This year's Odfrank Swarm Trap Models - 2013 year model #1

[Charlie B]

Actually, I'm taking a liking to the .50 cal ammo box color. If you don't catch any swarms, you could rent those to Spielburg as props for his next WWII movie!

[Lburou]

...snip...Where do you get those entrance wheels?

They are available on ebay by the dozen at a competitive price.

[Specialkayme]

ebay by the dozen

Nice, but made of plastic. I've used plastic disks before, and depending on the type of plastic, the UV rays can really destroy them after a season or two.

[Lburou]

Having passed through my five frame nuc box phase, my winebox phase, my Styrofoam fish box phase, my packing crate phase, my eight frame phase....I am now trying to get back to the basics. My goals this year are:
Make no superfluous equipment. I have enough five frame nuc boxes and they are to small for bait hives, but work adequately.
Make traps big enough to include some foundation to draw to eliminate the need to service soon after catching, and use a swarm's ability to draw comb.
Make them bee tight, for easy no beesuit moving.
Make them bee tight enough that my non beekeeper friend can move them.
Make them light enough that I can move them.
Make them a good value for expanding my apiary with minimal specialized investment.
Make them the same green color that makes Charlie B sick to his stomach.

I'm sure glad you have gone through all this before and are happy to share your discarded designs...that enables us to adopt your best strategies. It has been helpful to me and I appreciate it. I was about to order some kind of lure for my bait hives, I guess I'll try the odfrank concoction or at least the ingredients I have on hand. Thanks

[Dconrad]

No, don't change them just for Charlie, he has warped taste in colors. They look just fine to me, will blend in to the foliage just fine.
What is the green closure square made of? Do you have ventilation if you move them on a hot night? I have to look for some hard, flat, thick, plastic screen with which to make similar closures.
A closeup picture of those would be nice.

yes they have a 1" screened vent on top back of the box, thought about cutting a 3" whole in the bottom also

[Gypsi]

I have an apiary brand number. Need to get it on my boxes.

Now I want to know, having tried to remove the screwed on plywood bottom board with a swarm in one of my traps, how is the easy removal process when there are bees in that hive? I ended up removing the frames and dealing with it later.

I'm sticking with my plastic needlework screens, tomato paste lids and a single screw to rotate, placed below the opening. With a total equipment cost for the closure at 38 cents for a needlework screen, I have more cash to buy sugar to feed them, lol.

Gypsi

[odfrank]

My plan was to tip them on end and take my battery drill to move the screws.

[odfrank]

Charlie, could you please broach the smeared paint on the entrances with Mr. Conrad? I don't know how to go about it without maybe upsetting him.

[shannonswyatt]

Charlie, could you please broach the smeared paint on the entrances with Mr. Conrad? I don't know how to go about it without maybe upsetting him.

Neatness counts!

[Dconrad]

Charlie, could you please broach the smeared paint on the entrances with Mr. Conrad? I don't know how to go about it without maybe upsetting him.

LOL ........ I would not be upset at all ........ but I would not take it up with the woman that painted then and I am sure not going to criticize or turn down the free help when my wife helps me out.

[Charlie B]

Good one Olly, just insult the mans wife why don't you!

[bhfury]

Here's what mine look like.551831_412444055453107_224840705_n[1].jpg

[Lburou]

...snip...The inside will get an area treated with a slurry of wax, propolis and LGO spread around with my heat gun or painted on from a hot pot full of brew.

I have a question along this line for inoculating the hive with smells the bees like. Last night I dipped some plastic frames in hot wax which was floating on water. This morning the remaining water smelled like the wax and hive. I went ahead and poured that water into my bait hives, sloshed it around on all sides and poured it out. I doubt it will hurt anything, but hopefully, may have left some attractive scents. Will still put some slurry in there too. Any thoughts?

[odfrank]

Here's what mine look like.

How about bigger pictures so we can tell what you have done?

[odfrank]

Wax soup, sounds fine to me.

[bhfury]

How about bigger pictures so we can tell what you have done?

You should be able to click on it to make it bigger. You probably can't see it since I did such a great camo job.

IMG-20130213-00181.jpgIMG-20130213-00183.jpgIMG-20130213-00184.jpg

[shannonswyatt]

BHFury, is that 1/2 inch hardware fabric on the inside of the entrance? Incredible camo, is that really necessary?

[Charlie B]

BHFury, Incredible camo, is that really necessary?

It is when you set your traps by other beekeepers hives!

[bhfury]

BHFury, is that 1/2 inch hardware fabric on the inside of the entrance? Incredible camo, is that really necessary?

Yep 1/2".... The camo is really important... I don't want Oliver to find my traps... Never know when he will be passing through New Mexico!!

[Charlie B]

Olly's as blind as bat so you don't need to worry. That' why he has Scut do all his dirty work.