Celotex thickness...

[REDWOOD]

I use 40 mm, why, because my honey warming cabinet is made from 40 mm kingspan and when the inside temperature is 39.999 degrees the out side temperature is ambient. that's as scientific as I get.

 

[Gaz1]

So do must people insulate wooden hives?

 

[madasafish]

Cool... I'll keep my eyes and ears peeled for some half decent pre-loved or lost scraps. I'll also grab myself some aluminium tape and some kinda glue and hope there's a nice crisp dry sunny autumn day in two weeks' time to get out in the yard with a saw and lots of dust.

The best saw is a new bladed fine tooth saw.
(Wickes do a very good one for under £10)

A fine tooth saw - if SHARP - cuts more cleanly - with lots less dust.

(I write from bitter experience)..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

So do must people insulate wooden hives?

no - apart maybe from a slab of 50mm celotex above the crownboard

 

[pargyle]

So do must people insulate wooden hives?

No ... but they ought to. New ideas travel very slowly in beekeeping circles - people were wrapping hives and insulating them long before Kingspan and Celotex were invented - Why do you think WBC hives, invented in 1890, had outer lifts with a space which people packed with straw to overwinter ?

Insulating thin timber hives is a no-brainer as far as I can see.

 

[Gaz1]

no - apart maybe from a slab of 50mm celotex above the crownboard

That's what I have got, Living in Cornwall our winters aren't that bad compared to up north! Might look at making one for next year as I'm about to start a timber frame just in time for the weather to turn

 

[Webby]

Thanks Gilberdyke John...
...and madasafish

So, that's two actual answers so far.

"...what thickness celotex do people who make celotex bee cosies here use?"

I'd be interested to know.

Thanks

B

I have 100mm piece under the roof to insulate and a cosy made from 25mm mainly to keep the wind and rain off the hive rather than insulate so much.