Changing from plastic QE to metal one

[Hivemaker.]

It's a well known fact that UV makes plastic brittle, that's why I never bought any. The ones that I did look at had a sharp bur much the same as the galvanised slot type, which tends to damage the bees wings.

The ones i have don't have any kind of burr, that is why i bought them, good value and long lasting, so far, wonder when they will go brittle, not that it matters too much, if they do twenty years or more before going brittle, i won't be too disappointed.

 

[REDWOOD]

Most pvc is actually upvc, the U being uv protected

 

[Hawklord]

Does UV have any impact inside a hive?

The edge of the excluder is inside the hive?

 

[jonnybeegood]

The edge of the excluder is inside the hive?

Build a frame for it & it is.

 

[Hawklord]

Build a frame for it & it is.

I haven't seen any plastic excludes that are smaller than the brood box, which means adding a frame to one side would still leave the edge exposed. UPVC lacks the plasticizers that are in PVC which would make it naturally more brittle without any UV at all.

 

[jonnybeegood]

I haven't seen any plastic excludes that are smaller than the brood box, which means adding a frame to one side would still leave the edge exposed. UPVC lacks the plasticizers that are in PVC which would make it naturally more brittle without any UV at all.

You could trim it down? They are small for my hives but mine are jumbo 14x12's, i had to build a frame but found it worked well.
Even new ones are brittle, i tried using a staple gun on one & it smashed the edge, i ended up having to drill & pin them.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Even new ones are brittle, i tried using a staple gun on one & it smashed the edge, i ended up having to drill & pin them.

That must be a different type of plastic than the ones i have, you can drive nails into these, bend them almost double, even hammer over the corner of them and they won't break, really tough stuff, like nylon or that ptfe stuff.

 

[Hawklord]

You could trim it down? They are small for my hives but mine are jumbo 14x12's, i had to build a frame but found it worked well.
Even new ones are brittle, i tried using a staple gun on one & it smashed the edge, i ended up having to drill & pin them.

Whether the brood box is standard or jumbo it will still be 460mm X 460mm across the top, as will the queen excluder.

I'm more than happy with the wire excluder, it's just a shame it can't be made in stainless steel.

 

[Obee1]

Not had that happen yet, have some ten years old and still tough as old boots, what age do they go brittle?

As plastic ones were about £2.00 at thornes stand t the WBKA show I think I'll risk them turning out to be short lived.

Wonder if one would fit in the dishwasher for cleaning?

 

[VEG]

Never had any sort of problem with plastic queen excluders.

 

[Hivemaker.]

it's just a shame it can't be made in stainless steel.

There you go.........

http://www.thorne.co.uk/hive-hardware/queen-excluders?product_id=6752

http://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...een-excluder-with-wooden_60168651118.html?s=p

 

[Hawklord]

There you go.........

http://www.thorne.co.uk/hive-hardware/queen-excluders?product_id=6752

http://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...een-excluder-with-wooden_60168651118.html?s=p

Thanks. BH Bits said they couldn't be made as they couldn't get fusion between the wires.

 

[jonnybeegood]

Whether the brood box is standard or jumbo it will still be 460mm X 460mm across the top, as will the queen excluder.

Er no , these jumbos are 500 mm to the outer edge, you could just use the plastic QE on its own but they work better with an edge strip all around.

 

[protheroe]

Had a few corners crack on plastic ones using a nail gun so now screw the rims on

 

[Madge]

Er no , these jumbos are 500 mm to the outer edge, you could just use the plastic QE on its own but they work better with an edge strip all around.

The inside dimensions are the same as a standard wooden National - so the problems or lack of problems are the same.

 

[drstitson]

"Er no , these jumbos are 500 mm to the outer edge, you could just use the plastic QE on its own but they work better with an edge strip all around."

you sure those aren't dadants?

 

[Madge]

"Er no , these jumbos are 500 mm to the outer edge, you could just use the plastic QE on its own but they work better with an edge strip all around."

you sure those aren't dadants?

No, JBG (post #33) is referring to the large polystyrene Nationals (eg, Bee Hive Supplies or Paynes) where the inside measurements are the same as wooden Nationals as opposed to Swienties where the outside measurements are the same.

 

[jonnybeegood]

The inside dimensions are the same as a standard wooden National - so the problems or lack of problems are the same.

Yes but a plastic excluder doesnt fit to the outside of these hives, if i just fit an excluder it would evdntually press into the poly with the weight of supers causing a ridge. Anyway its just my preference to do it this way.

 

[itma]

Yes but a plastic excluder doesnt fit to the outside of these hives, if i just fit an excluder it would evdntually press into the poly with the weight of supers causing a ridge. Anyway its just my preference to do it this way.

On the Paynes (500 square external) the bearing surface (contact area) is 460 square (plus the corners) as the outside of the 'top' is angled - with the intention of helping shed rain when a wooden box is stacked on top.

Paynes plastic is hard enough not to permanently deform in the way you fear under the weight of full (460) wooden supers on a 460 framed QX.




The 'u' in uPVC stands for unplasticised. PVC itself is fairly stiff and commonly 'plasticisers' are added to make it softer and more flexible (for cable insulation, etc). Some have questioned the medical safety of some of the plasticisers that have been used in the past.
Ultra-violet stabilisation is a different matter.
I don't believe PVC is used for QXs.

Embrittlement is probably more about storage than usage.
And trying to clean plastic QXs on a cold winter day might well give the impression that they have become brittle - but that would be due to their temperature at the time rather than uv exposure ...

 

[itma]

That must be a different type of plastic than the ones i have, you can drive nails into these, bend them almost double, even hammer over the corner of them and they won't break, really tough stuff, like nylon or that ptfe stuff.

There's an awful lot of different plastics out there ...