hey,
I saw the BeeMax styro hives and immediately thought they would be great for our climate here in SK Canada as stays -20*C for extended periods (months) in winter and can reach +40*C in the summer. It is very dry here so I am not as concerned (misplaced?) w/condensation as the great majority of the rest of the world is. This season had identical TBH's one out of 3/4 in solid wood and the other 1/4 in ply w/1-1/2 styro all six sides. So far thru the summer/fall season I think the styro hive has outperformed the solid wood one, tho will see after a winter cycle.
Always curious I would like a std. Land style hive to compare.
Following my usual M.O. I stewed over the price (m.o.l.$300) for 2 deeps and 4 mediums w/Dadent Frames, top and bottom so am making my own out of 1/4in. plywood w/box jointed corners and 1-1/2in styro inside. Finished the 100 frames and looking at pics in various places it looks like the boxes have the room for 10 frames plus a blank space that looks to be enuf for another frame. Is it std. to leave that much of a gap in a box?
Thnx in advance
peter
Better to put the Styrofoam on the OUTSIDE. If it's too soft the bees will chew it up. The Beemax hives are made of a very dense Styrofoam that reminds of me balsa wood. Also, you might consider what size you want. :)
Hey,
Thnx for reply M.B.
I already have the same thing I am planning in a TBH. That is, the 1/4in ply and styro inside and it has performed marvelously all summer/fall.
I have also already decided on 10 frame boxes, 2 deeps for the brood and 4 meds. for the supers. But my Q. is ..... is the size inside just enough for 10 frames, or is there room for the 10 frames plus extra?
cheers
peter
There is a little extra room. Not quite enough for the eleventh frame. After placing the ten frames in the box tightly together you put equal amounts of space on both sides.
Well, going by the measurements of the boxes I received from Western Bee, there is about one additional inch for you to space your frames apart in. This additional space should be unnecessary since the frames are supposedly "self-spacing" and it may violate bee-space, which could explain why we all complain so much about propolis gluing the frames together.
Quote from: Paraplegic Racehorse on October 21, 2007, 07:12:29 PM
Well, going by the measurements of the boxes I received from Western Bee, there is about one additional inch for you to space your frames apart in. This additional space should be unnecessary since the frames are supposedly "self-spacing" and it may violate bee-space, which could explain why we all complain so much about propolis gluing the frames together.
You push the frames tightly together and equal out the space on the sides..... Thought I said that. That way you don't violate bee space.
The inside dimensions of a ten frame Langstroth box are 14 3/4" by 18 3/8".
The frame rest rabbets should be 5/8" deep and 3/8" wide.