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When Cleo Hogan speaks about beekeeping-woodworking, always listen.

The original question (above) said he was a beginner with a "lot" of new frames to put together. If he is contemplating the number of frames that would be typical for a beginner, then my advice...

Be aware that one nail driven parallel to the deck (as we would have said in the Navy) is worth three driven straight down. You might wonder if your idea of a lot of new frames is really worth...

Thanks for the observation. Here in Vermont, it can get pretty cold when the sun isn't shining. And in the dead of winter, it's night more than half of the time. I've had good luck with exterior...

I don't think roofing paper has the same R-value as 2" styrofoam.

I do the same thing except I use straps from strapworks.com to hold the styrofoam and I just insulate the top box. Works pretty well here in Vermont.

Alternatives to wiring frames? This subject comes up from time to time. The only argument for using wire vs. monofilament is "I've always done it that way" and "It's a pain but it's the traditional...

Do you think your bees are too hot? They like a temperature for the brood (and let's face it, themselves and their comb) within a few degrees of 95F. If you have the same ventilation arrangement as...

American Bee Journal is one of the worst magazines published in the USA. The first 24 or so pages are taken up with forklift ads, news of upcoming or past meetings of bee clubs in many states,...

And to think that one of the original claims was that a full moon doesn't affect tides. What we have here is a poster who can't admit he's wrong and has to get the last word.

With his 7 inches of...

Before you go ahead add up the total cost of the building and equipment - then divide that number by the number of pounds of honey you think you will process in the building in the next five years...

Here in Vermont we have noticed that heat rises, just the same as it does (we assume) in Florida. But when winter rolls around, we don't leave all the doors and windows open on the first floor,...

You might check your facts on the relationship between the moon and the tides.

Here in Vermont I use a notched standard inner cover for top entry/exit and ventilation. To prevent overheating in summer and condensation in the winter I fit a piece of stryrofoam insulation inside...

Your Dad must have been an architect as well as a builder!

If you want to keep your hives on the roof, then why not charter a helicopter when you want to carry supplies up and down? Sure would be easier than building a dumb waiter.

Here's an idea! Put your hives back on the ground and put up an electric fence.

This analogy doesn't work because the house you are trying to cool doesn't have a heat source inside cranking out heat. (That would be the bees). If you did have a heat source inside a house you...

If you knew that the bees are looking for a constant 95 degrees in the broodnest, and you've got bearding (which is the bees trying to keep the hive the cooler than it is) why on earth would you make...

Cleo -

Once again I thank you for the outstanding plans for cutting inset handles into hive bodies with your easy-to-make jig and a skil-saw. Very much appreciated.

Let's say you wanted to use a dehumififier to dry out your house. Would you open all the windows and doors? Let's say you knew that bees want to maintain 95 degrees in the brood nest. If the...

For less than 10% of this number you can buy a competent camera with IR flash from Moultrie and several other competent manufacturers.

Suggestions:

Your telescoping cover top surface should be sheet metal not bare wood. Use a piece of 1" Dow styrofoam insulation inside the telescoping cover. Protect it from chewing with a piece...

Have you tried Zip Lock Freezer Bags? The quart size fits a nuc; the gallon size fits a full-sized box. Put the bag on the top bars and make three or four slits the long way with a razor blade. ...

Fishing line is:

Cheaper
MUCH easier to install
Works better than wire because it supports the foundation on BOTH sides - not just one.

Wire may be "traditional." Skeps were...