Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: squidink on January 23, 2013, 07:06:58 am

Title: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: squidink on January 23, 2013, 07:06:58 am
Out of interest does anyone use plastic bee hives such as Hasson's?

I have ordered a plastic hive to try out but wondered what people's experience both positive and negative are?

Ben

Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: chriso38 on January 23, 2013, 08:34:57 am
Yeah i looked into it, and seemed a bit expensive. so still with wood :)
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: AllenF on January 23, 2013, 04:26:16 pm
I do have a plastic super or two that came from the 80s.  The plastic inner cover and top cover tend to sweat for some reason.   I don't have any in use right now.   But they are still solid. 
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: prestonpaul on January 23, 2013, 06:39:20 pm
I've checked them out as I hate painting, and while the concept is great they are fairly expensive!
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: ozebee on January 24, 2013, 02:01:29 am
I have used them and find them far superior to wood - no need for painting and they don't rot. I also love the plastic frames which simply click together over a sheet of foundation.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Anybrew on January 24, 2013, 02:07:34 am
I have 9 Plastic hives made by Parkers and I love them, tough as nails I also use their plastic lids and use them on plastic and wood box,s.  The lids are awesome.

Cheers
Steve
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Finski on January 25, 2013, 03:05:08 am
.
I have used them 25 years in Finland
.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: max2 on February 17, 2013, 01:55:21 am
I have not used them myself but inspected one for a friend. It was during our dry season but I was amazed by the amount of condensation which run off. Maybe a design peoblem? or a climatic issue?
I only use timber here for the last 35 years and have been happy.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: edward on February 17, 2013, 03:57:56 pm
I have not used them myself but inspected one for a friend. It was during our dry season but I was amazed by the amount of condensation which run off. Maybe a design peoblem? or a climatic issue?

Sounds like he didn't ventilate properly.


mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Finski on February 19, 2013, 03:40:22 am
I have not used them myself but inspected one for a friend. It was during our dry season

That is odd.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: max2 on February 21, 2013, 04:27:33 am
I have not used them myself but inspected one for a friend. It was during our dry season but I was amazed by the amount of condensation which run off. Maybe a design peoblem? or a climatic issue?

Sounds like he didn't ventilate properly.


Indeed - there was no ventilation in the lid at all...
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: edward on February 21, 2013, 07:03:14 am
"Indeed - there was no ventilation in the lid at all..."

Sounds like there was not ventilation in the bottom board either.


mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: 123_Bee on February 22, 2013, 09:49:56 am
I use polystyrene hives. They don't seem to sweat, and there is less condensation than in the wooden hives I used to use because the walls don't absorb atmospheric moisture - and we had plenty of "atmospheric moisture" last year.

All my hives have open mesh floors and an acrylic crown board which is covered with a thick slab of polystyrene beneath an aluminium roof. They're all on stands about 18 inches high, so well above the ground.

(Sorry if the terms I've used don't match US ones, I hope somebody can translate.)
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Lone on February 23, 2013, 04:51:34 am
Quote
Sorry if the terms I've used don't match US ones, I hope somebody can translate

123 bee, from what I hear the terms are pretty similar but our US cousins say aluminium funny   :-D

I don't use plastic hives by the way but I have seen them here in the tropics.

Lone
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Wonga on March 19, 2013, 07:43:52 pm
So, 123,

Are your polystyrene boxes specially manufactured, or are you using recycled fruit boxes from the fruit n veg. shop? Cos I have been contemplating recycled boxes for a while . . . .
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: 123_Bee on March 29, 2013, 05:12:59 pm
The ones I use are made by Swienty, but there are quite a few other European manufacturers. Fruit boxes aren't dense enough to be used, the bes chew them.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: edward on March 29, 2013, 05:47:40 pm
All my hive are poly hives from swienty and I am very happy with them  :-D

mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: halfabee on November 04, 2013, 05:11:00 pm
I am using the TechnosetBee hives that became available a few years ago in Australia, I initially started with just 1 to see how they compared and was happily surprised at how well they are made and how well the bees work with them. The appear to be more cost effective that other three plastic hives currently available in Australia (Hasson, Parker & Nuplas) and the quality is exceptional.

