Makeshift SBB for ventilation - converting a standard bottom

[bison]

Hi -
Newbee here with a hive in NorCal where it's HOT (95+) and my bees are bearding like crazy every evening. I've put spacers in to raise the inner cover a bit (maybe 1/8 inch) and have removed the entrance reducer completely. I'm thinking about converting the existing bottom board to a makeshift screened board but am limited by availability of tools and equipment and it will be at least a few weeks before I could get a real SBB. I do have some old screen from a window and a skil saw - any problem in simply cutting out most of the bottom board (except maybe 3" on all sides) and stapling screen over the hole? I presume the screen should go on the top side.

Thanks!

[ken rice]

You need to get some 1/8in. hardware cloth. available at most hardwares. the bees can't get thru, but is open enough for waste from hive to fall thru.

[jadell]

You need to use #8 hardware cloth. They will cover window screen with propolis and your efforts will be thwarted. I've heard it's hard to find, so make sure you have some before you tear everything down. Am I telling Bison right with the #8? Had a brain cramp and can't exactly remember.

[jrbbees]

You can find #8 at lowes. they sell it for insect screen for roof venting. I think it only come in 6" 0r 8" wide rolls. But you can get it there. Look in the roofing area not in window screen area.

[bison]

I'm in the middle of nowhere so need to rely on what I can scrounge up here... I found a couple of old crawl space vents that appear to be made of the sort of mesh that has been recommended, a thin wire with roughly 1/4" mesh. The pieces are about 5" x 12" - I have two but am thinking about using just one and putting it right in the middle of the bottom.
Now I'm thinking about how to do it without disrupting the bees too much (particularly the foragers who will presumably get disoriented when the hive is apart). I'm thinking to do it in the morning when it's reasonably cool but the foragers are out, take the hive apart and re-assemble in reverse order right next to where it is as I work down to the bottom board, then basically do the cut and screen install as fast as possible to minimize confusion. I can't think of any better way... is there one?