Source for #7 hardware cloth

[David LaFerney]

Don't give up on that just yet.  I built mine last summer using #6 and a few bees do get through it, but not all that many.  Except once when I had a lot of robbing, which I put a stop to by reducing the entrances.  I think that controling the SHBs is more important than the few bees which you will normally lose.

All that being said, If I can find any #7 I'm going to change the ones that I have and use it to build some new ones as well.  Even losing a few bees is too many if it can be avoided.  If I can't find any #7 I'm going to use #8 on the new ones and run them side by side with the ones I already have for a real comparison.  I still think that some of the bigger beetles won't go through #8 though.

If anyone out there has a role of #7 hardware cloth I'd love to buy some if you can spare it.

[Robo]

You just missed the Brushy Mountain free shipping :roll:  I took advantage and got another 100ft roll.  Hopefully that will last until next December

[David LaFerney]

You just missed the Brushy Mountain free shipping :roll:  I took advantage and got another 100ft roll.  Hopefully that will last until next December

Do they have #7?  I'm only seeing #8 and #5.  My local store stocks #8 so that's my backup position if I can't find what I want.

[Robo]

My bad,  got #8.

[Meadlover]

Don't give up on that just yet.  I built mine last summer using #6 and a few bees do get through it, but not all that many. 

An update on my #6 stainless steel mesh -  it's working a treat with not one bee through it yet!
Thanks for the encouraging words David, seems that in theory #6 doesn't work, but in practice it works great, for the 2 of us anyway  8-)

A note to add here is that the supplier I got my #6 mesh from has 3 different #6 meshes, the difference being in the wire thickness, therefore the aperture size. The 3 different aperture sizes are 3.3mm 3.0mm and 2.7mm and the one I am using is the largest of them at 3.3mm aperture.

ML

[Intheswamp]

WARNING...this is a reply to an older thread...Sorry to resurrect such an old thread, but I'm curious if anyone ever came up with a good source for #7 mesh wire?

Thanks,
Ed

[100 TD]

I too have made a SHB trap with #6 stainless mesh, no problems with bees going through. 3.3mm aperture, just need to find a cheap supplier.

[Lazy W]

I also would like to know if anyone has a source for #7 mesh.

[RHBee]

DAMMIT! the design I used from here is no good then:
http://www.greenbeehives.com/

The mesh needs to be large enough so the beetles fall through easily (#6 .035 aluminum or galvanized steel, where #6 means 6x6 wires per inch and .035 is the diameter of the wire) and too small for the bees to get through.

:-x

That's what I use too. Find a bee every now and then, lots of SHB. #6 galvanized mesh works well.

[Lazy W]

I ordered #7 from Simpson's. It should be here Tuesday.

[rebecca121760]

So for a hive beetle trap under the bottom board, should I try to get #6 or #7 hardware cloth? I recently bought a trap and it has number 6 in it. I plan to retrofit some of my other screened bottom boards and am wondering if which I should get. Hoping you guys might have an answer after all of this time. :)

[rebecca121760]

Did you ever find #7 hardware cloth? I am looking for #6 or #7 for our screened bottom boards. We bought a bottom board from greenbeehive and it has #6. It works awesome and we want to retrofit some others with that sized cloth. I think #7 would work good too. We have not lost any bees to the  #6 al all.

[rebecca121760]

Oh, and Betterbee doesn't have any and doesn't know when they will be able to get it again.

[Michael Bush]

># 6 is used for pollen traps !
That would be #5

>Bees can squeeze thru !
Barely, yes.  But not easily.

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

[FunnyBugBees]

You guys seem to be fairly confused. The reason you are all confused is that like all wire mesh, each size comes in about 12 different "aperture opening sizes". One person buys #6 and it works, another buys #6 and all the bees get through it. same for #7 or #8.

You need to shop for your hardware cloth by "aperture size" not by mesh #

We sell exclusively #6 mesh with an average aperture of 3.2mm (this is called 6mesh 041) in the industry. Because it has 6 openings per inch (#6) and uses 0.041" (041) wire for the weave, resulting in an opening or aperture of 3.2004mm. For hive beetle traps you MUST use a wire mesh with an average aperture of 3.2mm

If you need this mesh, we are a supplier.

[beebad]

OH YEAH!!!!! I see my next project to make a few of these. I had most of my apiary in the warm way base configuration but just dont have the room.

I recently built some SBBs / oil traps to help control and monitor SHB and mites.  They work great except for one thing - a few small bees get through the #6 hardware cloth and drown along with the nasties.  I'm affraid that #8 would be small enough to save some of the hive beetles - although I know that many of them would go through.  I think #7 would be just the thing if I can get it. 

Anyway, does anyone know of a source for #7 cloth - preferably without ordering an entire roll, but I would even consider that.

In case anyone's interested:







As you can see I'm using an easily available disposable turkey pan that just happens to work about right with my 8 frame boxes.  This design does not allow any ventilation - I'm going to add closable vents, but with small screen to keep SHBs from going in through the vents.  A sticky board will go right in the top slot.  The thing is pretty deep, but that's not bad because a shallow pan full of oil would be pretty messy I think.  Amazing how much junk lands in the oil.