The are available from betterbeehives (com.au) though I have also seen them available on ebay.

regards
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: amun-ra on November 04, 2013, 06:25:03 pm
what do you do if you are unlucky enough to get AFB in a plastic box
you cant burn them ??????
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: OldMech on November 05, 2013, 12:23:18 am
what do you do if you are unlucky enough to get AFB in a plastic box
you cant burn them ??????


   I suppose that depends on where you live....     :evil:
   Does plastic or the foam boxes retain AFB if you clean them? Can you scorch plastic/foam?
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: yantabulla on November 05, 2013, 07:11:59 am
You could have them irradiated. The good thing about plastic hardware is that it does not rot.  It can also be flat packed to save space.  Burning is not the only option.  You would be crazy to burn plastic hardware. 
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: amun-ra on November 05, 2013, 07:56:48 am
yes I would not burn them either but looking from a townsville point of view freight is a killer
and if you have a lot of hives not worth the trip to brisi to clean them up
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: edward on November 05, 2013, 03:01:51 pm
? Can you scorch plastic/foam?

Yes but only once  :evil:

In Sweden there are also insulated wooden hives, they are very Heavy, I bought a beeyard and the hives were isolated wooden boxes, I was going to throw them away, but first I checked out the price, they are 5 1/2 times more expensive than poly foam hives  :shock:

So I can burn 5 poly hives if i get AFB to the cost of 1 wooden hive.

Our beekeeping association has insurance against AFB for a small fee  ;) each year.

mvh Edward  :-P
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: damienpryan on November 19, 2013, 09:21:17 pm
I use the hasson plastic hives for my 4 hobby hives.
They are great.
One thing I love is they never leak bees when moving or break.
Once you seal them up with the hive clips and foam in the entry you can be sure that nothing will come out.
Very handy when moving them in the back of a station wagon.
I am considering experimenting with temperature controlled hive fans next year though.

I think they might go well with plastic hives.

Cheers

Damien
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: gman on December 13, 2013, 08:04:09 am
Although all my subsequent hives are wooden, my first hives were plastic because I wanted hives in a hurry and plastic hives come ready to use. They have lasted well and show little deterioration after 15 years of constant use. One advantage over wood is that, like plastic frames and foundation, they are unaffected by wax moth larvae which can make a mess of woodware.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Willy on December 15, 2013, 02:07:01 am
I've just started beekeeping and I'm sick of wooden hives already. Spent all my time treating and painting and the first time a hive tool touches them the paint comes off. Cant be good for the longevity of the boxes and I also worry about copper napthanate being exposed to the bee's/honey.

The cost of the components seems to be about $30 dearer for a double plastic hive. When you take the labour/ time involved with wood I'm thinking plastic is well worth a try.

BTW great forum, look forward to learning/ contributing.

Willy
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Jim134 on December 17, 2013, 10:18:53 am
You could have them irradiated. The good thing about plastic hardware is that it does not rot.  It can also be flat packed to save space.  Burning is not the only option.  You would be crazy to burn plastic hardware.  

  For me irradiated is a possibility I only live 100 km or so from a place and does this once the year for beekeepers.  I do know for me it does not make economical sense for just woodware.  I'd also need good drawn comb to make economical sense for me to do this.  I do realize what will make economical sense for you may not for me. I'm very glad I do have a choice.


                      BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
                      
                 
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Modenacart on December 20, 2013, 12:32:09 am
The good thing about plastic hardware is that it does not rot.
Plastics may not "rot" but a lot will become brittle and useless.  Some far sooner than well care for wood rots.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Spyk on December 23, 2013, 12:23:19 am
Hi,

I also have 2 TechnosetBee Hives. ( first year bee slave )

One issue I have had is the plastic frames that come with the hives are not straight along the top.
they bend down a little - and my guess is the bee space can be  wrong between the frames in the supers
top and bottom - and the bees doggedly built comb  between the top of one of the bottom
frames and the bottom of one of the top frames. I replaced the bottom frame at that spot with a standard
wooden frame and they stopped doing that. ( I think they plan on using different frames in the future )

Also the plastic frames are not quite long enough and can seem that at a small angle may fall down - this
will make me *really nervous if I have to move my hive.

