Nuc Plans

[mhill20]

Hi all,
Are there any plans on the site how to get the maximum number of standard national nuc's from a single 8x4 sheet of ply without too much waste.
Micky

 

[VEG]

There are some plans around somewhere on here


try this thread http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1587&highlight=nuc+cutting+list

 

[alanf]

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18805&page=3

Has some plans, pictures and discussion. Exactly how many varies depends on the design. There is no 'standard' for nuc boxes beyond fitting the frame size. My plans were based on Hedgerow Pete's five frame nucs - see his videos. Mesh floor, 100mm deep roof, cover in felt or recycled aluminium, add correx cover boards, a few spacers and a 2440x1220 sheet of 12mm ply should provide enough for 4 nuc boxes. The cutting sheet starts with a ply sheet divided into quarters, only two cuts initially if you're paying and easy to transport.

 

[clv101]

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18805&page=3

Discussed in above link, I made two six frame 14x12 nucs from one sheet and a small four frame queen mating nuc from one sheet. I wasn't very economically though as I used the 12mm ply for the crown boards (on the 14x12) and they had solid floors (with subsequent cut out with mesh).

Here's a video of the mating nuc for your entertainment:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm2t0Hck4pc[/ame]

 

[Dishmop]

Get a bit of paper and mark it out to 4" and 8 " and start lenghtways with (I think) 2 strips at 240mm 1 at 265 for roofs and work it out from there as we all seem to have variations. The above should give you 4 roofs and 10 sides.

 

[sipa]

You can obtain Free Cutting Optimization software.

go here : http://www.maxcut.co.za/

download and follow instructions to get your free registration code.

This is commercial grade software provided for Free !!

Enjoy
Sipa

 

[LeoP]

Cutting plans for 8 x 4 x 18mm ply

I needed to make a couple of nucs, but realised that from a sheet of ply I could get 2 nucs and two hives (2 standard broods + 4 supers).

The nucs are built to the plan at http://www.rvbka.co.uk/rvbka/Beekeeping/Entries/18/4/6_Nuc-_Plans_to_make_your_own.html.

If that doesn't show, google "roe valley national nuc"

This is the cutting plan I took to B&Q. They will do 15 cuts at no cost. If I'd known that beforehand I probably could have worked it so that I had the short cuts done too. As it was I went home with a stack of strips which I crosscut in the garage.

I used the cheaper, non-tropical ply which was about £25.00

View attachment 8357

View attachment 8358

I found a local timber yard who rebated the rails for me. It worked out at £1.00/rail, so £4.00/hive

For CBs, roofs and floors I used various bits of ply I had hanging around, cannibalised junk furniture and offcuts from the local hardware store who, as often as not, give them away.

Maybe one day I'll draw it up properly. As you can see, these plans have been in my pocket since I went to B&Q.

 

[LeoP]

Here's what an 8x4 sheet of 18mm ply looks like when its cut into hive parts

View attachment 8359

And this is what some of it looks like assembled. The old bits look like that because they're old. The cat has seen it all before.

View attachment 8361

 

[Dishmop]

They will do 15 cuts at no cost.

Dont think they have a limit on the ones I go to.

I think there was a time when they charged per cut..
no offence to your paint work but,---- that blue paint reminds me of the poor finish on the Tardis.

 

[LeoP]

I suppose it depends on the store. I asked the chap and he said fifteen. I suppose it depends on the chap as well. Fourteen cuts would get most of it chopped up, just leaving the shorter bits off the end to cut by hand.