Inner Cover and Telescoping Cover?

mastro · April 18, 2009, 02:13:58 AM

I did not feel like buying the inner and telescoping cover and was wondering what's wrong with just cutting a piece of plywood to fit and putting a rock on it. Seems a lot more simple and cheap.

oldenglish · April 18, 2009, 02:22:02 AM

I helped a local beek out the other week and he did just that on some of his hives, but I think it was only temporary. I just finished making a batch of covers and it worked out to about $5 each which is a lot cheaper than the local store.

buzzbee · April 18, 2009, 07:34:38 AM

You are talking about a migratory type top. Be sure there is some way to keep the top from warping excessively as it will open up too much space and let in the weather.You definitely don't want cold wet bees in winter. Also,be sure to provide a
means for ventilation. And be prepared for the bees to glue the top down to the frames.It could be fun to remove the lid if they do this.

contactme_11 · April 18, 2009, 08:21:30 AM

Quote from: mastro on April 18, 2009, 02:13:58 AM
what's wrong with just cutting a piece of plywood to fit and putting a rock on it. Seems a lot more simple and cheap.

Alot of boxes don't allow the necessary bee space on top of the frames, the inner cover additional space adds enough for this. If you just use a solid piece of wood there won't be any ventilation after the bees glue it on. You have no area to smoke before you start work on a hive.

Jack · April 18, 2009, 08:26:16 AM

Mike Bush makes some fine tops out of plywood and shims. I bought OSB plywood and made some up myself and they work just fine. If you use 1/2 in. plywood you may get a bit of warpind but they straighten right out when dry.

Michael Bush · April 18, 2009, 01:33:58 PM

>I did not feel like buying the inner and telescoping cover and was wondering what's wrong with just cutting a piece of plywood to fit and putting a rock on it.

Nothing.

> Seems a lot more simple and cheap.

It is.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm

Mine have shims on them to make a top entrance but otherwise are just that. The nice thing about ones the size of the box is they blow off a LOT less than telescopic covers do. Even without a brick they usually stay on as there is nothing to catch the wind. If you make them out of 3/4 plywood you can pretty much skip the brick, although it's good insurance.

mastro · April 19, 2009, 12:06:10 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on April 18, 2009, 01:33:58 PM
>I did not feel like buying the inner and telescoping cover and was wondering what's wrong with just cutting a piece of plywood to fit and putting a rock on it.

Nothing.

> Seems a lot more simple and cheap.

It is.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm

Mine have shims on them to make a top entrance but otherwise are just that. The nice thing about ones the size of the box is they blow off a LOT less than telescopic covers do. Even without a brick they usually stay on as there is nothing to catch the wind. If you make them out of 3/4 plywood you can pretty much skip the brick, although it's good insurance.

Thanks, It seems you don't use landing boards either which I found to be useless and extra work.

Bee Happy · April 19, 2009, 10:26:22 PM

I used an old top that I took the tin part off for another hive, then decided to buy another nuc. I had to whip up a brood box, a honey super (to secure the syrup for that hive only) and just grabbed that old top and weatherproofed it with a coat of elastomeric latex (great stuff - one coat coverage - water based - dries like a tire) - I gotta look very carefully into ventilation though - to make sure I understand how to make sure it goes how it should.