Excelsior Covers - in new BC

[BerkeyDavid]

Wow I was really impressed by the article in the new BC (came Saturday, 10/28 smile.gif ) about excelsior covers. I 'm gonna make some up.

Question: since there is no inner cover what is the down side?

I was looking at the design, seems like you could pretty easily modify it to provide some ventilation and an upper entrance. Anyone ever done it?

I think they look really sharp. I have a bunch of Mississippi red cedar that ought to work really nice for this...

[Radar]

Anybody got pictures or explain what an Excelsior cover looks like?.

[BerkeyDavid]

The article in BC is by Peter Sieling. I found this link to some of the books he has written. The cover of one of the books has a picture of a hive with the excelsior cover. Not very good but gives you an idea.

Of course the BC article has great pictures and step by step instructions.

Garreson Publications (http://www.garresonlumber.com/publications.htm)

See: Making the Eight Frame Hive

[ October 29, 2006, 07:24 PM: Message edited by: BerkeyDavid ]

[Joel]

{I think they look really sharp.}

Barry, I get ABJ but not the culture (any more, have tons from the 1980's). What are the practical advantages of this type of cover. Mississippi Red Ceder-wonder if that would keep moth and mite levels down as well?

[Michael Bush]

>wonder if that would keep moth and mite levels down as well?

I've made boxes out of scrap cedar. I've never noticed less of either moths or mites.

[Jim Fischer]

> I've made boxes out of scrap cedar.
> I've never noticed less of either moths or mites.

That's funny, one would think that one would
cedar difference. ;)

[George Fergusson]

>That's funny, one would think that one would
cedar difference.

You wood, wooden you, but after the bees have coated all with propolis and wax, the aroma is effectively sealed in. Fir what it's worth, it probably doesn't pay to spruce up your hives with cedar.

There's a SARE project currently underway here in Maine to study the effectiveness of cedar in controlling varroa mites. The results aren't in:

http://www.sare.org/reporting/report_viewer.asp?pn=FNE05-559&ry=2005&rf=2

[Sundance]

That is just not punny guys.......

[BerkeyDavid]

:D :D :D

I wasn't gonna use cedar fer der mites but to keep it from rotten.

The disadvantage I see is that there is no inner cover. So you lose the air gap. But I was thinking you could modify the design to permit an attic space vent with an upper entrance.

Not sure how important the inner cover is. Have there been any studies on this? It would be pretty much the same as a migratory cover.

[Ben Brewcat]

I'm not sure I agree that they're easier to make than a telescoper. Aside from the aesthetic value, I'm not sure what the benefit would be.

[Sundance]

The only pluses I see are the slanted
roof to shed rain and the fact that it
appears to be a strong rascal.

For a hobbyist they look great. I'd sure
hate to have to build a bunch of them
though....

[BerkeyDavid]

I think if you get set up right you could run your production through pretty good. And remember you don't have an inner cover and don't have to pay for the tin roof.

Plus you can push your hives together on pallets side by side, makes it easier to wrap?

I'm gonna make up a few, and maybe play around with the design a little...

[magnet-man]

I agree with Ben. He is wrong about them being easier and quicker to make than a telescoping cover. I can cut and assemble a telescoping cover and inner board in less then 10 minutes. A migratory cover takes even less time.

Yes they look cool and it be nice to have a few but there is a good reason why they went away. They cost more and are not as rugged as a regular migratory cover.

[ November 07, 2006, 12:42 AM: Message edited by: magnet-man ]

[BerkeyDavid]

mag man do you put a metal top on your telescoping covers? If so do you buy it? THat is where I run in to cost I would like to save.

I am making up 11 of Tim Tarheit's inner cover insulation ventilation box (http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/plans/all_season_inner.pdf).

I will start a new topic about that. But I plan on making up 11 of these covers to go over that box.

[tarheit]

I use 24" wide flashing that's sold at many of the home improvement stores (Lowe's, Menards, etc.). It's painted on both sides (typically white on one side and brown on the other), and is thicker than the plain aluminum flashing. It's easy to cut with tin snips, and strait lines are easy with a utility knife and strait edge (just score the aluminum and bend and it will break clean). It does help to have a cheap metal break to bend it though as it's a bit too thick to get a clean bend by hand.

-Tim

[BerkeyDavid]

Yeah I need one of those brakes. I bought a hand brake (like a vice grips, about 6 inch span) but it was a waste of money.

[magnet-man]

Tim post a picture of your brake?

I actually just paint. There isn't too much rain or snow here. I use thin exterior plywood for the top and ripped 2 x 4 for the sides. I just glue with urethane glue and nail.

[ November 07, 2006, 06:17 PM: Message edited by: magnet-man ]

[Dwight]

I'm planning on making some telescoping covers myself. I am going to try a few with slightly pitched tops and just paint them well and see how they do.

[BerkeyDavid]

There was a recent question about the copper topped garden covers.

Thought I would resurrect this thread.

I made 10 of these excelsior covers, used 2 of them over the winter.

I really like them. I modified 4 of them to add an upper entrance in the gables and a cut out in the "inner cover" (really just the bottom of the top, if you get my drift.)

I will try to take some pictures and post them.

Anyway, this is another alternative for the wife who wants a hive that looks nice. And there are nice plans to make them with pics and instructions.

The other thing I liked about them is that you can squeeze 2 hives right up close for winter wrapping, unlike the telescoping covers, because they are like a migratory cover on the side.