Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: kbenz on August 12, 2010, 10:12:24 PM

Title: migratory tops?
Post by: kbenz on August 12, 2010, 10:12:24 PM
when using a migratory top for a top entrance, do you just use a piece of plywood for the bottom board?
Title: Re: migratory tops?
Post by: Michael Bush on August 12, 2010, 10:57:50 PM
I don't.  The frames will be resting on the plywood if you do and they will propolize them down and the bottom bars will pull off when you pull out the frames... I'd take that piece of plywood and make a 3/4" by 3/4" frame to go on top of it.
Title: Re: migratory tops?
Post by: kbenz on August 13, 2010, 04:45:06 PM
glad I asked, never even thought bout that :oops:
Title: Re: migratory tops?
Post by: Michael Bush on August 14, 2010, 02:45:59 AM
It's all about beespace, except that at the bottom beespace expands from the normal 1/4" to 3/8" to 1/4" to 7/8"...
Title: Re: migratory tops?
Post by: kbenz on August 15, 2010, 09:34:55 PM
could you do the same on the top but leave an opening for an entrance reducer? or would that be to much bee-space above the frames?
Title: Re: migratory tops?
Post by: Michael Bush on August 16, 2010, 12:59:24 AM
Top beespace is 1/4 to 3/8".  More will result in more burr comb.  I make my reducers 1/4" tall. usually I make them out of screen molding (1/4" by 3/4") with one nail in the middle for a pivot.  I can pivot it closed or pivot it open.  That way I don't lose them.
Title: Re: migratory tops?
Post by: eastsidebuzz on August 18, 2010, 11:27:59 PM
I use 3/8 to 1/2 on the bottom SBB's and 3/8 on the tops.