Hardware Cloth Question

[bernanos]

I'm planning on making a couple of pollen traps and am having no luck finding 7X7 mesh hardware cloth. McMaster Carr offers 6X6 mesh (they only offer even numbers). Would this be suitable (would pollen fall through, or would it clog?) A couple of bee equipment suppliers offered 7 mesh until recently. I called around and they all say they can't find a supplier.

Thanks,
Cy

[Sparky]

Did you call Betterbee Inc. ?

[bernanos]

Yes, I call'd them.  They've stopped selling it.  Did a search and Lapps Bee Supply was mentioned -- same thing.

[David LaFerney]

You can get it at wireclothman.com -  for # 7 mesh, .018 wire diameter, 36" wide x 100' long roll. The price of one roll is $175.00, FOB Mine Hill NJ.

I'm still looking for a better source for this too, but if worse comes to worse I'm gonna buy a roll from them.  If I have to buy an entire roll I'll sell cut pieces, but as you can see even then it will be expensive.

Bees can get through 6x6 BTW.

[bernanos]

Well, David, if you buy the roll let me know.  I'd be happy to buy some from you.  With the Sundance II sellling anywhere from $55 to $70 the wire is the least of my problems.  I haven't yet found a Sundance trap for 8-frame, so I'm making my own.  Have a pretty good wood-working shop so milling all the pieces is not a problem.  With a a few jigs, things go together easily.

Cy

[buzzbee]

Click on Bee supplies,then go to used supplies,equipment and specials.They have rolls of 7 at the bottom of the page.
http://www.draperbee.com/

[David LaFerney]

Thanks for that tip Buzzbee!  I ordered one of them this morning, and they have 2 left @ $100 / roll.  You have to call to place your order though because you can't select it online - probably because the supply is so limited. 

[USC Beeman in TN]

You might check at your local hardware stores.  Especially the older ones.  They may still have some in stock.  If not, I don't know why you couldn't use 8X8.  Bees can't go through it and it's large than 7X7 so there would  be no problem with the pollen falling through.

[David LaFerney]

You might check at your local hardware stores.  Especially the older ones.  They may still have some in stock.  If not, I don't know why you couldn't use 8X8.  Bees can't go through it and it's large than 7X7 so there would  be no problem with the pollen falling through.

Actually #8 is smaller than 7x7, and apparently some pollen grains won't fall through it, and it's small enough that some larger hive beetles aren't likely to fall through if you use it for oil traps.  The odd sizes are getting pretty hard to come by.   You can use the less than ideal sizes if it's all you can get, but of course they are less than ideal.

[bernanos]

I also called Draper and got a roll - think it was the last one.

Cy

[Michael Bush]

Brushy Mountain used to have it.  Do they still?

[bernanos]

No they're not carrying it any more either.  Closest I could find to 7x7 for a pollen trap was 6x6 at McMaster Carr.  Not sure whether a bee could get through that.  Guess it would depend on the thickness of the wire.