an economical way to brand boxes?

tlynn · April 12, 2009, 12:10:59 AM

At our meeting Thursday one of our members, a commercial beek reported supers off 25 of his hives in one yard were stolen, picked up right off the brood boxes. Some were stuck to the excluders which were stuck to the brood frames and when he came a few days later to check on them he found frames strewn next to the hives with bees hanging on. He was able to put most of them back in and appears to have saved most of the hives. Our inspectors said there were 3 other thefts in the last couple of weeks, whole hives. He said everybody should brand their boxes. I'm not worried about mine since they are in a gated back yard and not in somebody's field, But I was wondering how you guys brand your boxes if you do. Looks pretty pricey to have a custom brand made. Is there another option besides burning the letters on the box?

Michael Bush · April 12, 2009, 12:43:55 AM

I bought a brand from Mann Lake. I've heard complaints about a lot of the brands for sale out there not working well. Mine is propane powered and works very well. It's also very expensive. If you could get the club to buy the handle and tank etc. (or all of you go in together) and get the individuals to buy just the brand portion, the cost could be lowered a lot.

Robo · April 12, 2009, 09:43:30 AM

Quote from: tlynn on April 12, 2009, 12:10:59 AM
Looks pretty pricey to have a custom brand made.

There is a guy on eBay selling 3 letter custom branding irons for $30.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Customized-Three-Letter-Branding-Iron_W0QQitemZ110321987755QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item110321987755&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1240

I have even started branding my polystyrene nucs and hive bodies. Got to be careful with them though.

pdmattox · April 12, 2009, 09:51:16 AM

Mine is pricey and was around 400.00,it came from brand new industries, they do make cheaper versions. It get used alot though. I brand pallets, boxes, and the tops of frames.

BeeHopper · April 12, 2009, 09:55:05 AM

Quote from: tlynn on April 12, 2009, 12:10:59 AM
At our meeting Thursday one of our members, a commercial beek reported supers off 25 of his hives in one yard were stolen, picked up right off the brood boxes. Some were stuck to the excluders which were stuck to the brood frames and when he came a few days later to check on them he found frames strewn next to the hives with bees hanging on. He was able to put most of them back in and appears to have saved most of the hives. Our inspectors said there were 3 other thefts in the last couple of weeks, whole hives. He said everybody should brand their boxes. I'm not worried about mine since they are in a gated back yard and not in somebody's field, But I was wondering how you guys brand your boxes if you do. Looks pretty pricey to have a custom brand made. Is there another option besides burning the letters on the box?

Perhaps you could pass this info along, http://beealert.blackfoot.net/~beealert/index.php. this company markets Hive security products. :)

rast · April 12, 2009, 01:49:39 PM

Being a commercial beek that they were stolen from, they probably were branded supers that were stolen, didn't seem to be a deterent. Also were probably stolen by a commercial or at least some beek with an extractor. 25 supers in one hit requires some experiance.

hankdog1 · April 12, 2009, 02:33:31 PM

what about a small router? should be able to write whatever you want on the boxes

Bee-Bop · April 12, 2009, 04:17:59 PM

I know it's not the best way, but I mark my box's with a electric vibrating pencil before I paint them.

You really can't see the marks till you are up close to them, but I think they could be used for ID.

If any thing is stolen the police will probably ask if there are any ID markings.

For lack of any thing else to do, I also mark my frames with them, but the bees generally wax them over, when you clean the frames, there are the initials, wax high lighted !

Bee Keeping is just a expensive hobby
Bee-Bop

tlynn · April 12, 2009, 07:35:04 PM

Quote from: rast on April 12, 2009, 01:49:39 PM
Being a commercial beek that they were stolen from, they probably were branded supers that were stolen, didn't seem to be a deterent. Also were probably stolen by a commercial or at least some beek with an extractor. 25 supers in one hit requires some experiance.

Yea, they are experienced beekeepers. There were 25 hives so it was closer to 50 supers. You know, it dawned on me the thieves could even be sitting right there at the meeting!

WLF1961 · April 12, 2009, 07:38:41 PM

I do mine the old fashioned way. Built my own brand then just build a fire and start branding. Coarse I don't have thousands of supers to do, but it goes pretty fast and about the cheapest you get.

DixieBee · April 12, 2009, 09:41:37 PM

Simple cheap soldering iron - electic, pencil type works great as wood burning tool and you can write big on boxes and small for frames.
Allan

troutstalker2 · April 12, 2009, 10:41:48 PM

What about using number punch, sets are cheap and you could use your address or what ever number to identify your boxes.

David

danno · April 13, 2009, 09:11:20 AM

I made my own branding iron using my initials DR. The letters are 1" tall. I heat it in my wood burner in my shop. It works well and burns deep. Even after a couple of coats of paint it is still easy to see. Ebay right now has 175 different irons up for auction.