Dcoates 8-frame medium nuc adaptation

I recalculated the dimensions of the Dcoates nuc box to make and 8-frame medium nuc with a similar design. Passed the dimensions onto Robo who kindly made a cut sheet and plans. Internal volume is slightly larger than the 5-frame deep with a little extra comb area in the frames. I know there is quite a few people using all mediums including myself and needed a good medium nuc box that was inexpensive. Can still get 4 nucs out of a sheet of plywood.

http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/downlo...umNucPlans.pdf

Wow! Perfect timing. I just bought several sheets of plywood and am ready to fire up the ol' Shopsmith. Thanks for doing this and sharing it with us!

Gail

If you get a chance to make sawdust before I do can you post some feedback on the design and cut layout here? I'm hoping by the weekend I can start making nucs.

Looks good. How much should I expect to pay for a 4x8 sheet of 1/2" plywood?

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Originally Posted by westernbeekeeper

Looks good. How much should I expect to pay for a 4x8 sheet of 1/2" plywood?

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Should be ~ $25, but changes from location to location. In my area at Lowe's, I can save almost $3 per sheet by going to the Lowes that is 10 miles farther from my house. Not worth it for one sheet, but if I am buying a bunch...

And how many 5-frames nuc can I get from 1 sheet?

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Originally Posted by westernbeekeeper

And how many 5-frames nuc can I get from 1 sheet?

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4

http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yo...oates-version/

Outstanding thank you both for the effort. I did the standard 5 frame NUC DCoats project last year and may have to build one of the 8 frame sets before Spring. I am starting two 10 frame med. super hives in April and it would be nice to go either way. I may sell some NUCs for beekeeping funds if I get lucky or skillful enough to start some NUCs. For me a nice design option for the plywood NUCs would be a screened bottom.

Fishman Lowes price matches, they should match their own.

You know I didn't even think about that :scratch: and should ask for it!

I did ask a sales guy why that was and got a completely unsatisfactory and probably uninformed answer, but then I don't expect much from 95% of their sales staff.

I think that's a bit expensive for a sheet of 1/2" plywood. I bought a couple last year and they were under $20/cdn. Are you buying a better grade plywood for making nucs?

I bought some last spring for ~$15/sheet.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_12227-99899-...ood&facetInfo=

$26.77 per sheet. I tried some of the $16 sheets, but they blistered and delaminated inside of a month.

Oh those are definately much nicer looking then the ones I picked up! The ones I bought have knot holes etc, not sanded.

Nice! Perfect way to add a feeder inside and not lose too much space.
Just.realised its a medium, ill just have to. Modify a bit for full deeps..

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Originally Posted by DLMKA

I recalculated the dimensions of the Dcoates nuc box to make and 8-frame medium nuc with a similar design. Passed the dimensions onto Robo who kindly made a cut sheet and plans. Internal volume is slightly larger than the 5-frame deep with a little extra comb area in the frames. I know there is quite a few people using all mediums including myself and needed a good medium nuc box that was inexpensive. Can still get 4 nucs out of a sheet of plywood.

http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/downlo...umNucPlans.pdf

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I am wondering how these nucs overwinter? (i.e. do they handle moisture build up well, etc.? )

Also have you tried adding another body to make it a double?

Orlando

I did something simular to this last year. One thing I realized, after making some, was that a standard 10 frame size box with a med frame feeder leaves you 8 frames. So I forwent making special equipment and just used regular boxes for nucs. Less specialized equipment less money sitting in storage.