Once again - the standard wood frame seems to fit perfectly lengthwise.

So far they seem to be working as advertised - my bees are doing well  - they also seemed
slightly cheaper than the otehr hives I priced

They have top ventilation holes on the covers (  which one of my hives seems to like and the other has propolised
closed - so the bees have their choice :-). For both my hives I had to get a small file and clear away plastic
from the manufacturing process to clear the top vents.

Easy to clean - being plastic - I never wanted to be painting and all that - so this suites my
lazy nature.

I haven't tried any of the other Plastic hives - but Aside from my nitpicking above - I'm
super happy  etc

cheers
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Spyk on February 22, 2014, 11:25:37 pm
Just a little update on the TechnosetBee hives I have.

1) They are hollow and have holes along the top and bottom. It seem when it rains
water finds its way inside... So the first time you notice  this happens is when your lifting the
box off and you stream a gush of water onto the frames in the box below....arrrgggg

2) The lighter colours are a bit translucent, so there seems to be a fair bit of
light inside on a sunny day - I don't get many  Small hive beetles in this hive  ( compared to my darker one )
but the bees also seem less productive..maybe be coincidence  - I'm too new to it
all to know.

Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Suncat on March 31, 2014, 04:32:01 am
I am new to beekeeping, only been at it for 12 months or so.  I inherited a hive or 2 and I am in the process of slowly increasing the number, and with limited knowledge I have done a lot of research and looking at hives, and I decided to head down the plastic path to supplement the aging wood supers of varying age and robustness.

After many hours of looking at the various plastics out there, I decided on Nuplas, partly due to cost and I have Nuplas water tanks, so I guess they know how to mold plastic  :-D
(Search for Nuplas bee hives)

I ordered 6 10 frame supers and they arrived quickly from Melbourne, and were really easy to construct, only 12 stainless screws and a battery drill and the job was done within 1/2 hour.

They fit perfectly with the wooden supers, base boards and lids that I have (Nuplas don't have  plastic bases and lids yet for 10 frame, but they did assure me that they are one the way later this year).

So far I am happy with the choice, they haven't warped or changed colour yet,and the bees don't seem to notice, they produce the same in wood or plastic as far as i can tell.  As soon as the bases and lids are ready I will be purchasing them and some more supers to build up some more hives.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: 100 TD on March 31, 2014, 10:27:00 am
Plastics may not "rot" but a lot will become brittle and useless.  Some far sooner than well care for wood rots.
I have Parker plastic beehives, I bought them secondhand, while I cant be sure of the age, I went to Parkers shop a couple of weeks ago and was talking about the differences in his lids compared to mine. He told me he hasn't made that design for 25 years, so they are still going strong.
Title: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Modenacart on April 03, 2014, 09:31:33 pm
Plastics may not "rot" but a lot will become brittle and useless.  Some far sooner than well care for wood rots.
I have Parker plastic beehives, I bought them secondhand, while I cant be sure of the age, I went to Parkers shop a couple of weeks ago and was talking about the differences in his lids compared to mine. He told me he hasn't made that design for 25 years, so they are still going strong.
Looks like they chose a good plastic.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: squidink on April 06, 2014, 07:17:01 pm
I have used the plastic hives for over a year now. Im back to wood.
They certainly have there positives ie no painting, long life etc.

Ben
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Willy on April 07, 2014, 06:25:24 am
I have used the plastic hives for over a year now. Im back to wood.
They certainly have there positives ie no painting, long life etc.

Ben

What do you see as the main downside of plastic?

I'm about to order my first  plastic hives (nuplas). I've got timber hives that are only 12 months old and already they are starting to show signs of deteriorating. Mainly the emlock strap damaging the bottom board and hive tool damage exposing timber. I've tried leaving the copper napthenate longer to dry more, extra coats of paint, different types of paint.

