Woodenware quality opinions

yes2matt · May 15, 2016, 10:22:23 PM

I've come to the realization that two mediums is not a big enough brood chamber, and I'm strong enough to move deeps around. At once I've come into a tax return. :)

Here's my question, mostly for yall been using your boxes more than 10 years. There's top quality, ie Brushy Mtn. With top price.
Mann Lake has three qualities of box and two qualities of frames offered.

I'm not an aesthete, and I'm not rich (tho maybe temporarily, ha! ) but I would like to have my equipment be useful in, say, ten years. How "budget" is Mann Lake's budget line? Is the extra 50 (above ML's premium line) I would pay to Brushy worth it?

All I'm buying is deep boxes and deep frames, I'll either finish the boxes with linseed oil or "oops bin " paint, and I'll load the frames with popsicle sticks and monofilament.

Does anybody have pictures of budget?

little john · May 16, 2016, 05:04:51 AM

Quote from: yes2matt on May 15, 2016, 10:22:23 PM
Does anybody have pictures of budget?

It's a slightly different picture over here in Britain, where Mann-Lake are new in town. They offer boxes in 2 grades: Select and 'Standard'. Standard being their word for what we would call 'Seconds' or 'Second-Grade'. This is a shot of some 'Standard' Grade cedar British National boxes I bought from them last year:

National boxes have rails (which form the frame rests and provide hand-holds), so are much different from the Langstroth design - but with the wood being machined 'green', the presence of knots causes subsequent bending and/or twist. But whether this is a guide to quality of their Langstroth boxes - couldn't say.

I'm not bad-mouthing Mann-Lake, by the way, their boxes have a much lower price tag than the competition over here (where wood is expensive) - it's just a question of trading price against quality, and factoring-in a few hours in the workshop to make everything fit.

I bought 20 similar boxes from them, in pine, earlier this year - and by selecting the best parts from each flat-pack, have been able to make 6 boxes from wood 'as supplied'. The remainder will need machining before starting construction of them - mainly to the rails.

LJ

Acebird · May 16, 2016, 08:35:25 AM

The bees don't care what quality the box is that you put them in. They live in trees with rounded corners. The beekeeper is the one who cares so there are those that make boxes out of scrap wood and those that have to have a piece of furniture to put their bees in.
In a commercial setting time is money so if it requires more time in assembly then buying a better grade box could be a wash.

Michael Bush · May 16, 2016, 12:17:48 PM

>I've come to the realization that two mediums is not a big enough brood chamber

Neither is two deeps...

yes2matt · May 16, 2016, 04:11:34 PM

Quote from: Acebird on May 16, 2016, 08:35:25 AM
The bees don't care what quality the box is that you put them in. They live in trees with rounded corners. The beekeeper is the one who cares so there are those that make boxes out of scrap wood and those that have to have a piece of furniture to put their bees in.
In a commercial setting time is money so if it requires more time in assembly then buying a better grade box could be a wash.

I'm kind of a furniture guy, I guess, but a utilitarian one. :) I have time to put stuff together and finish it, but not to recut it and repair it. I have money to buy better grade, but if budget grade will do as well I can buy more. :) and who knows what will happen tomorrow, so I'd like to still be using this stuff in several years. The bees, I know, have different ideas amd values altogether.

yes2matt · May 16, 2016, 04:39:57 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on May 16, 2016, 12:17:48 PM
>I've come to the realization that two mediums is not a big enough brood chamber

Neither is two deeps...

I suppose the right way to ask the question, what volume of brood nest should I prepare to provide?

Acebird · May 16, 2016, 05:54:07 PM

That is one of those questions that is worth its weight in honey.

The nest will expand and contract as the bees see fit if you don't limit it with an excluder. If you limit it then you have to know how to prevent pests like small hive beetles taking over a hive if it has too much space and swarms that happen because they don't have enough space. As always location makes a difference to be successful at it.

So far I have been able to watch the top of the hive making sure there is available space to store honey. As the hive gets very strong it is less of a problem to give them multiple supers of drawn comb. At least in my area.

Michael Bush · May 16, 2016, 05:56:42 PM

I'd say the typical brood nest size in NC seems to be the equivalent to one deep and one shallow or one deep and one medium. In eight frame mediums that's three boxes. In ten frame mediums it's a little under three boxes, so I'd probably do three. Start with that and experiment. Don't use and excluder and you'll find out how much room the queen needs...

rober · May 17, 2016, 05:18:37 PM

if the commercial grade boxes have knots that are small & tight they'll be fine if painted. I've worked on 200 year old houses with windows & exterior trim made from cypress that the wood is as sound as the day it was installed so long as the owners maintained it properly. however the cypress that is available these days is not worth the extra money they charge for it. it does not last like the old growth lumber does.

yes2matt · May 17, 2016, 10:00:35 PM

http://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=46232.0 is the thread I would have found if I had chosen better keywords. @specialkayme answered my original question.

little john · May 18, 2016, 04:24:01 AM

Quote from: yes2matt on May 17, 2016, 10:00:35 PM
http://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=46232.0 is the thread I would have found if I had chosen better keywords. @specialkayme answered my original question.

Your op contained two questions: "how budget is budget ?", and "does anyone have pictures of budget ?".
LJ

yes2matt · May 18, 2016, 03:41:15 PM

Quote from: little john on May 18, 2016, 04:24:01 AM
Quote from: yes2matt on May 17, 2016, 10:00:35 PM
http://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=46232.0 is the thread I would have found if I had chosen better keywords. @specialkayme answered my original question.

Your op contained two questions: "how budget is budget ?", and "does anyone have pictures of budget ?".
LJ

@little john. Right. I'm sorry I didn't give you props. Thank you for the pics.

little john · May 19, 2016, 04:42:57 AM

Quote from: yes2matt on May 18, 2016, 03:41:15 PM
Quote from: little john on May 18, 2016, 04:24:01 AM
Quote from: yes2matt on May 17, 2016, 10:00:35 PM
http://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=46232.0 is the thread I would have found if I had chosen better keywords. @specialkayme answered my original question.

Your op contained two questions: "how budget is budget ?", and "does anyone have pictures of budget ?".
LJ
@little john. Right. I'm sorry I didn't give you props. Thank you for the pics.

You're very welcome - any time ...

I was really having a gentle dig at those people who sometimes don't actually address the questions being asked within original enquiries. And yes - before anyone takes me to task on this - I have been guilty of doing this myself in the past ...
LJ