How do you attach polystyrene to your hive??

[the naked beekeeper]

All in the title really.

I have some polystyrene I want to secure to the outside of the hive.
Since I'm not very practical/handy, what do you recommend is my best bet to secure some polystyrene to a hive.
I tried electrical tape already and it wouldn't stick to the hive (which was dry.)

 

[taff..]

check out pete's vids for a few ideas



http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/video.php?do=viewdetails&videoid=53

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/video.php?do=viewdetails&videoid=54


hth

 

[Frisbee]

I haven't looked at the videos, but if you need to tape something like that then the tape needs to go completely round and overlap so it's sticking to itself, it won't stick to wood even in the summer.

It probably won't work anyway as I don't suppose the tape will stick to the polystyrene either.

Frisbee

 

[plumber]

we used to use cocktail sticks to hold tank insulation in place,
pin it through the poly in to the end of the abutting sheet then
pin again at 45 degrees lock in place. could also use cooks matches
deheaded and sharpened (a bit longer as well).

 

[oliver90owner]

Not seen Petes vids on this but here is how I do it.

Fill recesses with 25mm polystyrene cut to size (will hold itself in place nicely if cut at the approximate appropriate angle. Cut sheet to accurately cover the hive and secure with horizontal ratchet straps. Corner reinforcing with plastic angle pieces is good to spread the load and a tube to cover the straps (to prevent degradation) is good, too. Any small amount of 'bulging' of the sheet, away from the hive sides, is fixed by pushing wedges or similar under the straps.

Hope this helps.

Regards, RAB

 

[MuswellMetro]

All in the title really.

I have some polystyrene I want to secure to the outside of the hive.
Since I'm not very practical/handy, what do you recommend is my best bet to secure some polystyrene to a hive.
I tried electrical tape already and it wouldn't stick to the hive (which was dry.)

Do you actually need to insulate hives in cornwall, when i lived in camborne, do not i think ever saw a real hard frost, minus 1 or minus 2 perhaps but very seldom

 

[Poly Hive]

I would use a good quality wood glue and hive straps to secure it for 24 hours until the glue sets off.

PH

 

[victor meldrew]

Not seen Petes vids on this but here is how I do it.

Fill recesses with 25mm polystyrene cut to size (will hold itself in place nicely if cut at the approximate appropriate angle. Cut sheet to accurately cover the hive and secure with horizontal ratchet straps. Corner reinforcing with plastic angle pieces is good to spread the load and a tube to cover the straps (to prevent degradation) is good, too. Any small amount of 'bulging' of the sheet, away from the hive sides, is fixed by pushing wedges or similar under the straps.

Hope this helps.

Regards, RAB

What a palaver .
I'm afraid mine have to manage with insulation above the crown board only and only that since the advent of the omf.
John Wilkinson

 

[oliver90owner]

I'm afraid mine have to manage with insulation above the crown board only and only that since the advent of the omf

Didn't really answer the question, did it?

My nucs are only 9mm ply and the supers above are 6mm. Plain common sense to insulate them. I also answered the question.

Poly Hive, next question might be: How do I remove it?

Regards, RAB

 

[Hombre]

Nice to see such generosity and a display of Christmas Cheer. Congratulations, I also noticed that you managed to answer the question. Tiny Tim should be around any time soon.

There is no reason to expect the OP has a situation involving 6mm boxes of any sort and the request didn't specify any degree of permanency or otherwise.

Tacking with wood glue wouldn't require a great deal of getting off and as Victor pointed out. In a standard situation using a National hive then top insulation is probably adequate and designed to lessen the obvious concern that led TNP to consider extra lagging. because of the current cold spell.

Rain coupled with the cold is a far more concerning situation. I hope that Santa brings you something nice for Christmas, perhaps a smile and a bit of goodwill. There is no obligation to rubbish the advice of others or the posters themselves. I'm sure that you are really a very nice guy, but you just fail to communicate that fact very effectively.

 

[Poly Hive]

I answered the question as I read it.

Nucs are to be honest better off insulated anyway. All mine are poly.

PH

 

[oliver90owner]

Poly Hive,

I knew you answered the Q. Just one of the many alternative solutions. I was just posing the next possible Q. I doubt that PVA would present a problem, if indeed it remained glued, but some of these new specialist glues might be a permanent job, unless risking part-destroying the polystyrene.

My nucs can, and do, double as a carry box for 14 x 12 frames in the summer, so being easily removed/replaced is quite important to me. Marked up appropriately, and taped together and stacked (neatly) away, the components are ready for re-use as and when required. The important part of filling the recesses is that it further prevents heat loss due to convection currents. If you are going to do a job, you might as well do it properly.

Another simple way to fix sheets would be to screw through battens to secure the sheets, but TNB appeared to require a less 'aggressive-to-the hive' solution than that.

Regards, RAB

 

[MJBee]

I made a box of polystyrene that slid over the nuc, the front is shorter than the sides to allow for the mouseguard. I then wrapped a strip of black polythene round the nuc and secured that with string. Warm and waterproof and the black polythene absorbs any weak sun we get. There is a picture of the finished article in this section on the "Snowy entrances" thread. Mike

PS the nuc is the one centre foreground.

 

[the naked beekeeper]

That's an interesting idea.
How did you get the polystyrene to stick to itself when making the box?
The black is a really good idea over the top.

 

[victor meldrew]

I'm afraid mine have to manage with insulation above the crown board only and only that since the advent of the omf

Didn't really answer the question, did it?

My nucs are only 9mm ply and the supers above are 6mm. Plain common sense to insulate them. I also answered the question.

Poly Hive, next question might be: How do I remove it?

Regards, RAB

What recess on 9 and 6 mil plywood? ( the accommodation thereof requiring fancy chamfering ) , be consistant, I can't cope with flights of fancy :

John Wilkinson

 

[oliver90owner]

None. Try coping with simple things first.

 

[Hivemaker.]

9mm ply nuc

These appear to have a recess.

 

[Frisbee]

That's an interesting idea.
How did you get the polystyrene to stick to itself when making the box?
The black is a really good idea over the top.

Polystyrene will stick to itself with pva glue, you do need a good cut, straight edge, so it's got a good contact, then glue and clamp, or weigh it to hold together till the glue has dried.

Frisbee

 

[Poly Hive]

As frisbe says plus dowels.

PH

 

[Frisbee]

As frisbe says plus dowels.

PH

You could probably use something like a bamboo skewer for that, or a cocktail stick (I think Plumber said something about those). Would you want anything any thicker, or would that do?



Frisbee