So far  I cant see any advantages of wood apart from cost but maybe I'm worrying too much and they will last ok. Also worry about bee's and honey being exposed to the copper nap when paintwork deteriorates.

Willy
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Lone on April 07, 2014, 06:51:46 am
Someone called one day and asked me to hive a swarm for her into a new plastic box her brother had left.  However, the "swarm" had been there a few weeks so was actually an external hive with a piece of comb about 6 inches long and barely enough bees to cover it.  I told her to let nature take its course. 
Anyhow, in the plastic hive were one-piece plastic frames, the foundation joined onto the frame and unable to be separated.  I was wondering how on earth you would be able to do a cutout with these frames. 
I called her later about a big swarm that would have set up nicely in that arrangement but she'd given the box back to her brother.

So if the hive comes with those frames I can see that is a disadvantage.

The only other problem I can think of is -I just like wood.  Plastic may be cheaper, easier, lighter, have better climate control, be termite-proof, etc, but wood is  8-) cool.

Lone
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: amun-ra on April 07, 2014, 07:15:57 pm
Hi lone I hope they work ok i've just orded 50 of those plastic frames will let you know how they go. Mick

Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: squidink on April 09, 2014, 11:34:54 pm
I find the plastic hives sweat a lot more than wood does.

The nuplas supers have screws and they are not overly secure.



Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Chiefman on November 22, 2014, 07:26:27 am
Has anyone else tried the nuplas plastic equipment?

How do you reduce condensation in plastic hives?
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Suncat on November 22, 2014, 05:37:33 pm
I have had Nuplas 10 Frame boxes now for about 12 months, I am just south of Brisbane, and I have had no problems with condensation in the hives so far.  I am still using timber lids and bases (as they have only just been released by Nuplas, and I haven't had a chance to purchase them yet), but my lids have ventilation holes and I am running screen bottom boards.

Hope this helps.

John
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Culley on November 23, 2014, 10:44:09 pm
Quote
So far  I cant see any advantages of wood apart from cost but maybe I'm worrying too much and they will last ok. Also worry about bee's and honey being exposed to the copper nap when paintwork deteriorates.

Willy

Willy, I look after some hives in Northern NSW too, in an area where it rains all the time and we have white ants (like termites) that eat wood too! I find if the wooden stuff is put together well and painted well, and kept off the ground, it lasts well. I've never tried plastic hives.

But here's an advantage. If a corner of a super gets bad, I can cut the super in half and make it into a nuc. I can easily make supers into bottom boxes, etc, or make bottom boxes into supers.

I don't know how plastic compares to wood in providing insulation.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Burta on January 07, 2015, 09:11:07 pm
Hello,
I'm about to start out with bees & find this forum very informative. I located on the Mid North Coast of NSW, Aust, and my plan is to start with a few hives, but as I have just sold my business, I may get into bees commercially down the track. therefore I'd like to makesure I get the correct gear first up. I'm pretty sold on plastic boxes over timber, for all the reasons given above. It seems you get a different answer from everyone you ask, and the more experienced people don't seem that keen on plastic. If I could get some feedback on the below points, it would be much appreciated;
* which supplier of plastic boxes is best, as they all seem to have their positives & negatives?
* do you need vented lids and bottom boards for my area?
* do you need small hive beetle traps in each hive for my area? Do beetle traps work with vented bottom board?
* what foundation to use? The feedback so far has been not to use full plastic in the brood, but it is ok for the supers, is this correct?
Thanks in advance.
 
