Chuffed with polycarbonate

[bjosephd]

Really chuffed with this recent purchase and delivery.

Smash proof, scratch proof, 5mm polycarbonate sheet cut as ordered to bespoke proportions to the millimetre.

Looking forward to being able to see how my bees are, how their fondant etc is being consumed etc without having to take the roof of their home every time.

And particularly keen to finally be able to show friends and family the inside workings of the hive without disturbance and much ease.

I'm pleased. May order a few more for the other hives for spring.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Millet]

I'm in no way nit picking but i thought polycarb was that double thickness sheeting that goes on conservatory roofs. ? .

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I'm in no way nit picking but i thought polycarb was that double thickness sheeting that goes on conservatory roofs. ? .

Polycarb is the stuff that those sheets are made of

 

[Millet]

Polycarb is the stuff that those sheets are made of

I see so it is the material regardless of weather it is single or double thickness, in the building trade of days gone bye that single thickness sheet would be called perspex.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

in the building trade of days gone bye that single thickness sheet would be called perspex.

yup

 

[daroco]

Are you going to add a shim like you would have on a crown board?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have 6mm polycarbonate crowns. I run top space and anything thinner buckles under the weight of a full rapid feeder. I have some of my crowns with an 8mm frame so that I can turn them over to give me two bee spaces

 

[Erichalfbee]

Are you going to add a shim like you would have on a crown board?

Easy enough to do. Screw wood or glue polycarbonate

 

[bjosephd]

Are you going to add a shim like you would have on a crown board?

I made a few nice shims the other day to make space for fondant feed. I might make some shallower ones though for the polycarb for when no feed is required.

However, my langs are top space so might not need to.

BJD


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bjosephd]

I see so it is the material regardless of weather it is single or double thickness, in the building trade of days gone bye that single thickness sheet would be called perspex.

I believe that there is a difference between perspex (which is apparently acrylic) and polycarbonate (which is polycarbonate?).

A quick google outlines some differences... difficult to work out if acrylic or polycarb is better for this purpose. Either way, the company I got it from sells then as different products... cost me less than a tenner (before delivery).

I think polycarb will cope with a sledge hammer better, but not convinced which is most scratch resistant.

Just googled 'polycarbonate vs perspex' and for the potential price saving I might go for perspex next time!

Hmmm.... ?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Erichalfbee]

Perspex scratches easily and you know how often you have to get burr comb off crown boards. It also cracks. Polycarbonate can be drilled and cut with a saw. The price over that of Perspex is worth it for me

 

[Millet]

I believe that there is a difference between perspex (which is apparently acrylic) and polycarbonate (which is polycarbonate?).

A quick google outlines some differences... difficult to work out if acrylic or polycarb is better for this purpose. Either way, the company I got it from sells then as different products... cost me less than a tenner (before delivery).

I think polycarb will cope with a sledge hammer better, but not convinced which is most scratch resistant.

Just googled 'polycarbonate vs perspex' and for the potential price saving I might go for perspex next time!

Hmmm.... ?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That seems to be the case these days, 10/20 yrs ago single thickness clear plastic sheeting was called perspex and double thickness polycarb, how times change, i have perspex over the front of my aviaries for winter which was from a demolished local school, it is shatter proof and can be bent double without breaking, a tip for you if you buy a 8ft x 4ft sheet of good quality perspex IS cut it with a diamond tipped blade in a grinder.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Yes great move ...... Whipping tops off for a quick look is fun

 

[chipper]

I use the 5mm polycarb sheets in my Swienty Poly nucs , had a small hole drilled in them for fondant feeding and can put a wine cork in it if I want it closed....in the "busy" season its easy to check their condition without putting a suit on as minimal disturbance...I remove them from overwintering Nucs as condensation occurs...

 

[bjosephd]

I remove them from overwintering Nucs as condensation occurs...

Yup, I was gonna to do I quick swap when it arrived as it would be handy for checking how they're getting on with the fondant I gave them t'other day.

But then I wondered about condensation as at least wood would soak up such things better.

However, it has a 100mm celotex hat so I imagine it shouldn't be too much of a problem. The cosy also has 50mm walls.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[REDWOOD]

I'm not going to rock your boat but if i'm going to take a look I would like to take a proper look, not just from the top.

 

[bjosephd]

Perspex scratches easily and you know how often you have to get burr comb off crown boards. It also cracks. Polycarbonate can be drilled and cut with a saw. The price over that of Perspex is worth it for me

Fab, sounds good to me... maybe I'll see if I can get myself a plastic ice scraper for windscreens for my polycarb crown-boards, might save a few hive-tool injuries.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Little John]

Take the 'scratchproof' of polycarbonate with a BIG pinch of salt ...

It's true that Perspex (a common trade mark for acrylic) scratches easily - but those scratches can easily be removed with metal polish if not too deep.

On the other hand if you try polishing polycarbonate with a mild abrasive, you'll soon turn it opaque.

Which is why boat 'windows' are still made from Perspex, even though polycarbonate is far stronger. 'Cause wiping-off dried salt scratches.

The best material to use is glass - but which is difficult for the amateur to work with.
LJ

 

[bjosephd]

I'm not going to rock your boat but if i'm going to take a look I would like to take a proper look, not just from the top.

I'm not saying at all that this would replace an inspection... but if I want to say hey come look at my bees to my niece or nephews or family etc I can show them far more without disturbing the bees and suiting up to the max.

Also if all I want to know is how the fondant is going in mid winter, then I can do so without lifting the crown-board and screwing up their ecosystem needlessly.

Also if I sat for long enough in season with an umbrella for shade I might learn a thing or two or even better get a lucky spot of a busy queen.

Spotting the queen through a crown board if you haven't seen her in person for a while always settles the soul.

But fundamentally this is for fun minimal disturbance observation.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bjosephd]

Take the 'scratchproof' of polycarbonate with a BIG pinch of salt ...



It's true that Perspex (a common trade mark for acrylic) scratches easily - but those scratches can easily be removed with metal polish if not too deep.



On the other hand if you try polishing polycarbonate with a mild abrasive, you'll soon turn it opaque.



Which is why boat 'windows' are still made from Perspex, even though polycarbonate is far stronger. 'Cause wiping-off dried salt scratches.

LJ

Ooh, very interesting. Good to know.

Maybe I'll buy a matching perspex sheet and compare and contrast through the season.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk