Beekeeping on the cheap. Some tips and please add yours.

[Nic Rhodes]

Jameszf

I have done it with BS deep and shallow but never on 14 x12 or Langstroth but this is only because I am relatively new to these formats. I still use foundation most of the time but occasionally I have heard of un-prepared beekeepers who run out of stocks of foundation during the summer not me obviously but my 'experiment' was fine .

 

[the naked beekeeper]

Any chance you could mention how you make em?

Mine are even simpler than those of PH.

I cut 9mm ply into 460mm squares.

Maybe choosing top bee space was a good money saver.

Thanks chaps.

I'm planning on making some ekes and some clearer boards at some stage.

My first ever beeky DIY.

Am I right in thinking that top bee space CBs won't need a 'lath'?
I presume they're only on bottom bee space hives to prevent crushing bees when replacing?

 

[oliver90owner]

I presume they're only on bottom bee space hives to prevent crushing bees when replacing?

No. They are there for the bee space.

 

[the naked beekeeper]

Why would you need a space on a top bee space hive?
I would have thought the bees would build brace comb along the top bars?

 

[Andy Duff]

Why would you need a space on a top bee space hive?
I would have thought the bees would build brace comb along the top bars?

The lath around the edges is there to keep things simple. It provides clearance space to prevent squished bees and that clearance helps to prevent the bees from "glueing" the crown board on.

 

[the naked beekeeper]

The lath around the edges is there to keep things simple. It provides clearance space to prevent squished bees and that clearance helps to prevent the bees from "glueing" the crown board on.

But surely with a top bee space these issues wouldn't be a problem??

 

[oliver90owner]

But surely with a top bee space these issues wouldn't be a problem??

That is correct.

 

[Andy Duff]

But surely with a top bee space these issues wouldn't be a problem??

That is correct.

each box was designed to provide clearance between the frames in it and the tops or bottoms of the frames in the box above or below it.

It's a design thing. trust me I are an enjineer.

It's almost the same as why 3 5/8 inch ekes go on top of the deep to convert them to 14x12's.

 

[For want of a better word]

Buy an electric chain saw blade sharpener... around £30...
saves a fortune on replacement blades!

 

[JamezF]

I'm planning on making some ekes and some clearer boards at some stage.

My first ever beeky DIY.

Am I right in thinking that top bee space CBs won't need a 'lath'?
I presume they're only on bottom bee space hives to prevent crushing bees when replacing?

Opinions on clearer boards seem legion. What works for someone doesn't work for someone else, and what works for some hives doesn't seem to work for others. However....

I made a couple of square Dave Cushman-style "vortex" clearer boards this summer and they worked far better than anything else I've tried. What it says on his site is that for "fast" clearer boards you need plenty of space under the board to allow the bees to cluster there as they rush out of the supers. Off the top of my head I think he suggested an inch or so, but possibly more. It's not like brace comb building is a major issue in this situation, as they're not intended to be on the hive for more than 24 hours.

I have no idea whether that amount of space is "right", or how many bees cluster there for how long, but it worked for me.

James

 

[Andy Duff]

Post revolution on our allotments we realised that we could not subsidise our bee hive, so 6 members decided they had more money than brain cells and took them on at a cost of 35 quids each. I bee-keep and have assistants who help with the bees or extract honey, help to make equipment and parts or appear with wood, mesh, nails glue etc.

One colony is now 3, and we have reconditioned 3 scabby hives (6 quid on fleabay), bought a new hive, built and scrounged enough stuff for a total of 6 hives

We also refurbished the allotment workshop so everyone could benefit from us using it.

see pics.
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[Queens59]

Good to see such cooperation - I'm sure more would get involved country wide if finance wasn't such an issue.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Opinions on clearer boards seem legion.

I made a couple of square Dave Cushman-style "vortex" clearer boards this summer and they worked far better than anything else I've tried.

James

Can someone enlighten me, as a new starter:
There was a thread about 2/3 weeks ago on vortex clearer boards and the consensus seemed to be that they were the best thing since sliced bread (though how sliced bread encourages bees to shift, I don't know).

But it sounded as if vortex cleaners are a DIY affair. Or did I miss something?
If they're so good, why has no one manufactured them for those of us too incompetent to make them?

 

[Andy Duff]

Good to see such cooperation - I'm sure more would get involved country wide if finance wasn't such an issue.

and here is the funny bit, only 1 of our 6 members likes honey. I detest the stuff but my 6 foot 6 beanpole son eats it like it's going out of fashion, as does our member's nearest and dearest. Is that grammatically correct?

 

[Andy Duff]

Can someone enlighten me, as a new starter:
There was a thread about 2/3 weeks ago on vortex clearer boards and the consensus seemed to be that they were the best thing since sliced bread (though how sliced bread encourages bees to shift, I don't know).

But it sounded as if vortex cleaners are a DIY affair. Or did I miss something?
If they're so good, why has no one manufactured them for those of us too incompetent to make them?

VORTEX it's got a V and an X in it's name and that's what makes it sound good and so does Vax but I would not stick one of those into our hives.

 

[Andy Duff]

Good to see such cooperation - I'm sure more would get involved country wide if finance wasn't such an issue.

is that sarcasm or admiration?

 

[JamezF]

But it sounded as if vortex cleaners are a DIY affair. Or did I miss something?
If they're so good, why has no one manufactured them for those of us too incompetent to make them?

I made my own. I don't know of anyone who manufactures them for sale.

As for why, perhaps the manufacturers of existing clearer boards feel there isn't the demand, or that the costs of making yet another type of board would make it harder to generate a profit.

They're really not hard to make yourself should you decide to try.

James

 

[Poly Hive]

Clearer boards

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11959&highlight=clearer+boards


Yes they are a DIY item but very easy to make.

Never heard them called vortex though, just a simple clearer board.

PH

 

[JamezF]

Having had a quick scan through I don't see a picture of what I know as a "vortex" board in that thread. This is the design of mine:

View attachment 5413

AFAIR the design on Dave Cushman's site is for a triangular version, but I decided it would be easier to make it square.

James

 

[Queens59]

is that sarcasm or admiration?

Total admiration - getting people to agree on anything is amazing - and for such an expensive hobby I think it's great!! I must admit I thiought I didn't really like honey - until I tried my own...shop bought is nowhere near proper honey