My setup:
One extra hole between the escape hole and the un-notched end of the inner cover.
#8 mesh hardware cloth (bjorn, #8 is 1/8 inch...you are correct) stapled down over (not frame side) the holes. I like the screen on top so I can be sure the lid is against the screen and there's no gap between lid and screen. I haven't ran into a new quart jar that won't fit between the top and bottom edge of a medium super but I have ran into a few *old* jars that are about 1/4" too tall.
Inverting the lid in the ring so that the protruding area of the lid faces the screen shoudl put the holes in the lid against the screen where the bees can reach the syrup. OJ Blount showed me this a few years ago. Honestly, though, I don't believe I've ever had a problem with the bees getting syrup out of mason lids that are put in the standard way. Folks have reported having problems with the reveresed lid causing a link (the seal is reversed). To solve any possible problems you could pick up some one piece lids.
Bees will seal up #8 mesh, window screen, or whatever you use. I tried some window screen on a hive last year figuring it would stop shb...it did, especailly after the bees quickly sealed it. What is interesting is that they will open it back up if they want to (the #8, I don't know about the window screening as I never tried it again). I have seen syrup jars where the holes in the lids have been sealed with propolis...through the #8 screen. They will also glue the lid/jar to the screen.
Lots of people don't worry with the screen and see to do well without it. I like the screen. It's whatever works for you.
For me, a hobbyist, the mason jars work best. A tip with using mason jars. I find myself sometimes needing a single quart of 1:1 ...for a small colony that needs a lift or a swarm or something. The easy mix is to put three cups of sugar in a mason jar and fill it about 3/4 full with hot faucet water...shake, shake, shake it until you barely see any crystals swirling around. Finish filling it with hot water and shake it the best you can some more. It will look cloudy but let it sit and cool off for an hour or so and it will turn crystal clear. Another tip is to remember to put a solid lid on before you shake.