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Culley on January 07, 2015, 11:20:50 pm
Hello,
I'm about to start out with bees & find this forum very informative. I located on the Mid North Coast of NSW, Aust, and my plan is to start with a few hives, but as I have just sold my business, I may get into bees commercially down the track. therefore I'd like to makesure I get the correct gear first up. I'm pretty sold on plastic boxes over timber, for all the reasons given above. It seems you get a different answer from everyone you ask, and the more experienced people don't seem that keen on plastic. If I could get some feedback on the below points, it would be much appreciated;
* which supplier of plastic boxes is best, as they all seem to have their positives & negatives?
* do you need vented lids and bottom boards for my area?
* do you need small hive beetle traps in each hive for my area? Do beetle traps work with vented bottom board?
* what foundation to use? The feedback so far has been not to use full plastic in the brood, but it is ok for the supers, is this correct?
Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum Burta. It's a good idea to post a hello in the introductions section and make sure to check out the Down Under forum.  :smile:

I have hives in the Northern Rivers, NSW. Most people (including me) use vented lids. You need something to control small hive beetles. They are very serious in Northern NSW. I'm using Apithor.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Richard M on January 13, 2015, 04:32:43 am
what do you do if you are unlucky enough to get AFB in a plastic box
you cant burn them ??????

Boil em?
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: kalium on January 13, 2015, 08:32:26 am
what do you do if you are unlucky enough to get AFB in a plastic box
you cant burn them ??????

Boil em?

Not hot enough. People who use wax dipping heat it to 160c for 10 mins
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Michael Bush on January 13, 2015, 09:26:20 am
I know it's old but I can't help it...

>from what I hear the terms are pretty similar but our US cousins say aluminium funny

Actually after we spell it correctly, "aluminum," it's pronounced correctly "a LUM i num".  The way you spell it, I suppose you HAVE to call it "al you MIN i um"  Your version has five syllables (or is it sy LAB bles)  and ours has four...

The only weirder thing than "al you MIN i um" is "EVIL lution."
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: lomatia on January 13, 2015, 05:17:42 pm
I would miss the assembly part of wooden boxes! Somehow I find it quite relaxing. Just me I guess!
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: OldMech on January 13, 2015, 07:09:50 pm
Over here its a Jaguar over there its a Jagua?  Over here a boot is what we wear out in the mud, over there its the trunk of a car?  A bonnet might be a womans hat, OR the HOOD of a car?  Over there pi$$ed is drunk, over here its mad.. I could go on for a while!!     :grin:

   If I had AFB in plastic, be it a hive or frames theyd still get burnt just as fast as I could coat them with gasoline, throw the match and run.   I have no intent of fooling around with AFB in any way shape or form.  Went ot a meeting where a fellow brought frames to show everyone AFB Scales.. I backed out the door and left as fast as I could..  silly? Maybe, but dont care!!!
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Richard M on January 17, 2015, 05:45:23 pm
I know it's old but I can't help it...

>from what I hear the terms are pretty similar but our US cousins say aluminium funny

Actually after we spell it correctly, "aluminum," it's pronounced correctly "a LUM i num".  The way you spell it, I suppose you HAVE to call it "al you MIN i um"  Your version has five syllables (or is it sy LAB bles)  and ours has four...

The only weirder thing than "al you MIN i um" is "EVIL lution."

How about Labratory, Nukuler and Misserl?

Oh and deeeefence.

And Erbs.

Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Chiefman on January 17, 2015, 07:42:50 pm


How about Labratory, Nukler and Misserl?

Oh and deeeefence.

And Erbs.

The others i can understand but I could never get how they call it "Erbs".. Silent H like a silent G in Gnome
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: max2 on January 18, 2015, 01:13:11 am
Over the years I have tried most new things in Beekeeping ...and have come to the conclusion that timber, wax and Stainless Steel ( for wire) is best accepted by my bees and I stick to it.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Richard M on January 30, 2015, 09:56:03 pm
Over the years I have tried most new things in Beekeeping ...and have come to the conclusion that timber, wax and Stainless Steel ( for wire) is best accepted by my bees and I stick to it.

As a time-poor hobbyist who can't be bothered with spending hours of downtime and cleaning up the mess of, preserving and painting or watching stuff go rotten, the idea of plastic hives suits me.

Having seen wild hives which have voluntarily established themselves inside derelict car bodies, piles of tyres, 44 gallon drums and plastic compost bins, I think the bees will accept anything as long as it's reasonably weather-tight and sufficiently spacious.

