Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: Angi_H on January 29, 2008, 02:51:54 am

Title: Slatted Bottom Boards/ Hive top feeders
Post by: Angi_H on January 29, 2008, 02:51:54 am
Is there any plans for SBBs out there. Or which places sale them. Dadant dont sale them. I would like to get as much ventaltion in the hives as posable during summer because we can get up as high as 110 in the summer with little to no humidity.  What are your guys takes on the sbbs. I have a Sbb on there now that fits onto the already there bottom board. Also who sales the big bucket hive top feeders. Dadant dosnt sale them. Nither does Mann Lake.

Angi
Title: Re: Slatted Bottom Boards/ Hive top feeders
Post by: Jerrymac on January 29, 2008, 07:16:05 am
There is one here

http://www.beesource.com/plans/index.htm
Title: Re: Slatted Bottom Boards/ Hive top feeders
Post by: Michael Bush on January 29, 2008, 07:35:46 am
Betterbee sells slatted racks as does Beecommerce and Brushy Mt.
Title: Re: Slatted Bottom Boards/ Hive top feeders
Post by: Robo on January 29, 2008, 10:33:36 am
Are you looking for screened bottom board or slatted rack.  You have seemed to combine them into one in your post.   The link jerry provided has plans for both.
Title: Re: Slatted Bottom Boards/ Hive top feeders
Post by: Angi_H on January 30, 2008, 02:40:59 am
I have screened.. Looking for slatted. Even though I could make them I would rather buy them. As the time I have is not all that much lately.

Angi
Title: Re: Slatted Bottom Boards/ Hive top feeders
Post by: Robo on January 30, 2008, 08:55:34 am
I have screened.. Looking for slatted. Even though I could make them I would rather buy them. As the time I have is not all that much lately.

Angi

Buy them -> http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=308
Build them -> http://www.beesource.com/plans/slatrack.pdf

Or if you want the most ventilation go bottomless -> http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=1757.msg8447#msg8447

Remember that good ventilation relies more on upper ventilation than bottom.   Without proper upper ventilation you won't get good air flow.
Title: Re: Slatted Bottom Boards/ Hive top feeders
Post by: Brian D. Bray on January 30, 2008, 08:48:08 pm
I have screened.. Looking for slatted. Even though I could make them I would rather buy them. As the time I have is not all that much lately.

Angi

Skip the SBB and just tack screen on the bottoms of the slatted racks, that's what I'm doing this year.  That way I have open bottoms, top entrances, and my hive stands are 4X4s stacked 3 high with a sheet of plywood on the bottom to keep weeds, or whatever, from growing into the hive. I also added a 1X2 just below the cross pieces so I can slip a piece of cardboard or veneer underneath to check for varrow.  I made my first 2 hive stands today.  I plan on making 8, I have 4 hives now, have ordered a package to teach my daughter how it's done, plan on making a duplex nuc for hold extra queens, and need a few just incase of swarm increase--mine or somebody else's.  One less piece of equipment makes things simpler, and I like simple, being that way myself.
Title: Re: Slatted Bottom Boards/ Hive top feeders
Post by: Angi_H on January 31, 2008, 03:31:56 am
Well I had already bought the SBB. And I have already opened them and painted them. SOooo I can either keep them for the next hives I get or I can just go a head and get the slatted racks.

Angi
Title: Re: Slatted Bottom Boards/ Hive top feeders
Post by: Brian D. Bray on February 01, 2008, 01:57:38 am
Well I had already bought the SBB. And I have already opened them and painted them. SOooo I can either keep them for the next hives I get or I can just go a head and get the slatted racks.

Angi

tack screens to the bottoms of the racks and use them in place of bottom boards, turn the bottom boards over and use them for top entrances--you'll never regret it.