't tip over and don't go out of level. Also, you can strap hives to them to mitigate high winds and animals.

Most importantly, will not be undermined by moles or rats or other subsidence. I have had hives on moveable stands tip over a couple of times due to undermining by wildlife. And lost colonies when a neighbour's sheep decided to break in to an out apiary and tip the hives over.

Obviously, fixed stands cannot be moved around. Such as, for when moving hives a few feet at a time towards a new location. For that I use bread crates as temporary stands.

 

[Penninetrader]

Concrete blocks, if you can handle the weight, as for the girls I will be happy enough to see them forage

 

[Honey badger]

Last time I bought some they were about £6 each, just googling.

For that price it’s well worth thinking about.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Still too far off for my liking. It's unusual I can get into the hives in March.

Same here....Mid April usually

only once I have opened up a hive before the Welsh convention has been and gone (last weekend in March, although it's a bit earlier this year)

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Where are you getting scaffold jacks?! Last time I looked they were by no means cheap.

James

Last time I bought some they were about £6 each, just googling.
S

that's still £6.00 per corner, plus the associated wood/metalwork to make it into a 'stand'
welcome to the latest installment of 'millionaire beekeeping'!!

 

[Andy]

For that price it’s well worth thinking about.

I can find them for £6 but the postage is 13.75 each

 

[Penninetrader]

I generally use whatever I have or can adapt. Currently have a trailer full of decking and posts that a relative had to pull apart from a static caravan no longer sued, he had chopped pieces to about 1.4m lengths. Everything will be designed to accommodate those sizes, stands and hive boxes. Just wondering about the boxes and the tantalizing?

 

[Newbeeneil]

I generally use whatever I have or can adapt. Currently have a trailer full of decking and posts that a relative had to pull apart from a static caravan no longer sued, he had chopped pieces to about 1.4m lengths. Everything will be designed to accommodate those sizes, stands and hive boxes. Just wondering about the boxes and the tantalizing?

Or even tanalising

 

[Penninetrader]

Or even tanalising

I just love my phone, it spooks for me just noticed that used has been changed to sued. I have been slightly distracted by having to shut down the heating to swap a mid position 3 port valve. All done so hopefully no more typos ....... today

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I use tanalised timber for all my hive stands, I know people who use tanalised timber to make UFEs

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I know people who use tanalised timber to make UFEs

come to think of it, all my UFE's are a mix of tanalised and clean timber!

 

[Penninetrader]

come to think of it, all my UFE's are a mix of tanalised and clean timber!

I didn't think the process would equate to a chemically harming preservative but I was just wondering so posed the question to see what others may think, none of us have all the answers so best to ask. Experience is always the best info imo

 

[Newbeeneil]

I didn't think the process would equate to a chemically harming preservative but I was just wondering so posed the question to see what others may think, none of us have all the answers so best to ask. Experience is always the best info imo

I use tanalised fence rails for my stands. A single stand takes one rail which cost about £4.50 from memory. I also sometimes use 2x1 roofing batten for the upper edge of reversible crown boards.

 

[Murox]

The timber I use for UFE and stands is all tanalised, granted most of it has been laying about exposed to the elements for a few years as its mainly scavenged from one or two friends and acquaintances, although the last UFE I made was probably greenheart, finished its very heavy.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

the last UFE I made was probably greenheart

have they been demolishing any wooden piers/quaysides around you lately? Greenheart was traditionally used for the uprights in piers as, when immersed in water it lasts forever. It was also used to make fishing rods. In fact there was a fishing tackle/gunshop in Cardiff city centre whose founder originally worked building a lot of the piers around Cardiff and he used the greenheart offcuts to make fishing rods and thus opened a shop.