Height of eke for fondant on top of frames?

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I plan to roll out some fondant and place on top of frames rather than use my current system of plastic tubs above the hole in the crown board. Need to make some ekes to allow for flat fondant on top of frames what height should I make them, as I need to keep current ekes above crown board for my insulation?
 
depends on how flat your going to roll it ! but id have thought 2" x 1" timber would be enough. but take it off before they fill it full of wild comb in the early spring.

Dave
 
I have framed crown boards and top space and find just flipping the crown board gives me enough space....2 bee spaces
 
I plan to roll out some fondant and place on top of frames rather than use my current system of plastic tubs above the hole in the crown board. Need to make some ekes to allow for flat fondant on top of frames what height should I make them, as I need to keep current ekes above crown board for my insulation?

I have some flippable clear crownboards made with a beespace frame at one side and 20mm frame at the other. They were originally made to be used with the deep side giving room for an Apiguard tray. If you rolled out fondant as a sheet of sub 20mm thickness it would fit comfortably.
I've not had any problems with using an upturned sandwich container over a central feed hole if the hives get light. Is your desire to change based on experience or curiosity?
 
We just use 3 cm styrofoam with the middle cut out to extend the hive up, a kind of eek, then after you put on the fondant, back goes on the original styrofoam.
Its a lot of material (eeks(if you have to feed lots but its the only really good guaranteed way to feed fondant without compromising the insulation.
Alternatively i have rolled it out to less than1 cm and put small pieces directly on to the frames if your really worried, kind of insurance.
 
I have framed crown boards and top space and find just flipping the crown board gives me enough space....2 bee spaces
What's a framed crown board Erica don't quite get it. Just felt getting the fondant nearer to the bees would be good per many suggestions on the forum
 
What's a framed crown board Erica don't quite get it. Just felt getting the fondant nearer to the bees would be good per many suggestions on the forum

As with all bee related opinions found on forums, you filter what you read, with few exceptions opinions are what they are. If your bees have successfully found and taken fondant from a plastic tub (if they needed it) why try to fix what isn't busted?

The image is a clearer board but illustrates what a frame around the edge of a board is. You can make it beespace thick or 20mm or anything you choose.
 

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What's a framed crown board Erica don't quite get it. Just felt getting the fondant nearer to the bees would be good per many suggestions on the forum

Perhaps it's my wording.
Clear 6mm polycarbonate with a 8mm strip glued round the perimeter so that there is no extra space one side and 8mm the other so that when I flip it over there is 16mm space above the top bars.

Picture above says it all
 
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Either tack some batten strips to a spare crown board to give you a bigger space or make a shallow frame to slide between the box and the crown board.
 
Plan to roll out the fondant today and place on top of frames. Means I have to quickly remove crown board to place on fondant, then the 1" eke then the crown board. Should I smoke to keep bees down as still lively. Also what could i use to fill spare space in the eke around fondant?
 
If they are low on stores, and it is not too cold, they are likely to be on top bars, so, yes will likely need some smoking down. If it is only a 1 inch eke, I would not worry about filling empty space. Fondant should take up most of it anyway.
 
Just done the same on my Buckie's today Etton ...the last one....I plan to replace fondant with patties mid February then Bailey 14x12 on three mid march ... Weather dependant
 
The interference and probable needed smoking will likely lose more bees than leaving them alone if they already have sufficient stores. Far better to feed from over the crownboard successfully than interfere with the hive at this time of the year.

Erichalbee - your post was perfectly clear, succint - and precisely accurate!
 
Thanks for all advice. I know two are late swarms so I did go in today, very quickly with my 1" ekes and left flattened fondant in cut cling film on top of frames. Used smoker. All done and left tubs as well on top of crown board. Yes, Erica yours was clear, , just me being thick! I wonder how long the fondant will last before hardening off?
 
1" ekes and left flattened fondant in cut cling film on top of frames.

The only problem with using cling film is the bees often shred the stuff into lots of woolly strands and some bees become entangled in this and die, if using the standard mouse guards these also often become blocked with the strands of cling film as the bees try to remove it.
 
My ekes are 2" deep and roughly 3/4" thick made from insulation board from Dupont.

PH
 
The only problem with using cling film is the bees often shred the stuff into lots of woolly strands and some bees become entangled in this and die, if using the standard mouse guards these also often become blocked with the strands of cling film as the bees try to remove it.

I use grease proof
Bits drop through the omf
 
Now worried that too much cling film on top of frames, have read previous posts saying bees can get stuck and try to remove. Previously have used the plastic takeaway tubs above crown board feeder hole. Am now thinking maybe use the tubs, but place these on top of the frames so closer to the bees ( and warmer to delay hardening) with a slightly wider eek?
 
Stop worrying. They will sort it out. Used cling film in the past and apart from it clogging up some of the holes in the mouse guard, no problem. The biggest problem the bees usually have to deal with is the beekeeper! Lol.
 

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