[Tigger19687]

When you are winterizing, what do you do with the inner cover?

• Place it under the candyboard.
• Place it above the candyboard.
• Remove it completely?

Thanks,
Aliusa

You should read under the Winter Beekeeping section for what people do. Everyone is different depending on their location

 

[Tigger19687]

FYI, your profile doesn't say where you are...
On my Lyson I have no inner cover, I have a Winter patty, plastic sheet, silver bubble wrap, 2"foam board then cover ---- the cover holds all that stuff inside and the vent ports are closed off.
\
Wooden, silver bubble, foam board x4" then a wooden 3/4" board all strapped down

 

[Tigger19687]

I have used old blue jeans as well, each leg will make one cover.

= Dirt Cheap Beeking lol Especially if you have growing kids

 

[Tigger19687]

If you DON'T do the bottom, that would be 5 sides.......

 

[Tigger19687]

Shoot, I'm thinking of making 6 fr nucs with 1/4"wood I side and glue 1" foam all around. Wood just for stability and frame rests. Same with bottom board but cover it with foil or duct tape.... Probably duct tape lol

 

[Tigger19687]

would likely work
I would do 1/2 for the ends and 3/8 for the sides over 1/4 for all
the time and foam are close to a constant, lifespan, and stiffness, should be increased.
with the ply consider "pegging" the ends.
making the ends of 3/4 pine 1 inch big, each way, and 1/4 ply on the outside over the foam would also be a decent choice.
ends take the frame weight, and the handle, the strength is then there, the sides have the 1 inch foam covered, I am considering similar for my build. the ends can be different from the sides, don't be locked into "sameness"

GG

Nah, I don't want that much wood and weight. Only reason for the wood inside was just for a bit more rigidness and a place for the frames to rest on. I don't want to think too hard about it.
Actually once I have my own land I will make long langs anyway as they won't be moving at all. Will have insulation on year round and come winter I will have a super over just the brood (6 frames)

 

[Tigger19687]

I am just in the process of figuring out how to permanently insulate my long hives. Storing the styrofoam is a pain, and I am getting a little flack for taking up the storage space in our sea can with my bee stuff.

I don't move them often but I want to make sure to have a place to secure handles on the ends so I can pivot them off the stands if need be. Right now I can lift one end and move the hive so the entrance faces 90 degrees from the start. These have been in the same place for 3 years I want to move one off and put my new long hive in it's place, doing a shook swarm at the same time. It is amazing how heavy an object you can move with the right method, even at my age.

Straps UNDER it and put it behind your arms, around the back of your neck . Lift, pivot.
But I will set mine so that I don't have to move them again. OR put them on a trailer or able to put big wheels under it to move (not figured that 2nd part out yet).

BTW I have so much foam board taking up one of my sheds but I won't complain because I got it all free. So even if I need to store in my bedroom I can't complain LOL

 

[Tigger19687]

Problem with that is I have to heft the hive to get the straps under. I screw a handle on the short side and have no problem lifting and pivoting the hive. I have moved a freezer by myself with 2 pipes by simply by putting a piece of pipe under one end and pushing it onto the next pipe. Works a treat so moving the hives the same way won't be a problem.

Ahh I see. I've done that too with the pipes. ♥
If I was going to be rotating it a lot I would just use a tie down strap and keep it on there. Use it to keep the top on and closed in case of tipped over
Only thing about a handle is that it better be on there REALLY good. It coming off while moving would be my fear.
I do my hives all alone too which is why I don't have a long lang yet till I buy a house. I had to move a hive from a farm to home so I just divided it up into 5fr Jester nuc boxes, strapped them tight, lined them all touching each other in the back of the truck and brought them home. About an hour. They didn't seem to care LOL Made it SO easy for me. I have about 12 of these lightweight Jester boxes

 

[Tigger19687]

All bundled up. Started to rain before I can finish...

Is that the stuff that comes in shipping boxes? I don't think there is much of the way of R value on that.
It's worth it to just buy a sheet of 2" foam board from HD or Lowes. I was just there and saw they are now $50 each, 4'x8' sheet ! but worth it to me

 

[Tigger19687]

It's insolation material used between Tyvek and Vinyl Siding

OK, that only has, if that, R-1. Check out Craigs List for cheap 2" foam boards. I lucked out this past summer as someone gave away a truck bed full and a Half ! Free, about a $700 worth

 

[Tigger19687]

Can it ever get too hot?

I guess if you lived in Tx or AZ and it sat in full sun.
But it is suppose to keep things a bit more even more even

The way I see it, Beehives, more naturally, are in Trees, which are covered in leaf canopy. Even dead or downed trees still have tree canopy over them. I don't like seeing hives in direct sun anyway.
Morning Sun but no afternoon sun 'I' think it better