Bluebees ventilated bottom board does not work

[NewB]

I bought a Bluebees ventilated bottom board for SHB and Varroa, but it is not a complete bottom board just a plastic insert to fit into a modified base that I have to find from somewhere else. Although J-Pierre Mercader, the inventor, states that you can modify your existing bottom board to fit the vented insert, in practice this is not possible for two reasons. Firstly the vented bottom board will not fit a standard size base. Secondly, the amount of work required to fit the vented bottom would require the complete destruction of the existing base making the base unusable. Other people I know who have purchased a Bluebees vented base were sold by the advertising, but when it arrived they quickly put it into a corner to collect dust. I have asked J-Pierre how to overcome the problem that I still need to buy a suitable base that will take it, but I only get the reply that it is easy, which it is not. Notice that none of his ads show detailed photographs of the vented base. If you plan to buy a vented base look elsewhere as there are plenty of products available that provide a complete solution. :-x

[Vance G]

I would hope you can get this matter resolved to your satisfaction.  After all just like in government, good intentions mean nothing when one needs results.  Unless you are hopelessly lost in a southron location maybe your bees don't really need the amount of ventilation originally offered.  Research has shown totally different desires by the bees as Demonstrated in the Honey Bee Democracy literature.  Bees are very good at ventilation and they choose a cavity with one rather small hole when given choices. 

[prestonpaul]

I find it a bit rich that your only two posts on this forum are to put down a product that you aren't happy with.

I have seen the blue bees insert  installed in a bottom board commonly used by commercial bee keepers in Victoria. And it is not difficult to do. The bottom board in question was 4 pieces of wood nailed together in a rectangle, a piece of sheet metal on the bottom and a slot in the front for the entry. Installing the Blue Bees product is simply a matter of removing the sheet metal base, fastening the new board on top of the rectangle and either cutting a slot in the bottom of the brood box to allow entry or adding 10mm x 22mm strips on 3 sides to form an entrance. It's really not that hard. Anyone with a hand saw, a hammer and a bit of wood could make a similar type bottom board for very little money. No need to rip apart your solid bottom boards or buy something special to make it work.

Just to make it clear, I have absolutely no affiliation with the Blue Bees bottom board or it's creator, I just think it's a good concept so I bought 10 to try out. I have no proof that it works, but to me it seems logical. If it doesn't work I'll chalk it up to experience and get on with my life.

If you really hate your Blue Bees bottom board that much, PM. Me your address, I'll send you $20.00, and a prepaid satchel, you can post it to me and the forum can get back to normal.