Perspex Crown Boards..

[Millet]

I have been reading comments about perspex for crown boards over the years.. some negative and some positive... is there a definitive answer to whether they are good or bad..this is my first season using Paynes poly nucs which have clear crown boards and i have had no problems well none worth complaining about. The reason i ask is i have enough high grade shatterproof perspex to make around twenty (not that i need that many) and enough slim timber to give any needed bee space..
Thanks
Steve.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I have been reading comments about perspex for crown boards over the years.. some negative and some positive... is there a definitive answer to whether they are good or bad..this is my first season using Paynes poly nucs which have clear crown boards and i have had no problems well none worth complaining about. The reason i ask is i have enough high grade shatterproof perspex to make around twenty (not that i need that many) and enough slim timber to give any needed bee space..
Thanks
Steve.

I use 3mm clear perspex. The sheet is framed with wood to give beespace one side and 25 mm on the other so the crownboard can be flipped when an eke space is required. The eke space is occupied by 25mm kingspan at other times. I have a 30mm dia central hole in the perspex for use when feeding. Despite gloomy warnings the 3mm sheet supports a rapid feeder without issues.
I also have a removable oblong in the centre of the kingspan, cut to suit a sandwich container of fondant if required.
Works for me.

 

[Hachi]

Would 3mm support a full English feeder?

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Would 3mm support a full English feeder?

The thornes oblong white ones work for me. The load is spread across the width of the feeder

 

[pargyle]

I use 5 or 6mm clear acrylic (this WILL support a feeder). I use a tank cutter to make a feeder hole in the centre and then use the piece cut out, glued to a slighly larger square of acrylic to block the feeder hole when not needed.

I use strips of acrylic to form the rim of the crown board - all sticks well with Cyanocrylate glue (superglue).

Been using these for years ... absolute no brainer.

 

[nantmoel]

I have been using clear crown boards for years, the thickness of the perspex varies as to what I am given. What I have started doing is making one side with the standard bee space and the other 30mm, I do this so if I need to add sugar blocks or other feed during the winter and early spring there is no need to use an eke, I just turn the crown board over. I find even the 3mm perspex hold a full feeder.

 

[alfazer]

If you are concerned about a 3mm board dipping with the weight of a feeder, then a short strip of wood or acrylic/Perspex about 6mm thick (beespace) glued to the underside near the centre, will prevent it dipping. If the strip is positioned longways front to back, it will rest across a few frames, supporting the weight. It's unlikely to crush any bees when you place the board on if you smoke them out of the way.

 

[Millet]

I use 3mm clear perspex. The sheet is framed with wood to give beespace one side and 25 mm on the other so the crownboard can be flipped when an eke space is required. The eke space is occupied by 25mm kingspan at other times. I have a 30mm dia central hole in the perspex for use when feeding. Despite gloomy warnings the 3mm sheet supports a rapid feeder without issues.
I also have a removable oblong in the centre of the kingspan, cut to suit a sandwich container of fondant if required.
Works for me.

That settles my curiosity and idea's perfectly .
Thank you..
Steve.

 

[Hachi]

Whats the best way to cut Perspex? A fast blade or slower?

 

[Codford]

Whats the best way to clean a Perspex CB?

 

[Millet]

Whats the best way to cut Perspex? A fast blade or slower?

I use a grinder with a diamond tip blade.

 

[madasafish]

I use a grinder with a diamond tip blade.

I use a wood hole cutter. Slowly with frequent teeth clearing.. Fast settings = melted perspex and a mess.

 

[Millet]

Test run.. I knocked one up today after work ..and as I stated originally it is high grade shatter proof and 4mm thick.. I placed a car battery on it to see if it would take the weight and it did with flying colours... I have enough of the stuff to make loads more so i will be nice and busy on these wet miserable days..

 

[alfazer]

Test run.. I knocked one up today after work ..and as I stated originally it is high grade shatter proof and 4mm thick.. I placed a car battery on it to see if it would take the weight and it did with flying colours... I have enough of the stuff to make loads more so i will be nice and busy on these wet miserable days..

If it's shatterproof it is probably polycarbonate (eg. Lexan) rather than acrylic (Perspex).

 

[Millet]

If it's shatterproof it is probably polycarbonate (eg. Lexan) rather than acrylic (Perspex).

Perspex to me no matter what shape or form... poly carb is for conservatory roofs... but hee hoo here we go..

 

[john t]

Test run.. I knocked one up today after work ..and as I stated originally it is high grade shatter proof and 4mm thick.. I placed a car battery on it to see if it would take the weight and it did with flying colours... I have enough of the stuff to make loads more so i will be nice and busy on these wet miserable days..

thats a tidy looking crown board, very neat, did you do different spacing for top and underside

 

[Millet]

thats a tidy looking crown board, very neat, did you do different spacing for top and underside

No John.. i thought about it but i like to try and get everything the same...equal in both fields so too speak.. if more space is ever needed which it won't... i can always knock a 1mm eke up...

 

[fatshark]

I reckon that colony is too small to overwinter successfully

If you make the rim 50mm deep on one side you can accommodate a block of Kingspan and, when you need to feed fondant or vaporise or whatever, you can remove the insulation, invert the crownboard over the whatever and put the Kingspan on top, under the roof.

 

[Curley]

Steve

That looks very neat - how have you fixed the trim? Is it glued? What sort have you used? I've used thinner acrylic in the past(cos I'm cheap and have no free source) so no use as a feeder board, and drilled and screwed through the trim and acrylic onto a eke at the other side. Early versions have separated on sticky hives which is a pain in the middle of an inspection, later versions are ok (longer screws)
I paint the edge of the trim/eke as well as I am using pine (did I say I'm cheap) to protect it against the elements a bit.
Would love to see your 1mm eke

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Test run.. I knocked one up today after work ..and as I stated originally it is high grade shatter proof and 4mm thick.. I placed a car battery on it to see if it would take the weight and it did with flying colours... I have enough of the stuff to make loads more so i will be nice and busy on these wet miserable days..

The advantage of asymmetric sides