So I made a hive stand for my hive. I was going to place them on cinder blocks, but I decided that I was WAY to antsy for my bee's to arrive. This stand is pretty basic, it has 2 foot legs but, but it also has a retractable bee ramp. I really like the rubes but I wanted a ramp for my bees to land, so this is it.
Let me know what you think.
(http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/9717/24inchhivestand2.jpg)
By dexterjcrabtree (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/dexterjcrabtree) at 2011-03-29
(http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5374/24inchhivestand1.jpg)
By dexterjcrabtree (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/dexterjcrabtree) at 2011-03-29
Dexter, that is a fancy looking system you've got. I never heard of a Rubes before. I just finished looking it up. Now your design makes more sense. I like the design on the front of your hive too. I keep staring at it for some reason.....
My only concern would be the stability of your 2x4s connected only on the Rubes base. You don't want to find out it's wobbly after you're loaded up with honey. I usually over engineer things so I might suggest adding some horizontal braces between the 2x4s at the ground level, or putting those 2x4s in holes. Just something to keep them from kicking out from under the hive. Just a thought.
Good luck with the bees!
Thank you
Even though you cannot see it, I have two brace bars under the main support, and I will have cinder blocks under the stand wedged against the 2X4's. I really like the rubes as its been treated with a wax coating and has access to the count board from a slate in the front and back. And it has a nifty little hole to smoke the bees through that flips open and closed. Not really cost effective for a beekeeping business but for a hobbyist as myself, they were perfect (minus having no ramp).
I am glad you liked it. I made a 24" and a 16" to see what I like better. Its looking like the 24" is perfect with two brood boxes on it but any more may be a touch high. The 16" is a touch low for me being 6'4" but will be much easier to manage with supers on. We will see I guess.
And yes, the blue swirl is mesmerizing.