beemax hives

eddiedlzn · January 27, 2008, 02:59:45 AM

Hello everyone, I was wondering about the beemax hives. Do any of you use them. what are the results of using them. I am sure you have to be gentle with them. I am thinking of buying one this year. Please give me some advice

JP · January 27, 2008, 03:39:11 AM

I am experimenting with them right now. I have two that I set up this season that are doing well, One is one deep, other is two deeps. Both colonies are strong. I believe the foam helps keep it warmer in winter cooler in summer. Sorry I don't have much feedback but I figure some feedback is better than none. I like them thus far.

Sincerely, JP

eddiedlzn · January 27, 2008, 03:49:40 AM

How do they hold up and is it har to repair them?

JP · January 27, 2008, 03:56:41 AM

So far they are in great shape, but I have only had them through one season. The material they are made from is very tough, seems very durable and are easy to put together. They seem a little tougher to remove the top covers. The propolise seems to cement them down more than wood, but this can be a good thing.

Sincerely, JP

eddiedlzn · January 27, 2008, 05:15:56 AM

jp I like your dancing bee its pretty funny

JP · January 27, 2008, 09:58:48 AM

Hey Eddie, one more thing, I didn't paint mine which I believe is recommended and have noticed , I believe because of the sun, in spots they have turned a little yellowish. So far I realy like them, but before I buy a bunch, I will wait and see what they're like down the road. Glad you like the dancing bee, it is getting its groove on, eh?

Sincerely, JP

Understudy · January 27, 2008, 11:43:30 AM

Bring back the Domo-Kun. ;)

The Beemax hives look neat. But I always wondered about their durablity.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Michael Bush · January 27, 2008, 12:30:42 PM

The density of the Beemax hives is about the same as balsa wood. It's much heavier than your typical styrofoam cooler. Much lighter than pine. It's about as fragile as balsa wood, which is more fragile than pine, but tougher than you might think.

Kirk-o · January 27, 2008, 02:37:51 PM

If you don't paint the Beemax hive it will yellow like oil based paint or oil based products plastic ect.If you paint them they will live longer.
Kirko

Robo · January 28, 2008, 12:18:31 PM

I have had about 5 hives for just about a year now. I was a little skeptical going into it thinking they would be fragile. But at this point I'm quite pleased.

The worst part I found was painting them. Using a brush is next to impossible as the first coat doesn't want to stick and there are tons of bumps from the mold that make it hard to paint. Since then I have started using an air sprayer and it is a piece of cake.

I really like the frame rest design as it allows a bee space below the frame tabs so there are no more squishing bees.

They have held up remarkably well, I have yet to break any and only seem to only put minor dents in them. They are much denser than a styrofoam cooler. I have not dropped a full one yet, so can't say they won't break into multiple pieces. I have mostly HSC frames in them which are much heavier than wooden/wax frames, but have had no issues.

They do hold in moisture more than wooden hives, but with proper ventilation it shouldn't be an issue.

Rob...

JP · January 28, 2008, 01:05:26 PM

That's why I haven't painted mine Rob, but like the idea of the sprayer. I have sbbs on mine. They are much denser than mere styrofoam, there's no comparison.

.....JP

BMAC · January 28, 2008, 01:28:20 PM

I had one in my Apiary. I bought it used. It had bees in it for a few years before I bought the colony.

I have found that sometimes when working the girls over some of the styrfoam comes off due to propolis sticking the frames and stryfoam together. Also you cannot clean the propolis off the inside of the box very well as you will also remove styrfoam. Other than that, they seem to work fine.

I use those boxes now, but not for a hive. Instead I just use it to store frames of honey in for later use............ I would rather have wood out there.

BeeHopper · January 28, 2008, 01:43:41 PM

I have 1 Beemax hive ready for occupancy, just waiting for spring to arrive :-P

I'd like to see Beemax design and mold a hive top entrance and a opened screened bottom with an optional slide closure :-D

NWIN Beekeeper · January 30, 2008, 04:48:10 AM

[I have found that sometimes when working the girls over some of the styrfoam comes off due to propolis sticking the frames and Styrofoam together. ]

One trick that I have seen other beekeepers use in wooden frames is to use a plastic trim piece on the frame ledge. This is the 90 degree angle trim piece that is used on wall corners to prevent dings and dents. I would imagine this should glue very easily to the frame rail and it does not add very much height. It might also redeem a few old ones with small chunks missing. The plastic is very easy to remove propolis from (if you don't glue them you could maybe remove the whole trim piece and freeze it until the propolis comes off easily.

-Jeff

Robo · January 30, 2008, 08:43:51 AM

Quote from: NWIN Beekeeper on January 30, 2008, 04:48:10 AM
[I have found that sometimes when working the girls over some of the styrfoam comes off due to propolis sticking the frames and Styrofoam together. ]

One trick that I have seen other beekeepers use in wooden frames is to use a plastic trim piece on the frame ledge. This is the 90 degree angle trim piece that is used on wall corners to prevent dings and dents. I would imagine this should glue very easily to the frame rail and it does not add very much height. It might also redeem a few old ones with small chunks missing. The plastic is very easy to remove propolis from (if you don't glue them you could maybe remove the whole trim piece and freeze it until the propolis comes off easily.

-Jeff

Good point Jeff, I almost missed this. My BeeMax hives came with plastic frame rests which elevates the frames from the polystyrene. Perhaps they made a design change based on experiences like BMACs. I have no problem with the bees putting any propolis on the polystyrene.

Dick Allen · January 30, 2008, 01:46:05 PM

I've had bees chew a bit on my single BeeMax hive. There was some chewing on the very top just below the inner cover and some chewing on the bottom box right above the bottom board entrance. A strip of auto body metal tape folded over the edges has so far put a stop to that.

NWIN Beekeeper · January 30, 2008, 04:37:07 PM

[I've had bees chew a bit on my...]

You could try a little bitter apple paste - it works on keeping my pets from chewing the furniture.

... then again it is bees and apples, they might take bigger chunks out and you'd have no boxes left.

-Jeff

livetrappingbymatt · January 31, 2008, 04:25:15 PM

I bought a foam nuc box three years ago and every colony of bees that were installed DIE,it flew out the back of my truck and I never even slowed down. Glad to be rid of it!
bob evans

Robo · January 31, 2008, 07:35:02 PM

Ya, the styrofoam nuc boxes are dangerous. It is very easy to overheat them when they are closed up.