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After deciding that I need more feeders, seeing some of the catastrophies can happen with a poor feeder design, and not wanting to shell out any more $$$ that I have to, I created a prototype for a new feeder design based on inexpensive materials that can be readily purchased online. Below are pictures, but here are some of the interesting points:
- The main body is a disposible 10"x3" bundt pan, purchasable on Amazon for $10 in a pack of 10 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VZY8JKL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
- The "cone" is actually a double-cone design made from 3 pieces of 1/8" hardware cloth
- Not easy to see, but there is an inner cone that fits snugly over the central riser on the pan, with 3 legs that stick up 3/8" of an inch, and then the outer cone forms the outer wall
- The 3rd piece of mesh is just a round part that forms the top of the outer cone
- The inner cone has multiple gaps that will allow the bees to travel up the riser, through the gaps in the inner cone, and down the outside of the riser between the screens to get a drink
- The inner cone also fits snugly over the riser, so it creates a better textured surface for the bees to crawl up on in the event of falling into the syrup
- All parts of the mesh are held together by standard 9/16" heavy duty staples, formed over by hand and then tapped down with a hammer and anvil
- The inner cone is held down onto the base by friction
- The metal riser is somehow crimped to the pan base, and seems leakproof. For insurance though, I might run a quick bead of caulk around the riser of each of them
- The gap between the inner and outer cones is 3/8", and the gap over the top of the riser to the top of the outer cone is also 3/8"
- When it is pushed down all the way, the outer cone is flush on the bottom of the pan, so nobody can belly-crawl under
- Overall the pan is quite flimsy (called heavy duty lol), but it seems like it will be fine since I won't be carrying it around full of syrup. Ideally I can also fill it with water in the summertime
- The whole contraption just sits on the top of the hole in an inner cover, and is enclosed by a shallow or medium super body
- Might be better if I created a big screen that covers the top of the whole deal, so when I take the lid off during inspections I don't get a bunch of tourists that decide they want to go swimming
- The open screen cone is an advantage over the Rapid feeders in my view, since this allows ventilation, and I can keep a quilt board above it. Rapid feeders seem to always have solid plastic cones that won't vent
- In cold weather, it can be refilled easily from the top, without allowing bees to escape, but shouldn't let out too much heat either
- If the pan gets trashy, lift off the cone, drop it on a shiny new pan, and away we go
Questions, comments? Primarily this design comes from a combination of impatience to receive ordered materials, my perception (right or wrong) of design flaws in available products, and altogether cheapness that demands I not order things if I have any reasonable capability to make them myself. I suspect that I may have some kindred souls out there in our midst, what do you think? If there is interest I can scan and upload dimension of the cone patterns.
![Table Serveware]()
![Tableware Serveware Glass Metal Bowl]()
![Mesh Cylinder Metal]()
- The main body is a disposible 10"x3" bundt pan, purchasable on Amazon for $10 in a pack of 10 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VZY8JKL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
- The "cone" is actually a double-cone design made from 3 pieces of 1/8" hardware cloth
- Not easy to see, but there is an inner cone that fits snugly over the central riser on the pan, with 3 legs that stick up 3/8" of an inch, and then the outer cone forms the outer wall
- The 3rd piece of mesh is just a round part that forms the top of the outer cone
- The inner cone has multiple gaps that will allow the bees to travel up the riser, through the gaps in the inner cone, and down the outside of the riser between the screens to get a drink
- The inner cone also fits snugly over the riser, so it creates a better textured surface for the bees to crawl up on in the event of falling into the syrup
- All parts of the mesh are held together by standard 9/16" heavy duty staples, formed over by hand and then tapped down with a hammer and anvil
- The inner cone is held down onto the base by friction
- The metal riser is somehow crimped to the pan base, and seems leakproof. For insurance though, I might run a quick bead of caulk around the riser of each of them
- The gap between the inner and outer cones is 3/8", and the gap over the top of the riser to the top of the outer cone is also 3/8"
- When it is pushed down all the way, the outer cone is flush on the bottom of the pan, so nobody can belly-crawl under
- Overall the pan is quite flimsy (called heavy duty lol), but it seems like it will be fine since I won't be carrying it around full of syrup. Ideally I can also fill it with water in the summertime
- The whole contraption just sits on the top of the hole in an inner cover, and is enclosed by a shallow or medium super body
- Might be better if I created a big screen that covers the top of the whole deal, so when I take the lid off during inspections I don't get a bunch of tourists that decide they want to go swimming
- The open screen cone is an advantage over the Rapid feeders in my view, since this allows ventilation, and I can keep a quilt board above it. Rapid feeders seem to always have solid plastic cones that won't vent
- In cold weather, it can be refilled easily from the top, without allowing bees to escape, but shouldn't let out too much heat either
- If the pan gets trashy, lift off the cone, drop it on a shiny new pan, and away we go
Questions, comments? Primarily this design comes from a combination of impatience to receive ordered materials, my perception (right or wrong) of design flaws in available products, and altogether cheapness that demands I not order things if I have any reasonable capability to make them myself. I suspect that I may have some kindred souls out there in our midst, what do you think? If there is interest I can scan and upload dimension of the cone patterns.
