Ipm screened bottom board

[tefer2]

I'm building equipment this winter and have a question on the build it yourself plans on bottom boards. As per the plans it shows that the space between the hive body and the bottom board to be 3/4 of an inch. What I have seen is that most of the entrance reducers are only 3/8 of an inch tall. What is the standard size to make them?

[Josh Carmack]

The ones I make and sell are 3/4 from BB to hive body, just use any chunk of wood for an entrance reducer, the bee's couldn't tell the difference from a store bought piece of wood, and one drug out of the dumpster. Either cut it shorter than the entrance, or cut notches out of it.

Most colonies will propolis up the entrance to a size more there liking if you give them enough time. Course you might want to clean it back out for when the flow gets on, as it will restrict them.

[fish_stix]

Most of the "store bought" bottom boards are 3/4" on one side and 3/8" on the other. So, check the other side! Most folks use the 3/4" side and make entrance reducers from standard 1x? lumber, like your scraps from building other woodenware.

[tefer2]

The plans for making the screened bottom board is a PDF file on this site under, Build it yourself. Don't think you can flip it over cause of the slide in cover. I just thought it would be easy to make the opening 3/8 instead of the 3/4 shown. Do most of the screened bottoms for sale have 3/4 space between hive and bottom?

[Ross]

Or build these....
http://www.myoldtools.com/Bees/bottomboard/bottomboard.htm

By making the space 3/4", you can use almost any piece of scrap for a reducer. Most of us don't buy them.

[raosmun]

I do not know why, but I made mine 5/8", 3/4" seams like a good one to (bottom board to first box, same for my TBH's).
For the reducer (I happen to have some 1 1/2" plastic wood?) I guess treated wood or anything else would work. Anyway, I rip it to a 1 1/2" square and Cut to length and use the radial saw to cut a 3/8" X (about) 3" slot on center for the entrance. When the fow starts I remove it, use it for a shim on the top cover in hot weather and put it back on the entrence in the fall.
Just my 2 cents worth:D

[Myron Denny]

Intergrated Pest Killer - IPK screened bottom board,
I built one of these screened bottom boards, I can already see improvements that I could do. The people that use these, do you use them on all your hives or just the hives you decide need treating?
I need an economical source for cake half sheet pans?
Central Restuarant Supply?
Does it have to be a pan?
I can also see using a flat sheet of tin or fiberglass that is oiled?
Other suggestions?
Myron Denny
Glencoe, Okla

[stangardener]

i use a 3/8" entrance. i believe the 3/4" entrance was for ventilation. with a sbb i believe there is enough ventilation without having such a large entrance. i believe colonies prefer a smaller entrance and it's easier to defend.

[Scorpster]

I also made my SBB's with 3/8 inch opening...just seemed right from my research. But someone recently posted here that they had no wintering mice trouble with a 3/8 inch opening.

[jbford]

Sam's has heavy aluminum half sheet pans at 2 for $10.78. They are going under my new SBB's (Only a good deal if you are a "member")

[honeyman46408]

aluminum half sheet pans

I get light weight ones at "Gordons Food Supply" $1.25 I think I haven`t bought any in a while.