roof tin

[peteinwilts]

Hi Guys

Anyone know any suppliers of roof tin?

I normally use polycarbonate, but with recent price rises, the price has swollen to about £8-£9 per hive.

I make my own hives, so the roof's are probably not a standard.. size

Also, what is it made of (some sort of Zinc alloy?... 1mm?). esthetics is not important as it will be painted and the hives live in fields..

Cheers
Pete

 

[Poly Hive]

Just a thought but have you thought of covering them in fibreglass?

PH

 

[britishbeehives]

Hi Pete,

The roofs are usually made from a material called zintech, or just standard galvanised sheet steel.

zintech is extremely hard to get hold of small quantities, usually you have to buy it per tonne.

We have zintech roofs made gabled or flat for £7.00 each from a local supplier providing we buy 100 at a time.

Regards

Toby

 

[Hivemaker.]

Pete
cheapest way is to buy 8x4 sheets of 0.6mm galvanised steel and cut out your own,plenty of suppliers around,would work out at around £2.50 a cover.
Or the company in the link below do covers for £6 and will make them to the dimensions you want.
http://beehivebits.co.uk/products/metal-roof-covers/

 

[britishbeehives]

Hivemaker,

I found beehive bits charge £8.00 for a custom sized roof but you are right in producing your own providing you can fold them tight enough to close of any gaps.

Toby

 

[hedgerow pete]

i am with hiver maker that you only need 0.6mm for a covering thickness. as for where your local sheet supplier is try yellow pages and you can cut it with a jig saw for home use or get them to run it through there guiletien

 

[Hivemaker.]

providing you can fold them tight enough to close of any gaps.

No problem with that Toby.

 

[Brosville]

I use old aluminium printing plates - free or nearly so!

Like this -

 

[Silly Bee]

I did one of my WBC's with sheet lead, its heavy, but the wind will never blow it off. (Retired plumber, and had some left over)

 

[britishbeehives]

providing you can fold them tight enough to close of any gaps.

No problem with that Toby.

If you are on a budget then hivemaker's suggestion is the best, make them yourself but remember the thinner the material the tighter the fold which means more weather tight but 0.6mm is fine we actually use 0.7 and have all joints welded and cleaned to seal it.

Toby

 

[winmag270]

I did one of my WBC's with sheet lead, its heavy, but the wind will never blow it off. (Retired plumber, and had some left over)

hell, i'm coming up your allotment, I need to cast some boolits for my .357 magnum.......







hehe, he'll never know it's me






oh, wait.....

 

[bignikki]

Go to your local scrap yard and ask for aluminium sheet?
I get mine like that from scrap caravans it's easy to bend too and lightweight.

 

[tonybloke]

Go to your local scrap yard and ask for aluminium sheet?
I get mine like that from scrap caravans it's easy to bend too and lightweight.

good tip!!

 

[minature_hero]

If you search for this string in the never failing google you'll be taken to a well known supplier with a bargin bin.

National-Roof-Metal-Only-Spoiled-Buckled-p-16787

Bent but not beyond help roofing material, ready folded with just a little straightening needed. Got myself three and they are fine. £3 each.

 

[winmag270]

If you search for this string in the never failing google you'll be taken to a well known supplier with a bargin bin.

National-Roof-Metal-Only-Spoiled-Buckled-p-16787

Bent but not beyond help roofing material, ready folded with just a little straightening needed. Got myself three and they are fine. £3 each.

if you check the listing, they are now "out of stock"

 

[tberni]

Use 'beehive bits' as pointed out previously. Its also important to support small businesses who specialise in these sorts of products.

 

[MuswellMetro]

I did one of my WBC's with sheet lead, its heavy, but the wind will never blow it off. (Retired plumber, and had some left over)

what ppm lead to honey does your Council's Enviromental health department allow

 

[Hivemaker.]

Use 'beehive bits' as pointed out previously. Its also important to support small businesses who specialise in these sorts of products.

I agree with that,and they are very helpful,if you cannot get Sara on the phone,leave a message and she will always call back.