Are all bottom boards reversible? If not, what makes one reversible? or how can I tell what mine is?
What makes an outer cover telescoping? Is there another type - or are all outer covers telescoping?
Regarding varroa screens -- #6 mesh or #8? white tray or sticky board? rear access or front ?
http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=307 (http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=307) or
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/products.asp?pcode=471 (http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/products.asp?pcode=471) or ???
Bee1 -- trying to figure it all out.
Oh I simply cannot wait for the answers!
>Are all bottom boards reversible?
No.
> If not, what makes one reversible?
If you put it one way and have a 3/4" space and the other way and have a 1/2" or 3/8" space, then it is reversible. If you flip it over and it doesn't really make a bottom board, then it's not reversible. The SBB I have are not reversible. There is only the 3/4" side and the other side has strings on it to hold the tray. Most of the solid bottoms I have are reversible. A few are not.
> or how can I tell what mine is?
Flip it over and see if it works just as well with a slightly smaller or larger entrance.
>What makes an outer cover telescoping?
It has a rim that hangs down over all the way around, as opposed to a flat cover that has no rim or only a cleat on the front and back.
> Is there another type
Migratory covers and flat covers.
> - or are all outer covers telescoping?
No.
>Regarding varroa screens -- #6 mesh or #8?
Bees will get stuck in the #6 and get through it. They won't get through the #8. I prefer the #8. Betterbee says the #6 will stay cleaner as more of the trash will fall through.
> white tray or sticky board?
Either. I like the white tray. I just scrape it off and put it back in.
> rear access or front ?
For the tray? Rear would be nicer. Either will work.
All of my SBB are Brushy Mt. I like them.
I turned my solid bottom board around when I added the screened board, so I could access the tray without blocking the entrance. Works great. Just left out the blockers until the bees on the old bottom board figured out how to get out.
If I can't open a SBB up for ventilation in the summer, then I don't really have any use for it other than easier monitoring Varroa, which could be done with a sticky board without the SBB.