Poly hive and winter

[Cussword]

God forbid asking what other people might do with the same kit.

Well said that man.

Folk should always ask about other's experience's. How else can we learn??


.

 

[pargyle]

I have to admit I am struggling with this thread.

If something does not fit your kit, sell it or dump it and make something that does. After all you bought it.

KISS for goodness sake.

PH

But it DOES fit ,,, what he's worrying about is the fact that a super on top of a top bee space crown board for winter means that the poly super and the poly brood are separated by the thickness of the non-standard crown board. If they are polycarbonate I don't think it makes a lot of difference TBH. If it's a plywood crownboard then I'm a bit more concerned.

The key to it is to make the CB the same size as the outer dimensions of the brood box/Super and make the rim wide enough to seat on the broo box firmly and then strap the boxes down.

But you are right ... it is simples....

 

[Brigsy]

Indeed.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Ditch the wood

 

[Brigsy]

Hmmm. The gentle touch of a moderator.

 

[Swarm]

It's a design oversight, supposed to not matter but it does. Zero beespace plastic sheet on BBS hives = PITA. Standard boards and excluders = PITA. I believe there is now a 500mm excluder available so about time for the rest.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I believe there is now a 500mm excluder available so about time for the rest.

I thought that was for the Maisie's poly hives - I know they now make a wooden crownboard to fit them as everyone complained about the plastic ones.

 

[Swarm]

Yes it is but it's an option for the other 500mm hives and good news about the crownboards too then.

 

[user 6228]

But it DOES fit ,,, what he's worrying about is the fact that a super on top of a top bee space crown board for winter means that the poly super and the poly brood are separated by the thickness of the non-standard crown board. If they are polycarbonate I don't think it makes a lot of difference TBH. If it's a plywood crownboard then I'm a bit more concerned.

The key to it is to make the CB the same size as the outer dimensions of the brood box/Super and make the rim wide enough to seat on the broo box firmly and then strap the boxes down.

But you are right ... it is simples....

polycarbonate thermal conductivity (0.19–0.22 W/(m·K)) is worse than softwood plywood ~ 0.15W/(m·K).
you need to make it much thinner than the plywood to gain much.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Therefore we are back to thin Perspex crownboards

 

[pargyle]

polycarbonate thermal conductivity (0.19–0.22 W/(m·K)) is worse than softwood plywood ~ 0.15W/(m·K).
you need to make it much thinner than the plywood to gain much.

Are you saying that the thermal conductivity of solid 6mm Polycarbonate is worse than 6mm softwood plywood ? Taking into account the fact that Polycarbonate is non-porous and plywood is porous - and the fact that cut edges of plywood will soak up moisture like a wick ?

I don't have your scientific background but I found that the bees were able to maintain a higher temperature in the hive with polycarbonate crown boards than with plywood ... so there must be other factors in play ?

Not challenging - just interested that my experience is contra to your science.

 

[Finman]

Are you saying that the thermal conductivity of solid 6mm Polycarbonate is worse than ..... so there must be other factors in play ?

Not challenging - just interested that my experience is contra to your science.

Ply can suck in 30% water out of its weight.
Never met that somebody uses ply as insulation layer.

 

[Finman]

.
I have in inner covers traditional structure. Cover is a wooden box and then in the box 7 cm thick foam plastic mattress. It is same in summer and in Winter. IT is mouse proof.

The wood towards the hive is 9mm. The Wood and msttress let the moisture move though the structure.

When I brake the propolis seal in the cover, I do not use any sealing like tape in the gap.

All are recycled material and free. I can clean the board with flame.

 

[Levitt53]

I'm unsure what to do as well Briggs. The lack of bee space with the clear plastic one i didn't think was a problem as they can just go below the super. What concerned me was that there is no holes to feed fondant through if necessary.

By the way I asked on the Cambridgeshire bka Facebook site what people in this area do about insulation and no one said they insulate their hives here.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

By the way I asked on the Cambridgeshire bka Facebook site what people in this area do about insulation and no one said they insulate their hives here.

Ask them what make of matchstick you should use under the crownboard - and watch the answers flood in!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

By the way I asked on the Cambridgeshire bka Facebook site what people in this area do about insulation and no one said they insulate their hives here.

Same here
Lots of beekeepers subscribe to the "keep 'em cold" idea

 

[sipa]

We run quite a few, our experience is that poly hives need no further insulation, they are perfectly adequate as they are.

 

[Brigsy]

Thank you.

 

[user 6228]

Are you saying that the thermal conductivity of solid 6mm Polycarbonate is worse than 6mm softwood plywood ? Taking into account the fact that Polycarbonate is non-porous and plywood is porous - and the fact that cut edges of plywood will soak up moisture like a wick ?

Dry yes wet waterproofed yes... wet unpainted no

Conductivity of wood is directly related to water content & density.

I had assumed you would not be daft enough to leave cut untreated plywood out overwinter, but then there are others that might.

The best crown board in my experience is a sheet of recticel with correx edging.

 

[user 6228]

I'm unsure what to do as well Briggs. The lack of bee space with the clear plastic one i didn't think was a problem as they can just go below the super. What concerned me was that there is no holes to feed fondant through if necessary.

By the way I asked on the Cambridgeshire bka Facebook site what people in this area do about insulation and no one said they insulate their hives here.

I know one cambridgeshire beek who uses poly (EPS) ... the sister in law.