My latest contraption...

The Bix · January 11, 2013, 05:18:35 PM

Still working on the floor, the quilt and the roof, but you get the idea.

Close up of the box

Top view

Window

What do you think?

--John

bud1 · January 11, 2013, 06:42:58 PM

naw i dont must be one o them doo hickys

bailey · January 11, 2013, 08:00:49 PM

So where do the frames go?
Bailey

BlueBee · January 11, 2013, 08:21:33 PM

A bee rocket ?

tefer2 · January 11, 2013, 08:50:42 PM

It's a NASA warp drive! Haven't seen one in a while though. The frames would have to get wider the closer you get to the middle.

AllenF · January 11, 2013, 08:52:01 PM

Space bees?

edward · January 11, 2013, 09:03:43 PM

I guess there will bee one big bee in each cell/box :-D

You'll have to ask nicely when trying to harvest the honey though ;)

mvh edward :-P

The Bix · January 12, 2013, 08:58:26 AM

Awesome responses. Those are actually boxes for a modified Warre hive. I don't have the top bars in yet. :)

The Bix · January 12, 2013, 09:02:56 AM

Quote from: tefer2 on January 11, 2013, 08:50:42 PM
The frames would have to get wider the closer you get to the middle.

Yep, there will be four full-length top bars and two shorter and two more really small.
Warp drive not likely with a de-funded NASA, now we have to have the Russians fly us into space.

tefer2 · January 12, 2013, 10:12:12 AM

It's fun to see what others are working on. Making the frames will turn out to be a task I'm afraid.
Make sure you take plenty of pictures for us Bix.

bailey · January 12, 2013, 07:54:14 PM

My only question is why?
Otherwise I think the woodwork is great
Bailey

Michael Bush · January 14, 2013, 09:30:43 AM

It looks cool, but I wouldn't like that lack of interchangability of the combs. I like that you did a hex instead of an octagon... it seems more "right" than an octagon...

The Bix · January 14, 2013, 01:44:40 PM

Quote from: bailey on January 12, 2013, 07:54:14 PM
My only question is why?
Otherwise I think the woodwork is great
Bailey

Thanks for the compliment on my woodwork Bailey. In reality, it's about a "5 footer", meaning it looks really good from 5 feet away (with my eyesight). If I make another, I think I can get it down to a "12 incher" ...but as to the why? Well, quite simply because I can. ;)

But also, the hexagon seems more natural as it is closer to the shape of a tree than a square box and...well... it's a hexagon. Like Michael said, "it seems more 'right' than an octagon."

The Bix · January 15, 2013, 12:34:44 AM

Top bars in place...

tefer2 · January 15, 2013, 09:53:40 AM

You have to cut the slots for each frame in every box? I think that it will be a real pain to get those frames out of there. Send us some pics a few months down the road.

BEEMAN · January 21, 2013, 11:43:51 PM

Hi The Bix
I have been looking for the plans with dimensions and angles for the hexagon cuts. Do you have the plans or know where I can find them? I just want to build one as a conversation piece to put in my bee yard. I am always looking for odd bee hive designs. I would appreciate any help. Your hive looks great.

aridostlari.com · January 22, 2013, 10:41:07 AM

Hello, here called on all the friends who came to Turkey for a holiday if you'd like to see, please find me regards bees

Maryland Beekeeper · January 23, 2013, 10:08:40 AM

Bix,
I think you are selling yourself short :) Its a work of art ! Got a couple going myself. Love how you did the window, might have to steal that :) We got into a little discussion on aspect ratio on another thread so I thought I'd try hex.
Beeman, 30 degree cuts gets you hex.
Cheers,
Drew

The Bix · January 24, 2013, 06:06:15 PM

Thanks Drew...

By the way, it's done:

Closeup of the roof:

The Bix · January 24, 2013, 06:13:01 PM

BEEMAN,

Here's a place to start, do a search for "hexagon warre beehives" and you'll find exactly where I started. Find the link that says "Beekeeping with the Warre Hive -- Hexagonal hive"

If you follow the links there you'll actually even find a calculator for your miter angles, but Drew is right, 30 degrees. Well the total angle at each junction is 60 degrees, but if you're doing mitered cuts, set your miter angle at 30 degrees. I had to set mine to 60 degrees, because in my design I joined the edges to the side instead of edge to edge..I hope that makes sense.

The volume in my hive is about 80% of a normal Warre hive. I originally designed it so that I could put a regular Warre roof on top. I did and hated the way it looked so I put the six sided pyramid on top and I think it looks much better. Have fun!

--John