I took delivery of a couple Nuplas hives this week - assembly took maybe 2 mins per box; the bases and lids are ready made, no assembly required and they are built like the proverbial brick sh-thouse, very robust.

They were a bit pricey, compared with buying timber components but by the time you price in the cost of paint, the time taken to paint them; [I'm self-employed with limited spare time, so unless it's something I actually enjoy doing, (I hate painting), then the hours spent painting are very costly to me] so I reckon that they are cost effective in the long term.

I'm sticking with timber/wire frames though. I enjoy making those up, wiring & embedding, so the above stricture doesn't apply.  :wink:
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Rouseabout on February 10, 2015, 08:57:36 am
I built my last 2 backyard hives from pine and really enjoyed the process, it was winter and I had some spare time. If you want to do it right, it takes time to soak and dry in copper napthenate, assemble & glue, paint with undercoat & 2 top coats..,.. Yawn...  :sad: I needed a hive for a new package arriving this week, so I ordered a Hassons Aussie hive. Arrived today and I'm impressed, very solid, no joins and the components fit well. Will be using wooden frames and wax, its a bit more expensive but I am expecting longevity and no maintenance....
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Spyk on February 11, 2015, 09:35:23 pm
So - Its a year on with my "2 Plastic TechnosetBee Hives".

I'm phasing them out...

1) The boxes are not solid ( they are hollow ) - and water getting into the actual boxes is problematic
     Nothing like having a gush  of water go into your hive when your taking a super off... :/
     They also have holes  in the tops where the top and bottom halves of each super are  sort of
      screwed together .. these also get water in , which goes yukky over time , impossible to
      clean and just not something I want close to my beautiful girls.

2)  They are *not standard size  ( no matter what it says on the web )- you can not buy a standard
      Super and mix and match your hive  equipment.  The Technoset are a bit wider  so things don't quite
      fit right .... standard lids  etc are not an option .

3) One of my lids is sort of starting to come apart at the top.

4) It might take 10 of the technoset plastic frames tightly , but 10 normal frames leaves
    a lot of room at either side - and it wont take 11 standard wood frames if you wanted that

So I'm giving wood a try :-)

Cheers
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Michael Bush on February 12, 2015, 08:40:53 am
>How about Labratory

Yes... how do you get La BORE a tory out of Labratory.  What happened to the "r" after the "b".  Why did it move to after the "a"?
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Geoff on February 12, 2015, 04:34:05 pm
  Liked your post Richard M, as has been pointed out many times before the bees dont read the manuals, Beekeeping for Dummies or I have not seen them posting on this forum.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Lone on February 13, 2015, 02:33:10 am
Quote
Actually after we spell it correctly, "aluminum," it's pronounced correctly "a LUM i num".  The way you spell it, I suppose you HAVE to call it "al you MIN i um"  Your version has five syllables (or is it sy LAB bles)  and ours has four...

al you MIN yum is only 4 syllables.  We also say al oo MIN yum.

Quote
Over here its a Jaguar over there its a Jagua?  Over here a boot is what we wear out in the mud, over there its the trunk of a car?  A bonnet might be a womans hat, OR the HOOD of a car?  Over there pi$$ed is drunk, over here its mad.. I could go on for a while!!     :grin:

How'd ya learn strine so good?  By the way, over here mad is more often bonkers whereas over there mad is always angry.

Quote
Yes... how do you get La BORE a tory out of Labratory.  What happened to the "r" after the "b".  Why did it move to after the "a"?

Maybe 'cos there's an O missing...

Lone



Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Richard M on February 15, 2015, 01:53:50 am
>How about Labratory

Yes... how do you get La BORE a tory out of Labratory.  What happened to the "r" after the "b".  Why did it move to after the "a"?

Simple answer:

We don't.

Because in the civilised world (ie British Commonwealth - sorry you guys in the USA got out 145 years too early so don't qualify) it's spelled "laboratory", not labratory. This comes about because these days, not all labs have lab rats in them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Richard M on February 15, 2015, 01:56:03 am
yes I would not burn them either but looking from a townsville point of view freight is a killer
and if you have a lot of hives not worth the trip to brisi to clean them up

I got my Nuplas shipment for $30 and that's a flat rate anywhere (within reason) in Australia.

