- Joined
- Jun 12, 2017
- Messages
- 556
- Reaction score
- 390
- Location
- Warwickshire
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 150+
Plastic ends mean you can ensure equal bee-space on each side if the design where the lug sits constrains it appropriately.I'm not sure I follow you. What are plastic ends for if you have a stack of single frames?
Re leaving 38mm lugs as they are: with beespace of say 8mm, that leaves 30mm of BS frame lug length to be accommodated in the grooves in the sides. Apart from the hive needing thick sides to allow you to do that without weakening the structure, isn't there more likelihood of frames getting stuck in the groove, literally? In fact, shortening lugs in the field is no problem if you carry loppers with you. I'd rather not say why this is something I have to do from time to time!
I agree that there might be some (small) issues when frames are returned to normal hives. But I don't really see how full length lugs are practical in an observation hive, at least in the way I'm planning things. I'll have the frame lugs sitting in a groove cut in the sides of the hive. I'm thinking the groove would be 10mm deep, with a stop to ensure the frame slid exactly into the middle of the hive, equidistant from the glass on each side.Shortening lugs just means more space for the bees to fill with propolis, and prevents automatically getting the right bee-space at the frame sides in a normal hive.
that's how the majority of observation hives are constructedI don't really see how full length lugs are practical in an observation hive,
Great. Thanks for showing these. I see how the sides are and how full length lugs can be accommodated if you build it this way.Here's a few pictures of mine, there should be a leather washer on the base around the hollow wooden pivot.
2 deep frames & one shallow.
Heavy duty oak frame attaches to the wall and the hive installs easily in it.
Surprisingly they never built in the bottom entry/exit box.
I understand it better now with @Sutty's pictures. Everything I've seen on the web (and there were no examples with BS frames) simply has a groove about 8-10mm deep for the lugs.that's how the majority of observation hives are constructed
in a natural nest they will just keep on building down until they reach the bottom. give them too much space below the bottom bar in a conventional hive and they will build below it, more lively to happen in an observation hive as they have less space so will take advantage of any available spaceI don't think bees build comb below the bottom frame even though it's many times bigger than beespace - I think it's part of the the way they do things in a natural nest.
I'm going for 45mm glass to glass with 8-9mm beespace everywhere. Not sure what you mean by 'glass to wax is brood space.'glass to wax is brood space. Then it's really complicated as it's bee space all round. Keep to that and it's honestly simple.
Zero issues with mine; when not being looked at there are thin ply few mm covers (mainly for darkness) but even that is not really an issue. Room temp was 16-21 most of the year, hive temp 34 + management is key.The problem with the single frame is it is very difficult for the bees to maintain brood temperatures so when not being looked at it needs to be kept insulated.
Must be a foreign strain of bees - proper British bees drive on the left of course!I did get round to building an observation hive and stocked it a couple of weeks ago. The brood has all emerged, and I'm waiting for a queen to emerge. Looking at the traffic in the pipe is amusing. Sometimes I think they keep to the right. Perhaps I should have chosen a pipe of larger diameter. The hive is in a little shed. It was made from an old pine bed, so I just had to buy the pipe and the toughened glass (£70). I found a piece of 25mm Kingspan in a skip to make front and back covers.
I've enjoyed sitting watching them. I hope to get some decent photos.
proper British bees WALK on the right!Must be a foreign strain of bees - proper British bees drive on the left of course!
This is an interesting little pieceIf she were to get a response, she would know that she could lead a swarm.
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