8 Frame Swarm Trap, 5mm Panel

[duck]

Sheet layout and frame dimensions to come.  Very light and cheap.  ~43 liters.  ~$3.00 each at time of post with glue and staples.  5mm hardwood utility board $10.00 @ Lowes.

http://bigthicketbees.com/?page_id=502

[Robo]

Nice,  I'll be interested in seeing how they hold up in the weather.   The 5mm stuff seems to be the weak link in my swarm traps (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,31604.msg257257.html#msg257257) as far as de-lamination goes

[duck]

we get 40"+ rain a year, Ive been using this "utility board" for a while now for lids and inner covers.  Of course all of it is either covered in aluminum flashing or edges inside pine frame.    It used to be luan that they sold at lowes, not it says "hardwood utility panel".  These will be painted with exterior latex two coats.  Ive also thought about using epoxy resin to paint the outsides as I used to do that with mdf and other enclosures to water proof them.  When you put the resin on, it soaks into the wood a few mm.  I think the exterior latex is fine though.  If they last a season at 3.00 (including glue, paint, and staples), Im happy with that.  Ill put a foam seal around the plywood lids which screw down into the frame.  I still need to add the hangers.

[Robo]

I've put 2 coats of primer followed by two coats of exterior latex on mine and most of them last the season.

Make sure you put a real strong hanger on them.   Don't under estimate the weight of a swarm, especially if they stay in there a couple weeks.   Using 3/8" plywood, I have had a few become very "fragile" to handle because of the weight and mine are only 5 frame.

[Frantz]

Very nice, looking forward to the sheet layout info!
Thanks so much!

[duck]

http://bigthicketbees.com/?page_id=502

click pics; then right click; save

[saperica]

nice job

[duck]

btw, the only materials im buying with these are the sheets of ply, staples, and glue.  The frame and top trim Im ripping on the saw from pallets.   Every time I see a pallet discarded somewhere it goes into the back of the truck.  Pallet = $$$$

[capt44]

I am using a 6 frame Nuc as Swarm Traps.
I find the bees like a larger volume.