Cleats on Migratory Covers

[mgolden]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of cleats on top of migratory versus underside at hive front and back?

[sqkcrk]

If you build covers out of several one inch boards a cleat on top and a front and back board help keep the cover flat. And pallets will fit inside of top cleats, tying the stack together.

[EastSideBuzz]

Can you explain more of what you are talking about. Do you mean clips under the lid? Mine have 1x2's on the front and back so it can only slide side to side. When they are on the truck they are all packed in side by side so they are fine.

Mine are 1/2 ply with 3/8 rips surrounding the bottom to get bee space with 1x2 on the ends front and back.

[sqkcrk]

Cleats on top aren't necassary.

What don't you understand from my description?

[Ian]

I think you will want them underside the frount and back just to help keep the tops positioned properly
I have cleats on top to help keep my 1*4`s in place.
So then I started building my tops out of 3/4 plywood, still have the cleats on top, why , just because thats the way I started

[BeeGhost]

So then I started building my tops out of 3/4 plywood, still have the cleats on top, why , just because thats the way I started

Ian, how much problem do you have with warping using plywood? I just made eight covers outs of 5/8ths plywood and put cleats on the top of each end and put two coats of paint on them. They look good, just hope they don't turn into a skate board half pipe!! I also have pavers on them.

[jean-marc]

What Mark said plus the top cleat acts as a brake for the top pallet. It prevents it from sliding off should you drive into a hole of sorts.

Jean-Marc

[Ian]

when using 3/4 inch plywood there is not alot of movement, but I cut my tops with so that my long grains are along the long side of the box. and the cleats will help prevent the curling the other way. I cut some waste pieces of plywood with the grain running the other way and did have some tops curl up wards on me, but they straightened out after a winter stacked in under 5 pallets of bees in the winter shed.

I do not have my bottom board runners positioned to inter lock with the top cleat, perhaps I should of thougt of that when I started buildign them. Great idea, should of gone onto beesource before I started LOL

[papar]

Thanks for the info, started a similar thread. since I have plenty of scrap I think I'll add the top cleat