WBC/National hybrid question

[Stedic]

I've got loads of national 14x12 kit but like the idea of WBC lifts over the top for winter.

I've read that putting lifts over national kit generally works - but what about floors?

Ideally I'd shove my brood box onto a wbc floor and just use the lifts in the winter. Would this work?

 

[mintmoth]

This thread may interest you Stedic

https://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32003

 

[MartinL]

Ideally I'd shove my brood box onto a wbc floor and just use the lifts in the winter. Would this work?

It's what I did.

You probably need to check the internal measurements of the lifts, (I think they can vary).

 

[Stedic]

Bump back up.

Bought a second quality floor and lift from Maisey's at Tradex.

Put them together with a 14x12 brood today. I need another lift but I like it so far. In fact, I'm annoyed I didn't buy more floors and lifts.

Would there be any harm caused by using the floor and one lift during the summer, with national roof etc.? Guess the lift could gather some damp but it'd keep the entrance tunnel neat. Additional lift + roof could go on after supers are removed later in the season.

 

[MartinL]

I'm annoyed I didn't buy more floors and lifts.

Would there be any harm caused by using the floor and one lift during the summer, with national roof etc.?

Why don't you experiment & let us know how it goes?

Reckon run-off from the smaller roof is going to be your No1 issue,
Clear Duct tape???

 

[drex]

Why bother with a lift at all in summer? They will not miss having the entry porch. Doubt whether putting lifts on over winter would make much difference re insulation. In days gone by they used to fill the void between box and lift with cork or straw. I run mainly nationals, but inherited one WBC . Notice no great difference in performance between them. Only advantage of WBC is some think they look pretty. I find removing the lifts for inspections a right faff.

 

[Stedic]

Hi Drex. Yeah, I'm not entirely sold on the idea but I like the idea that during the winter the brood box will have some extra protection from the wind and elements. I agree it seems a faff in the summer but in winter, without needing to inspect, I think it's probably OK.

My apiary is on reasonably high ground (for Leicestershire!) so I'm keen to promote warmth. I don't want to use poly, for a few mostly silly reasons.

Why leave the lift on? Well, it might just be the combination I have but it seems to help the national brood box sit on the WBC floor more snugly. I'll look at that tomorrow, because it clearly makes no sense!

A part of me likes the traditional look of it, but I'm sure the faff will change that for me!

 

[drex]

I can be silly about poly too. I have a couple and hate them. Prefer the aesthetics of wood. The only insulation my wooden nationals have is two inches of Celotex under the roof. However I have a thick hedge, as a windbreak all round my apiary.

 

[Stedic]

Quick update on this for anyone who has an interest.

I tried leaving just the lower lift on, but the run off was causing a damp patch at the base of the brood box. No issue for the bees but is clearly going to rot the box and floor before long.

I then ended up with a Nat brood on a WBC floor, which I quite like. The downside seems to be that it is more difficult to reduce the entrance (had a weak colony in there).

So I think my current plan will be to start colonies with the lifts. As the entrances are opened up I'll lose the lifts. I might pop a lift on again if I get a wasp problem etc., but I'll also have a look at making some sort of interim entrance reducer.

All in all, its a level of complexity that is probably off no benefit to the bees or beekeeper. But I like it - which perhaps says more about me than I like!