Clearing supers for harvesting

[mbc]

Do you make your own fume boards? I've frames cut to make some clearer but might try a fume board. All I need is some thin metal to sheet it?

I've got some man-lake langstroth solar fume boards cut and adjusted to fit nationals

 

[Antipodes]

Does anyone know if there are any legal restrictions on the use of benzaldehyde (almond essence) to move(clear) bees?

 

[ShinySideUp]

I am having problems clearing bees too. I have bought a load of supers and have used them all up and still the colonies expand. I think the bees are not clearing because they have no room to go anywhere and I really don't know what to do about it. Tomorrow I'm going to try an eke between a super/clearing board and the rest of the hive, and do one super at a time. I then have to extract the honey and put the super back on in the first position then move on the the next super but this is going to take days to do all my hives. Didn't have this trouble last year but then I didn't get such full hives either.

 

[Beefriendly]

You need more supers. You need to clear into to empty supers. Say you have 3 full supers to clear you need around 2 empty supers underneath. It's crowd control..you can't fit more sardines in the tin.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I am having problems clearing bees too. I have bought a load of supers and have used them all up and still the colonies expand. I think the bees are not clearing because they have no room to go anywhere and I really don't know what to do about it. Tomorrow I'm going to try an eke between a super/clearing board and the rest of the hive, and do one super at a time. I then have to extract the honey and put the super back on in the first position then move on the the next super but this is going to take days to do all my hives. Didn't have this trouble last year but then I didn't get such full hives either.

Get a few Swienty poly supers from C Wynne Jones
Takes thirty seconds to put one together

 

[ShinySideUp]

Get a few Swienty poly supers from C Wynne Jones
Takes thirty seconds to put one together

Two supers would have done me and at under eighteen quid each not too bad a price but there is no way I'm paying £8.90 delivery to have them sent to me in 2-5 days, that's just extortion. I'll pop down to the local builders merchant tomorrow, get some wood and nail/glue four sides together; afterall the boxes only have to hold the weight of the supers long enough to remove the bees, extract the honey then put the supers back on.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Two supers would have done me and at under eighteen quid each not too bad a price but there is no way I'm paying £8.90 delivery to have them sent to me in 2-5 days, that's just extortion. I'll pop down to the local builders merchant tomorrow, get some wood and nail/glue four sides together; afterall the boxes only have to hold the weight of the supers long enough to remove the bees, extract the honey then put the supers back on.

Make your clearer boards deep.
Treat yourself to the Welsh Convention next year and collect your poly there.... and meet some interesting people.

 

[Angry_Mob]

Two supers would have done me and at under eighteen quid each not too bad a price but there is no way I'm paying £8.90 delivery to have them sent to me in 2-5 days, that's just extortion. I'll pop down to the local builders merchant tomorrow, get some wood and nail/glue four sides together; afterall the boxes only have to hold the weight of the supers long enough to remove the bees, extract the honey then put the supers back on.

Now you know how us non-mainlanders feel; we often have little choice though.

Simon the Bee Keeper also sells Swienty Supers, £16.60 each but not sure what his mainland delivery prices are like. Hopefully keener than here.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Make your clearer boards deep.
Treat yourself to the Welsh Convention next year and collect your poly there.... and meet some interesting people.

Ironic thing is that I've just come back from North Wales on a motorcycle trip. If I'd had this thread conversation a week ago I would have the supers right now. Ah well.