How heavey is a poly hive?

[local_beekeeper]

hi to everybody, I'm new to this forum

 

[Nic Rhodes]

poly density is about 100kg/ m3, cedar is about 3.2 to 4.4 times that depending on type / source (and itself is a very light wood). Granted we might use more poly in the construction but the weight is really very low however you look at it. All the weight is in the frames and bees. Do you want a weight of an empty hive, if so what configuration? To give you an idea I was carrying an very large empty poly nucleus (complicated 'heavy duty' one sepated boxes) yesterday balanced on on finger with ease.

and welcome

 

[local_beekeeper]

thank you, how heavey is empty poly national?

 

[Nic Rhodes]

just floor, brood box and roof? or supers as well?

 

[local_beekeeper]

floor, brood box, 2 supers and roof

 

[Hivemaker.]

And from which manufacturer,14x12 or standard brood.

 

[local_beekeeper]

100kg/ m3 this mean nothing for me, high density = more polystyrene = more heavey?

 

[Poly Hive]

Lyson: Floor, Brood, two sups and roof 35lb with full set of empty frames.

Swienty: empty, Floor, Brood, two sups and roof 6lb

Obviously the more dense the poly is the heavier it is as there is less air in it.

PH

 

[itma]

thank you, how heavey is empty poly national?

100kg/ m3 this mean nothing for me, high density = more polystyrene = more heavey?

Absolutely empty, probably less than 2 kg.
That's the hive, without ANY contents. The contents would be more or less the same, whether you were dealing with poly or wood.

"Poly" is expanded polystyrene. As such its actually only about 10% plastic (by volume) - the other 90% of the volume is gas (you could call it air, but it isn't really.)
The more plastic, the tougher (rather than stronger) its likely to be. And (very slightly) heavier.

Despite its light weight, the material is rather strong in (load bearing) compression. Full of frames of bees and honey it might get up around 50kg (round numbers) total load without any danger of collapse.


Welcome to the forum.
Why do you ask this?

 

[oliver90owner]

probably less than 2 kg.

Pleeease! Don't be silly!

2 sides on a standard brood would be about :

46*22*48*2/1000 = 8l = 800g, so we are talking 5 or 6 kg depending on footprint, I would think. A 50mm thick roof woiuld be about a kilogram.

RAB

 

[local_beekeeper]

I’m looking to buy my first bee hive (poly) and is a difficult choice. Most is a lightweight, but I want solid made, for long term use.

 

[Swarm]

If it's weight that's worrying you, a super full of honey or a full brood box is gonna still be heavy, little difference between wood or poly .. ie .. Still heavy.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

Poly is lighter than wood, period, ply especially. Ply lifetime (depending on many factors here) is likely to be 10 years give or take. Poly and cedar should get 30 years, not due to their weight however. Empty cedar and empty poly are not heavy in anyones book, the real weight comes with frames, bees, brood and honey and this is down to the size of box you use, not the material of construction. Pick up a Langstroth Jumbo before winter and you know it is heavy!

If I was starting again, I would just go poly.

Numbers shortly...

 

[BeeJayBee]

100kg/ m3 this mean nothing for me, high density = more polystyrene = more heavey?

It means that a solid cubic metre block (which is huge) of high density polystyrene weighs 100 kilograms

1 cubic metre = 1,000,000 cubic centimetres.

100 kg = 100,000 g.

So each cubic centimetre of high density polystyrene should, if the figures are correct, weigh 10g; 10 cubic centimetres would be 100g; 1,000cc (a litre by volume) would weigh 1,000g (1kg).

So, if you can work out the volume of each polystyrene component (ignoring the hole in the middle of the hive) then you should be able to work out the overall weight - at least approximately.

 

[Swarm]

Nic, I wasn't implying little difference between materials, simply that when full, if weight is an issue, both are going to feel heavy.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

Swarm, we just posted at the same time. Hadn't seen your response.

OP

Weight

Floor 1274g
Brood 2048g
Super 1 1459g
Super 1 1459g
Roof 1221g

Toatal = 6361g or 6.3Kg as a ballpark figure (it was windy outside!).

MBS poly National, i.e. light!! but VERY strong.

Beejoyful, some of your figures are 10x too high

 

[Poly Hive]

My figures were actual weights from using a scale today.

PH

 

[oliver90owner]

So each cubic centimetre of high density polystyrene should, if the figures are correct, weigh 10g

Err, no.

Good job we're not in pounds and ounces and cubic feet and inches!!!!

 

[JamezF]

It means that a solid cubic metre block (which is huge) of high density polystyrene weighs 100 kilograms

1 cubic metre = 1,000,000 cubic centimetres.

100 kg = 100,000 g.

So each cubic centimetre of high density polystyrene should, if the figures are correct, weigh 10g; 10 cubic centimetres would be 100g; 1,000cc (a litre by volume) would weigh 1,000g (1kg).

I think you've divided the wrong way at this point.

1m^3 = 10^6 cc., no problem
100kg = 10^5 g, fine

so 1cc weighs 10^5/10^6 = 0.1g, 10cc weighs 1g, 1,000cc weighs 100g.

I *think* that's correct. It looks like it agrees with RAB's first post in this thread.

James

 

[Finman]

.
I weighed 2 langstroths + 1 medium = 4.2 kg

(first mechanical bathroom balance gove 20% more)