just found a pityful sight

[MuswellMetro]

A friend asked if I would sort out his hive as he had put clearer board on the hives on Saturday but his father had past away so had other things to do.

i went to his apiary and started to sort out the cleared supers but found every one had not clearerd and had hundreds of dead bees killed by heat exhaustion above the clearer board and in the super

Yes, yet again the porter escapes had failed and had blocked with either with propolis or bees.

i use rhombus escapes so did not even try to salvage the porters as i just blow torched three rhombus type clearers i had in the landrover and put them on, should be ready tomorrow

if there is a fail safe way of using porter escapes please tell me, so i can pass the information on to him, the porters were modern plastic ones with metal flat springs ( one appeared to be allowing bees up but not down!!! that had a realyl large number of dead and dying bees in the super )

 

[warts]

Very sad. And showing my ignorance, haven't really heard of rhombus type clearers, I use the porter escape type that came with the hives. Are the rhombus ones far less likely to block? The thought of all those dead bees is very unpleasant.

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Beyond checking that the gap appears correct and isn't solid I guess there is little you can do.

Not personally had any problems (yet!) but I'm going to construct a couple of sawn off rhombus's a la Poly

 

[Poly Hive]

MM you have been in the game long enough to know the answer.

I post and post and post about the bloody things, and I have used the word lethal more than once.

Make yourselves some decent clearer boards people for all it costs, and lay another dragon to rest.

PH

 

[MuswellMetro]

Very sad. And showing my ignorance, haven't really heard of rhombus type clearers, I use the porter escape type that came with the hives. Are the rhombus ones far less likely to block? The thought of all those dead bees is very unpleasant.

various types other than porters are used ,this is a rhombus type, it needs a central hole, polyhive's version has two holes with half a rhombus over each hole

 

[MuswellMetro]

MM you have been in the game long enough to know the answer.

I post and post and post about the bloody things, and I have used the word lethal more than once.

Make yourselves some decent clearer boards people for all it costs, and lay another dragon to rest.

PH

PH, i dont use them, i use rhombus type ( i have even made one of yours and yes it works better than a straight rhombus) this is a friend who is a tight B*ST**d and will not buy new equipment, this year he lashed out and bought 8 new plastic porters, instead of the tin ones he was using as they had almost rusted away

i could never make porters works, especial in the field with thick leather gloves, so gave them up a long time ago

 

[tonybloke]

if there is a fail safe way of using porter escapes please tell me, so i can pass the information on to him, the porters were modern plastic ones with metal flat springs ( one appeared to be allowing bees up but not down!!! that had a realyl large number of dead and dying bees in the super )

I clean porter bee escapes after EVERY use.
totally dis-assemble, soak all parts in warm soda solution over-night, then attack with a stiff nail-brush to remove all propolis.
carefully re-assemble, adjust spring steel to be clear of both top and bottom of porter escape, and with a 4 mm gap between the 2 springs.
A little time and effort before use, can save a lot of time and effort ( and bees) later.

rgds, Tony

 

[tonybloke]

various types other than porters are used ,this is a rhombus type, it needs a central hole, polyhive's version has two holes with half a rhombus over each hole

I also use a rhombus type, like MM's
it's quicker to clear then porter escapes, will get some more when the local apiary supplier has some more in ( I purchased his last one!)

 

[Poly Hive]

Make it yourself. They are so simple.

Materials:

One bit of 9mm ply to fit your hive.

Length of 20mm square lath.

Length of 9mm x 10mm lath.

Run 20mm round your ply.

Drill two big holes in opposite corners

Cut two bits of lath which have a 9mm gap between them, so they are at 90 degrees. ie: _ | Cover with some mesh.

Cost, less than £2 per board.

Further hint, paing the outside of the lath with a noticeable paint, say red, so you will immediately spot which boxes have the boards on.

Clearing time, over night.

KISS

PH

 

[Winker]

interesting thread lads, i never knew there was any other way than porters. I have been bothered by the porters this year too and to TBF i have found them more or less ussless.

 

[Poly Hive]

clearer boards

Home made, and using a bought rhombus cut in two, further you can get six sided devices which you can cut in four.

PH

 

[Lance Hutchings]

After the chat in the pub last night Rab I went out looking for bits and pieces and will be making up a few very shortly

 

[Winker]

Home made, and using a bought rhombus cut in two, further you can get six sided devices which you can cut in four.

PH

PH you're a star!

I will be making a few up for the next time. Those bee porters are crudge at the best

 

[BKF Admin]

Vasoline will help on the copper tongs,but best advice is to throw them away...

 

[czar1960]

I brought the rombus type for the first time last week and seem to be working fine. Still use the homemade ones though as well.
Mark

 

[Baggyone]

rhombus are the way to go. My porters (though working for me) are consigned to history.

 

[iombeeman]

want a failsafe clearence of supers.....dont use clearing boards or escapes....
shake,brush and go.

 

[Poly Hive]

Each to their own but not a method I would advocate or teach.

Very rough on the bees.

PH

 

[Hivemaker.]

want a failsafe clearence of supers.....dont use clearing boards or escapes....
shake,brush and go.

Better to just use a blower.....

 

[Hombre]

i never knew there was any other way than porters. I.

You really must get out more Winker . . .