Would laser cut hives and hive parts be acceptable to bees?

Smertrios · August 15, 2015, 10:23:33 PM

Would laser cut frame parts be bad for bee keeping? Seriously getting close to the point where I can get some land but its covered in trees so before keeping bees I will likely be a sawyer! Considering different ways of cutting out parts... Are laser cut frame parts something you would buy? I guess the cut edges would be covered in soot.

OldMech · August 16, 2015, 12:34:12 AM

Laser cut? I didnt realize you could laser cut wood?
I dont see why the bees would care one way or another, so long as you maintained the correct bee space.

little john · August 16, 2015, 02:28:19 AM

Bees much prefer the smell of burnt wood to the smell of newly-cut wood.

LJ

Eric Bosworth · August 16, 2015, 06:51:14 AM

My suggestion is to make one and try it. If the bees like it show it at a local be club. If the price is good people might be interested.

flyboy · August 16, 2015, 07:04:19 PM

Laser cutting apparently doesn't leave burnt tissue behind as it evaporates. I have never heard of a laser cutting machine that cuts lumber...

little john · August 16, 2015, 07:21:46 PM

Lasercutouts, home of laser cut shapes, quotes, letters and much more, we currently offer almost all designs in 3mm plywood and MDF, but can cut other materials on request. http://lasercutouts.co.uk/

Perfectly Crafty designs and manufactures quality laser cut wooden mdf craft shapes. http://www.perfectlycrafty.co.uk/

We laser cut MDF, Ply and natural woods by the lorry load. We have specially designed lasers just for this purpose to ensure the cut quality is excellent and the material is processed safely. We even recycle the off-cuts by giving them to a local farmer to shred for pig bedding! https://www.cut-tec.co.uk

Laser cutting Wood sheet, a versatile material choice
Used for many applications, ranging from furniture design to structural purposes. Manufactured boards including MDF, veneered MDF and birch plywood are the most common choice as they are able to be manufactured at large sheet sizes. http://www.cutlasercut.com

And of course, you could also cut wood very precisely with a water-jet - although there's an awful lot to be said for sticking with conventional woodworking machinery

LJ

Smertrios · August 17, 2015, 01:37:20 PM

Really hard for other technologies like lasers to compete with the material removal rates of wood cutting tools.

little john · August 17, 2015, 02:14:56 PM

Couldn't agree more ...

I think lasers are well-suited for cutting fine detail into thin wood - the kind of thing which would have previously been done with fret saws, and where CNC routers can't produce the same sharp corners.

But for making bee-boxes - I'd say stick to conventional woodworking machinery.

LJ

deknow · August 17, 2015, 03:53:59 PM

I think the bee pod (fancy tbh..good quality) is laser cut parts.

OldMech · August 17, 2015, 10:16:33 PM

We laser cut MDF, Ply and natural woods by the lorry load.

WAIT!!!
Whos Lorry? Is she married and how much can she carry??????????

JK

flyboy · August 18, 2015, 11:09:29 AM

Quote from: little john on August 16, 2015, 07:21:46 PM

We laser cut MDF, Ply and natural woods by the lorry load. We have specially designed lasers just for this purpose to ensure the cut quality is excellent and the material is processed safely. We even recycle the off-cuts by giving them to a local farmer to shred for pig bedding! https://www.cut-tec.co.uk

Wow who'd a thunk, you can cut mild steel. Judging from the website It looks like it could only cut 1/4 inch wood.