I suspect 250km down the gravelly track inland of Marble Bar would not be considered "within reason" but Townsville should be ok. (Just).
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Willy on February 16, 2015, 04:22:52 am
Over the years I have tried most new things in Beekeeping ...and have come to the conclusion that timber, wax and Stainless Steel ( for wire) is best accepted by my bees and I stick to it.

As a time-poor hobbyist who can't be bothered with spending hours of downtime and cleaning up the mess of, preserving and painting or watching stuff go rotten, the idea of plastic hives suits me.

Having seen wild hives which have voluntarily established themselves inside derelict car bodies, piles of tyres, 44 gallon drums and plastic compost bins, I think the bees will accept anything as long as it's reasonably weather-tight and sufficiently spacious.

I took delivery of a couple Nuplas hives this week - assembly took maybe 2 mins per box; the bases and lids are ready made, no assembly required and they are built like the proverbial brick sh-thouse, very robust.

They were a bit pricey, compared with buying timber components but by the time you price in the cost of paint, the time taken to paint them; [I'm self-employed with limited spare time, so unless it's something I actually enjoy doing, (I hate painting), then the hours spent painting are very costly to me] so I reckon that they are cost effective in the long term.

I'm sticking with timber/wire frames though. I enjoy making those up, wiring & embedding, so the above stricture doesn't apply.  :wink:

My sentiments exactly. If you put a value on your labour it wouldn't surprise me if plastic worked out cheaper.  There's nothing worse than finding out that you dont have enough boxes to get you through the season and have to start assembling, treating.....waiting..... then painting.... and painting..... and painting.....meanwhile your bees are going gangbusters.
With the limited spare time I have available there's no way I could have kept up with my bees  this season without plastic.

Willy
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Chiefman on February 16, 2015, 04:28:40 am
Are the nuplas or other plastic give compatible with the wooden hives? Are the stackable?
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Rouseabout on February 16, 2015, 10:30:17 pm
I am quite happy with the Hassons Aussie Hive so far, its well constructed with no corner joins or places for Hive Beetles to hide. I put a package of bees into it over the weekend using wooden frames with foundation, the bees had no issue adjusting. I didn't even lock them in there, they emerged of their own accord from the package, performed a cleansing/orientation flight and then returned to the hive, it was an amazing spectacle.
As for the stackable aspect with wood and plastic, I haven't tried it but there are no tabs or grooves with the Hasson Hive so it is possible. The wooden frames were a perfect fit.

There is a photo gallery of the experience here => https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1049152608434685&type=1 (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1049152608434685&type=1)

Cheers Rod...
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: lomatia on February 16, 2015, 11:23:11 pm
I've made some double mating nucs from the polystyrene boxes in which chemists get insulated deliveries.
They are of course well insulated but not sure about condensation. Easy to put feeding holes and entrances through the poly.

Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Suncat on February 17, 2015, 08:26:58 pm
The Nuplas plastic supers stack well with the timber supers and bases and lids that I have.



Thanks
John
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Richard M on February 23, 2015, 06:49:32 am



....... If you put a value on your labour it wouldn't surprise me if plastic worked out cheaper.........

Willy

If you really put a value on your labour, it's probably cheaper just to buy honey.

I do a fair bit of SCUBA diving, I know a lot of blokes who are mad keen on cray bashing - reckon it's a "free feed". Again, factor in the cost of buying the gear, maintaining it, boat purchase, maintenance and fuel, tow car fuel, training and the fact that you're out for a good 12 hours, they are the most expensive 3 or 4 crayfish you coud ever buy.
Title: Re: Anyone use plastic bee hives?
Post by: Richard M on February 23, 2015, 06:51:05 am
I've made some double mating nucs from the polystyrene boxes in which chemists get insulated deliveries.
They are of course well insulated but not sure about condensation. Easy to put feeding holes and entrances through the poly.

If they're adequatly ventilated, they couldn't be any worse than any other material.