What did you do in the 'workshop' today

[Insy]

Yes did note this down, I can adjust that on the next lot to fix that.

The frame hanging there isn't really important for me I'm used to just checking for queen then placing on stand leaning on hive.

It had a little stand on it and a little jiggle up and down and seemed solid enough .

 

[victor meldrew]

Yes did note this down, I can adjust that on the next lot to fix that.



The frame hanging there isn't really important for me I'm used to just checking for queen then placing on stand leaning on hive.



It had a little stand on it and a little jiggle up and down and seemed solid enough .

Better to construct a box to hold about 3 frames , having found the Queen , place the frame with her on it in there . This will avoid her falling off the frame and getting lost / trodden on ? Popping an extra frame in there will help her by having a refuge between the 2 frames ?


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[Insy]

I wrote that wrong It was meant to say I check the queen isn't on the first frame then as long as shes not on there I place that frame leaning on the hive.

Her Majesty always stays in the hive, I'm to clumsy to risk leaving her on a frame leaning against the hive.

 

[victor meldrew]

I wrote that wrong It was meant to say I check the queen isn't on the first frame then as long as shes not on there I place that frame leaning on the hive.



Her Majesty always stays in the hive, I'm to clumsy to risk leaving her on a frame leaning against the hive.

Quite .
The box is still handy for major manipulations if worried about damaging the Queen !



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[Hachi]

Finished and trialled my steam wax extractor I've done 20 frames so far and darkness stopped play. Will resume at first light.........

 

[Hachi]

Well been building up the confidence to give a hive stand a go today, my woodworking skills are some what of level with a baby .

Wanted to get 1 built get measurements then look around for best prices on timber to build several more. I'm very happy with how it turned out considering I went old school and just used a hand saw, ruler, pencil, tape measure ratchets etc.

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A cracking Job

My only suggestion, you can use coach bolts instead of (what looks like) threaded bar it works out cheaper and are just as good.

 

[Insy]

Well the plan was to originally use the threaded bar with washers on inside so the legs fold in and out for easy transporting and stacking in storage but without making the stands 6-7ft in length which I didn't want, the legs was shorter than I wanted which meant the hives were low to ground.

So I scrapped the folding leg idea for now and just went with solid stands.

 

[Fusion_power]

This is one of the hive stands I am building.

Here it is standing with a ruler showing that the top is about 19 inches from the ground. It is large enough to comfortably hold 4 square Dadant hives with each facing a different direction.

 

[colinc]

Just a thought on leg length. I think shorter is better. My hives went double brood this year and with 3 supers on and the top one being the full capped one, shorter legs are better. You have to lift that 20kg box from 6' up every single inspection. How often during the year do you need to lift the bottom brood box?

My floors are about 14-18" up and that is way too high.

Someone will be along to say Dartingtons and TBH are the way forward shortly


Edit: this is if using National hives. The bigger boxes of Fusion Powers Dadants means he won't as likely get such a tall skyscraper hive. Room for my own improvement everywhere I look.

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[Fusion_power]

I'm rather tall so need the stand to get the hive up high enough to work. At best, I will have 5 shallow supers on top of the brood chamber which suggests the maximum height will be 61 inches. I can work comfortably at that height. There is another reason for the height of the stand. We have skunks that scratch at the front of a hive and eat bees as they rush out. Getting the hive up 20 inches above the ground tends to limit such depredations.

 

[Finman]

.
In summer I use 10 cm stands. No idea to lift up supers with high stands.

I use 3 langstroth broods in summer. Otherrwise queens lay into honey boxes.

I have wondered the high stands on internet pictures. M

 

[colinc]

there you go. high stands to avoid skunks. can probably substitute Badgers in the UK.

once we get to winter I will be chopping the legs on my stands down closer to what Finman has.

 

[user 6228]

Built new floor for the artifical trees. This one unlike the first is the same cross section as the tree. It makes the trees slightly over 1.5m

 

[bjosephd]

Built new floor for the artifical trees. This one unlike the first is the same cross section as the tree. It makes the trees slightly over 1.5m

Anyone live in your tall tree hives boxes yet?

 

[einsteinagogo]

Replaced Push Switch on Electric Smoker!

Out with the soldering iron today to fix my Electric Smoker! (I'm sure some would shudder at the contraption! in favour of the standard leather bellows!)

(got a few of them as well!)

The switch has always been rubbish on this electric smoker, and didn't want to throw it out, or stop using it as it was purchased as a present by my partner, from Simonthebeekeeper on her own!

In fact it has got worse, so decided to replace it, and now it's better than original! I had the choice of colours, and was going to use yellow, but I thought red was appropriate. I never understood why the existing button was flush with handle and does not protrude, and always required a lot of force.

 

[user 6228]

Anyone live in your tall tree hives boxes yet?

two swarms are in, 2 more to go.

 

[theeggman]

two swarms are in, 2 more to go.

PLEASE keep us updated.

 

[bjosephd]

two swarms are in, 2 more to go.

Fab! Did they scout and move in?

Or did you collect and persuade in?

 

[user 6228]

collect & persuade

 

[colinc]

Found space for 500 empty honey jars.


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