Inner Cover Plan - Dimensions

[John Gesner]

I know this sounds pretty simple, but I'm not happy with the inner covers I've been buying locally and want to look at making my own over the winter. The one's I've been buying are recessed on the top, but flat on the bottom. I'm having trouble with the bees propalizing them to the top of my supers. A couple I've had to prop up to keep them from pulling out the frames when I pry off the inner.

Anyone seen any plans with dimensions? The build it page had a pretty vague description under the 10 frame Langstroth plan.

Thanks.

[iddee]

Wouldn't it be easier to just tack 3/8 inch strips to the bottom of your existing ones?

[power napper]

Amen to Iddee's suggestion!

[John F]

Or turn them over?

[DCH]

Had the same problem. It was okay when I didn't put the little metal strips in the boxes for the frames to set on but, as soon as I started doing that to the boxes that needed them, I discovered this issue.

As Iddee suggested - I've been gluing/nailing 3/8 x 3/4 strips on the flat surface. Works much better. Just be careful of what you're prying on with your hive tool when you open the hive up. More than once I've pried on the new seam that this strip creates on the inner lid and nearly pried the strip off before realizing my mistake!

[tarheit]

I've done the same thing, just nail/staple on 3/8" strips of wood around the rim. I know someone (in ohio) who swears by the inner covers that are flat on one side (because he finds them much easier to clean). Personally I like them with a space on both sides. Plans are available http://www.beesource.com/plans/langstroth.htm

-Tim

[John Gesner]

It would be easier to tack 3/8" strips to the bottoms, yes. But I'd like to make more for next year for increases.

I'm relatively new at using my table saw and cutting dado's. That's why I was asking for plans. Tim, the plans you linked are the ones I've looked at and they don't show the specifics I'm looking for.

I wonder if I could just adapt the design for a cabinet panel door?

[DCH]

You could cut dado's...

...or you could sandwich a 1/4" piece of plywood (19-7/8" x 16-1/4") between two sets of 3/8" strips - top and bottom.

If you really like the finished look of the dado cut, you could use the plans for the double-screen board:

http://www.beesource.com/plans/scrnbrd.pdf

Simply eliminate the screens and change the configuration of the plywood to the simple entrance hole found on an inner cover. Oh, and eliminate the angled pivot doors.

HTH,
Doug

[Dave W]

>I've had to prop up to keep them from pulling out the frames when I pry off the inner . . .
Sounds like you do not have enough "bee space" between top of frames and bottom of inner cover. (But you know that [img]smile.gif[/img] )

Why not not fix the bee space problem and leave the IC as is? [img]smile.gif[/img]

When frames are recessed 3/8", a flat-bottom IC works great! And when the cover is turned over (flat side up) the extra space (3/8 + 3/8) allows room for patties and a queen cage when needed.

[John Gesner]

Dave, of course that makes too much sense...

However, I have 40 supers. Some are recessed, some are not. To fix the ones that aren't recessed, I'd have to tear down the box to cut the shelf deeper, right? Not my idea of fun. To "flatten" the rest of the boxes, I can rip them on my table saw without disassembly.

Ah the joys of buying used equipment...

[John F]

Hi John. You can cut the rabbet deeper without tearing the boxes down with a hand held router.

You can also do it with your table saw. Just cut through. If you don't mind the holes in the side call them entrances. If you do then you will have a smaller bit of glueing than if you were to glue strips to all of your tops.

[sierrabees]

I get lots of those "side enterances" because I am a lousey carpenter. A little wax paper held in place on each side with duct tape while some epoxy cures takes care of them.

[sierrabees]

Forgot to add: Whatever you do to increase your top beespace on your supers, make sure you have enough depth left for your frames to fit properly on the bottom.

[snoopybee]

John,

Cut a piece of 1/4" cheap ply the same size as the outside dimensions of your bee box. Use a 1 X 4 or 1 X anything and rip some 3/8 strips from it (or whatever thickness will give you correct bee space). That will give you a 3/4" wide by 3X8" piece to work with. Cut to length and glue/nail along edges using brad nails You don't really have to worry with overlapping ends. Use the strips also for the other side of the inner covers that you have. For the hole in the inner cover you can use a hole saw on you drill to form the ends of the hole and saw the sides with a small saw like a keyhole saw.
hope this is what you were looking for,
ray