question re super entrance

[Beefriendly]

it's fair to say that the crownboard problem and the entrance problem didn't exist until solutions were offered.

What problem?
Me thinks Abelo have presented you with the Swiss Army Knife of crown boards and you're moaning it has too many blades. Never did see the point of the stone out of horses hoof blade...

 

[ericbeaumont]

I do not understand your explanation at all, that UK is different than the rest of the world. I told, that I do not use upper entrance open in supers. Hives are too cold, if I do that.

I don't know whether UK beekeepers are any worse or any better than those in France, Finland or Fiji, but I can speak from experience of beekeepers in my area and from talking to beekeepers who train others more widely. A few novices become good quite quickly; several give up equally quickly; most potter along without improving skills or knowledge very much; so be it. Upshot is that a simple system would confuse fewer of that most and so improve results. The Abelo box entrances and the crownboard are two examples (of an otherwise simple system) where complications have (and still do) confuse beekeepers unnecessarily.

If the aim is to improve beekeeping generally then tools on offer should work on principles of lean product engineering with a simple practical outcome. If that had been in mind when those crownboard and entrances were on the drawing-board, this thread would not have existed.

 

[Poly Hive]

My thoughts are that if a product is designed for a warm climate and then sold in a cooler one what was a solution becomes a problem.

PH

 

[ericbeaumont]

What problem?
Me thinks Abelo have presented you with the Swiss Army Knife of crown boards and you're moaning it has too many blades. Never did see the point of the stone out of horses hoof blade...

A Swiss Army hive would be pointlessly over-engineered and unnecessarily expensive (bit like the knife) but if you owned a horse, the hoofey tool would be useful and you'd buy the Victorinox Equestrian.

Which would you prefer: the basic Walker at £17 which does nine common jobs, or the Swiss Champ at £450 which does 83 jobs? are the extra 74 jobs ever likely to arise, and if they did, at what cost?

 

[For want of a better word]

Would that be the Plymouth Brethren ??

Didn't they leave 400 years ago to start the United States ?

History was never my strong point!!

Yeghes da

 

[Beefriendly]

Which would you prefer: the basic Walker at £17 which does nine common jobs, or the Swiss Champ at £450 which does 83 jobs? are the extra 74 jobs ever likely to arise, and if they did, at what cost?

Small fry, I think big! This is the beauty I want....

I doubt you will be satisfied with any knife until we give you some iron ore and coal to smelt it with

 

[Swarm]

I don't know whether UK beekeepers are any worse or any better than those in France, Finland or Fiji, but I can speak from experience of beekeepers in my area and from talking to beekeepers who train others more widely. A few novices become good quite quickly; several give up equally quickly; most potter along without improving skills or knowledge very much; so be it. Upshot is that a simple system would confuse fewer of that most and so improve results. The Abelo box entrances and the crownboard are two examples (of an otherwise simple system) where complications have (and still do) confuse beekeepers unnecessarily.

If the aim is to improve beekeeping generally then tools on offer should work on principles of lean product engineering with a simple practical outcome. If that had been in mind when those crownboard and entrances were on the drawing-board, this thread would not have existed.

Just watched a video of a Russian beekeeper who had some of these lyson poly jobs. Early spring inspecting for survivors and cleaning floors. He pointed out the reduced plastic entrance but the bees seemed happier using the upper entrance he provided by leaving the plug out. Not sure if he was confused but judging by the thick coat he was wearing, those poor bees must have one hell of a cold draught.

 

[Finman]

Just watched a video of a Russian beekeeper who had some of these lyson poly jobs. Early spring inspecting for survivors and cleaning floors. He pointed out the reduced plastic entrance but the bees seemed happier using the upper entrance he provided by leaving the plug out. Not sure if he was confused but judging by the thick coat he was wearing, those poor bees must have one hell of a cold draught.

I use upper entrance too open, because if they do cleansing flight via it, you cannot close it later. Bees do not find another entrance in colf weather.


Upper entrance saves the colony if the main entrance is blocked. By snow or dead bees.

 

[Newbeeneil]

A Swiss Army hive would be pointlessly over-engineered and unnecessarily expensive (bit like the knife) but if you owned a horse, the hoofey tool would be useful and you'd buy the Victorinox Equestrian.

Which would you prefer: the basic Walker at £17 which does nine common jobs, or the Swiss Champ at £450 which does 83 jobs? are the extra 74 jobs ever likely to arise, and if they did, at what cost?

I'm never without one of these.... hic!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorinox...swiss+army+knife+waiter&qid=1582825814&sr=8-1

 

[ericbeaumont]

Just watched a video of a Russian beekeeper who had some of these lyson poly jobs. Early spring inspecting for survivors and cleaning floors. He pointed out the reduced plastic entrance but the bees seemed happier using the upper entrance he provided by leaving the plug out. Not sure if he was confused but judging by the thick coat he was wearing, those poor bees must have one hell of a cold draught.

Yes, an upper entrance would be useful if a hive were under a metre of Russian snow with a blocked bottom entrance. Even so, I recall seeing videos of Eastern Euro beekeepers going out with long poles to locate hives buried under about two metres of snow, so maybe it doesn't matter that much. After all, no real benefit (and much risk) in allowing bees to fly over snow. Water collection in the absence of hive condensation? What about CO2 buildup in a buried hive?

Either way, we're not likely to see that sort of depth over here very often.

 

[ericbeaumont]

I'm never without one of these.... hic!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorinox...swiss+army+knife+waiter&qid=1582825814&sr=8-1

Is that corkscrew attachment for drilling an extra hive entrance?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Finman Eric is being sarcastic or self deprecating regarding the standard of U.K. beekeepers.

Or just plain realistic

Didn't they leave 400 years ago to start the United States ?

Well we had to find somewhere to keep our surplus village idiots

 

[Ian123]

Or just plain realistic

Lol I certainly did not say he was wrong!!

 

[Beefriendly]

Is that corkscrew attachment for drilling an extra hive entrance?

No...it can be used to remove the inserts in Abelo brood boxes/supers to create extra entrances when required.

 

[Swarm]

Yes, an upper entrance would be useful if a hive were under a metre of Russian snow with a blocked bottom entrance. Even so, I recall seeing videos of Eastern Euro beekeepers going out with long poles to locate hives buried under about two metres of snow, so maybe it doesn't matter that much. After all, no real benefit (and much risk) in allowing bees to fly over snow. Water collection in the absence of hive condensation? What about CO2 buildup in a buried hive?

Either way, we're not likely to see that sort of depth over here very often.

Yeah, no snow in sight just a reduced entrance and a big hole alongside the frames seemed a bad idea.

 

[Millet]

Pointless junk.. it's just as well i has a little common sense and know who to listen to when i need pointing in the right direction..

 

[Newbeeneil]

Is that corkscrew attachment for drilling an extra hive entrance?

Nope, surprisingly I use it for removing those things that get in the way when you are trying to get a drink!
But the blade has been known to clean up frames and the screwdriver is useful for cracking open hives.