Swienty vs Abelo

[BMH]

I know... Its been done to death, but I have a specific question, I if may...

I have full Swienty hives, from floor to roof.

Some are double brood but most are single brood.

I much prefer using double brood as I think they overwinter better and have a greater buffer of stores within the brood area.

However, the issue with Swienty (as you know) is the lugs get propolised down as there is no rebate at the bottom of the box, so causes issues with double brood.

So, my question is, is there a rebate at the bottom of the Abelo and would I have any issues with going double brood with a Abelo box on top of Swienty box?

I know they have the same external footprint, both are BBS, one is 11 frame and one is 10 frame but before I buy another 40 swienty Brood boxes, I want to see if the Abelo is even an option.

cheers...

 

[Hivemaker.]

Perhaps cut a rebate on the underside of the Swienty boxes.

 

[mbc]

The abelo has a rebate on the bottom in hard plastic, looks durable to me.

 

[BMH]

Perhaps cut a rebate on the underside of the Swienty boxes.

Hmm... I was thinking about this.. I really dont like the idea of cutting into poly. Just get the feeling, the little blighters will start to eat where I have made the incisions. Would definitley work. Why on earth did they not mould the rebate!

 

[BMH]

The abelo has a rebate on the bottom in hard plastic, looks durable to me.

You havent got a pic by any chance?

 

[mbc]

You havent got a pic by any chance?

All occupied at the moment sorry, but there's definitely a narrower contact area above where the end bars would be using it as the top box in double brood.
Bees love nibbling the edges of swienty poly so cutting them would be a definite no for me. The abelo poly is a different construction altogether with a sort of sheer exterior to it but a softer crumbly interior with the top and bottom protected by a hard plastic component.

 

[BMH]

All occupied at the moment sorry, but there's definitely a narrower contact area above where the end bars would be using it as the top box in double brood.
Bees love nibbling the edges of swienty poly so cutting them would be a definite no for me. The abelo poly is a different construction altogether with a sort of sheer exterior to it but a softer crumbly interior with the top and bottom protected by a hard plastic component.

No worries... Thanks for that.. Think that rules out cutting the rebate then.

Anyone else got an empty Abelo brood that wouldnt mind taking a snap just so I can get a feeling of what the underside looks like?

 

[Swarm]

The abelo would always have to be on top. I'm phasing my swienty boxes out, as the newer version is anything but an improvement on the old design. Bevelled shape means only about 5mm in contact with the box above, scalloped outer walls means a heck of a lot less poly than the original and next to no 'meat' under the frame lugs, very weak area. I see they have replaced the new inferior roof with the old design, they should have done the same with the boxes.
Too much compromise with the poly nats and bees doing equally well in Cedar means I'll stick with Cedar. I do use abelo poly roofs but that's just easier and more cost effective than adding insulation to a Cedar roof.

 

[BMH]

The abelo would always have to be on top. I'm phasing my swienty boxes out, as the newer version is anything but an improvement on the old design. Bevelled shape means only about 5mm in contact with the box above, scalloped outer walls means a heck of a lot less poly than the original and next to no 'meat' under the frame lugs, very weak area. I see they have replaced the new inferior roof with the old design, they should have done the same with the boxes.

Too much compromise with the poly nats and bees doing equally well in Cedar means I'll stick with Cedar. I do use abelo poly roofs but that's just easier and more cost effective than adding insulation to a Cedar roof.

Think I'm too far down the road with Swienty.

I'd have to phase out 70 brood boxes, some not are not even 3 months old!

Yes, Abelo box on top for the rebate.



Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

 

[Jimmy]

Attached is hopefully a picture of the abelo rebate.

It's on a 14 x 12 brood but the super has the same feature, so safe to assume that the standard National brood will also have it.

 

[Jimmy]

I'd try cutting a rebate on a Swienty box - where wax moths have pupated in the poly the bees don't use it as a foothold for nibbling in my experience.
The bevelled top lip, on the other hand......

 

[Millet]

You havent got a pic by any chance?

Here you go.. top and bottom of a Abelo brood box or bottom and top depending which way the picture arrives.

 

[BMH]

Attached is hopefully a picture of the abelo rebate.

It's on a 14 x 12 brood but the super has the same feature, so safe to assume that the standard National brood will also have it.

Thats great. thank you.

 

[BMH]

Here you go.. top and bottom of a Abelo brood box or bottom and top depending which way the picture arrives.

Thanks. That should make a difference.

 

[Millet]

Can you work out which way it should go..

 

[Repwoc]

No worries... Thanks for that.. Think that rules out cutting the rebate then.

Instead of cutting a rebate, could you make a thin wooden frame and fix it to the bottom of the box?

 

[BMH]

Instead of cutting a rebate, could you make a thin wooden frame and fix it to the bottom of the box?

No. I'd end up with double bee space in the middle and they'd build comb

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

 

[Jimmy]

Instead of cutting a rebate, could you make a thin wooden frame and fix it to the bottom of the box?

Would mess with the bee space and be a brace comb nightmare.

 

[Angry_Mob]

Just wondering if you could heat a metal bar and use it to make a rebate?

 

[Repwoc]

No. I'd end up with double bee space in the middle and they'd build comb

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Yep good point.