Build a better bottom boardSeveral years

[Michael Palmer]

Check out the new style bottom board I have been building. Got the plan from a Canadian beekeeper from Ontario...a beekeeping family who escaped from East Germany in the 1960's. You will find plans at the Vermont Beekeepers Web Site in the newsletter archives...under the Shop Notes column. The address is: www.vtbeekeepers.org (http://www.vtbeekeepers.org)

[Michael Palmer]

Oops...don't know how the title got messed up...must be me trying to type on my daughter's laptop.

[Hobie]

I don't know if it's just me, but I can't FIND the "Shop Notes" column on that web page. Just "Electronic Flightpath Archives" and "Inspector's Reports." What am I missing?

[suprstakr]

Clubs got great newsletter

[Patrick Scannell]

Thanks Mike, but no screen? Do you find that solid bottom boards work better for you?

I started building this kind last year and so far I like them:

http://www.bbka.org.uk/freefiles/diy_open_mesh_floor-graham-white.pdf

What do you think?

[thorbue]

Hobie: You will find it in the summer 2006 newsletter...

[Michael Palmer]

Hobie...look under flightpath...first three issues have a shop notes column. I think 1 is wood selection, 2 is making beehive joints, and 3 is bottom board.

[Michael Palmer]

>Thanks Mike, but no screen? Do you find that solid bottom boards work better for you?

No, so far, I haven't built screened bottoms. The solid bottoms work just fine. But.... I plan to build a few for each yard this winter...for mite drop counts.

[TwT]

mike, I built 4 of those last spring, haven't tried them yet but will soon, they are strange looking at first but after looking at them awhile they still look strange but I would like to see the bee's using them......

[ January 05, 2007, 11:42 AM: Message edited by: TwT ]

[wayacoyote]

MP,
I agree with your points in the article. I abandoned "reversable" bottom boards before I ever built my first one. You're design looks like a great one.

My own method is to use plywood. I use 3/4 x 3/4 in cleats on the top to hold the lower hive body. Yes, I've had the plywood to bow, but only across the front where there was no cleat. So now I add a final cleat UNDER the landing area. This has worked so far.

Waya

[Michael Palmer]

I use 3/4 x 3/4 in cleats on the top to hold the lower hive body.

I started using a 3/4x3/4 cleat, but went to 7/8. I use an Oxalic vaporizer, and 3/4 didn't seem to give enough clearance.

Oops, should I have admitted that I use Oxalic acid. Did anyone hear about the prosecution of the Adees? They just got convicted of using unapproved chemicals in their beehives. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture found blue shop towels in their bee hives with Fluvalinate and Oxalic on them. They were found guilty, and were ordered to pay a $14,000 fine.

[drobbins]

MP,

just stay away from shop towels smile.gif
lingering evidence :rolleyes:
I hope this doesn't make me an accomplice to whatever hoodoo you're up to
BTW: I'm just a hobbiest and I need to make a few more bottom boards
neat ideas

Dave

[ January 05, 2007, 09:08 PM: Message edited by: drobbins ]

[Ross]

posted this before. I like still like mine. You just need a table saw.
http://www.myoldtools.com/Bees/bottomboard/bottomboard.htm