Confused about my ekes

[Levitt53]

Ok so I have many skills but have always known that DIY is not one of them. I've struggled to put virtually everything together and am seriously considering buying stuff already made. Anyway I've just put together an eke. It's sort of straight and only wobbles a little bit which I consider a success (you should have seen the hash I made of the roof!). I assumed an eke would just be a straight forward box but oh no. Why does it have a raised bit sticking out and a grove the other end? I sat and thought about it and can only assume the groves should fit inside the crown board but they don't by a long way, more than could be caused by my useless skills. I've tried it every way up with every box and crown board I have but nothing fits. What am I doing wrong and why does nothing these day ever come with any kind of instructions?

 

[mintmoth]

Did you buy it as a kit? (who from?), or cut the wood yourself?

An eke is simply 4 pieces of wood the same width and depth nailed/screwed together to make a square (for a national) or oblong (Langstroth etc).

The top and bottom edges should be level all round.

 

[Eyeman]

My disclaimer is Having only ever made my ekes and never bought one.
The one in the picture looks like it might be the 14x12 eke to convert a national to a 14x12?. In which case the indents are intended to fit the indents in the national brood box.
In which case your construction doesn't look like the picture in the Thorne's website of the finished product.

 

[Erichalfbee]

It's an eke to extend a brood.
I think you have to take it apart and try again. If you want to use it as just an eke then make it up and flip it over
Good luck

 

[Anduril]

Looks like a Maisies 14x12 eke the grooves look as though they are in the right place. Now the intended use is to fit it underneath a standard brood box.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Looks like a Maisies 14x12 eke the grooves look as though they are in the right place. Now the intended use is to fit it underneath a standard brood box.

 

[Anduril]

The eke that fits underneath the crown board is called an apiguard eke in the catalogues. If you had a couple per Hive, you could use them above the crown board with kingspan cut to fit inside for insulation.

 

[enrico]

As stated a basic eke is the easiest thing to make. Get a piece of wood that is at least four times the length of one long side of your hive. It has to be as high as whatever you want inside it, a feeder or a slab of fondant. Cut two sides exactly the same length as two sides of your hive. The next two have to be shorter to allow for them to butt up to the first two. Then just screw them together. You can make sure it is square by applying a little pressure to the sides when you add it to your hive. I make shallow ones but put two or three together to lift the roof above a feeder.
E

 

[Levitt53]

It looks like I've bought the wrong thing then. It's from Paynes and the only type of eke they sell. I thought an eke could be used to extend a brood box OR to put on top of a crown board to give fondant or varroa treatment as others seem to use them. I wanted it to give fondant but will just have to use a super instead I think. No I am not going to try and make one. Nailing this one together gave me enough stress this morning. I put it together according to the diagram and there is no way to do it without having a ridge in one side and a grove in the other. I'all contact Paynes and see what they suggest I should have bought. Thanks.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It looks like I've bought the wrong thing then. It's from Paynes and the only type of eke they sell. I thought an eke could be used to extend a brood box OR to put on top of a crown board to give fondant or varroa treatment as others seem to use them. I wanted it to give fondant but will just have to use a super instead I think. No I am not going to try and make one. Nailing this one together gave me enough stress this morning. I put it together according to the diagram and there is no way to do it without having a ridge in one side and a grove in the other. I'all contact Paynes and see what they suggest I should have bought. Thanks.

Forget Paynes - get on to Maisemore's - they have a sale on til the end of this month and Apiguard ekes (flatpack - but you can't go wrong) are three quid a throw.
You'll have to pay postage of course, unless you make it up to £200.00 with other sale goodies to get free delivery (That's what I did when I found out I needed a box of frame nails last week )

 

[yeogi75]

looked on Payne's site, looks like you have put it together right its just a 14 x 12 eke, remove the two inner pieces of wood and you will have a standard eke hope that helps

 

[Hivemaker.]

remove the two inner pieces of wood

They are one piece.

 

[Millet]

They are one piece.

Get the electric wood plane on it..

 

[Hivemaker.]

Get the electric wood plane on it..

....or saw, but not a thing for the op I think.

 

[yeogi75]

if they are one piece the rebates must be the wrong way round then surly, and Can they be turned round and lowered, ive not used ekes ive only made my own

 

[yeogi75]

had another look on Payne's its made up right, but surely the rebates should be on the inside to take the frame lugs, if you put below brood box it will have a gap, cannot work this one out.

 

[Anduril]

had another look on Payne's its made up right, but surely the rebates should be on the inside to take the frame lugs, if you put below brood box it will have a gap, cannot work this one out.

The rebate on the eke slots into the bottom rebate of the standard brood box. The slanted runner of the brood box that slots into the 2 side panels

 

[REDWOOD]

for an apigaurd eke all you need is to make a square out of this
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Whit...181492&plid=&mkwid=snM2xfaPD_dc&match=&kword=

cut two bits 460 mm and two bits 424 mm, you can nail & glue or screw. Use a QE to keep things straight

 

[Anduril]

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=388987&postcount=12
As an example it slots into the 1/4" section at the bottom marked D

 

[REDWOOD]

And it should look like this picture 17
http://www.rich-field.co.uk/beehives.html#