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Author Topic: Beehive lumber  (Read 34509 times)

Offline PeeVee

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #20 on: December 02, 2009, 01:19:50 am »
I've been making my boxes with eastern white pine. Joining with 45degree lock miter router bit (on router table!). Makes a very strong joint, self squaring plus Titebond glue (2 or 3) and crown staples. I've been milling the boards for 7/8" thick but may just do that for deeps and do the medium supers 3/4". Also thought about making deeps from Hemlock. I know it's heavier but don't expect to be moving deeps as much as the supers. Both types of wood are abundant in this area. Hemlock here on the farm and I mill it myself. Pine from a local mill - custom cut and a lot cheaper than lumber yard or "Big Box Stores".

Both woods seem to "weather" well as long as they are off the ground. We had unpainted structures here on the farm that lasted for years.
-Paul VanSlyke - Cheers from Deposit,NY

Offline Thymaridas

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #21 on: May 22, 2010, 01:43:07 am »
I know that this is an old topic, but I thought my sourcing might be useful be useful.

I get my lumber from the scraps of 2 local cabinet makers. They have high quality materials. Now I don't get long beautiful boards and have to make a couple more cuts, but the cost is right. A gallon of my honey each for a couple of pick loads.

Lately, they haven't had much, so I have been asking local farmers if they have any barn board they want to get rid of. Again this is usually pretty high quality, but I have to run it through a planer.

Also, when I make my boxes, I never paint. I rub them out with paste of beeswax, linseed oil, and a bit of turpentine. This seals the wood really well, never comes off, waterproofs the box, and cures into a pleasant golden color. I make gobs of the stuff, package it in little plastic tubs, like car wax comes in, and sell it to local woodworkers.

Last, I think the bees like the smell of pine and beeswax, because I have caught several swarms in these boxes with no baiting other than the finish.

Anyway, forgive me for reviving a dead topic.

Have fun.

Adam

Offline Scot McPherson

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #22 on: June 01, 2010, 01:11:34 pm »

Last, I think the bees like the smell of pine and beeswax, because I have caught several swarms in these boxes with no baiting other than the finish.

Adam


Not to mention bears and other bee predetors.

I just paint my beehives on the outside with Barn and Fence paint. It's cheap and it lasts...I have hives I painted 5 years ago, the paint still looks fresh, and that lumber is still in pristine condition.

Scot

Offline Jim134

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #23 on: June 01, 2010, 09:08:24 pm »
I was also thinking last night that a thin sheet (1/8" or thicker) of white plastic should work as well if not better than the tin cover on the telescoping covers.  Has anyone tried this.

              bee-nuts...........
     The aluminum roofing for hive cover can purchased for almost noting in the form of (use litho sheets) at almost any newspaper office @ $0.25 per sheet a sheet is (35"X 22-1/2") In Athol,MA.


    BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)
« Last Edit: June 02, 2010, 08:45:30 am by Jim 134 »
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
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Offline JWChesnut

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Re: Beehive lumber/box construction
« Reply #24 on: June 04, 2010, 02:03:22 pm »

1x8 x 6' Fenceboards are sold as a major loss leader.  $1.39/ea was a recent price.  A single board can be ripped to build mediums. The boards should be picked over, as open knots are problem.  On the west coast these are incense cedar or redwood.  I use dry redwood for supers and the incense cedar (3 1x6) for top covers.

 Some mills sell rough dimension and on some the  actual dimension is 5/8" so the scaling for standard size interior dimensions need to be adjusted slightly to avoid a 1/4 inch under run. Look for boards that are mostly dry (light), and full dimension in thickness.

My preferred joint construction is to use cabinet biscuits (#10's) and Titebond III

 My image show scrap pine board building a full deep. I use 3 biscuits on deeps and 3 drywall screws. I drill pilot holes/counter sinks for the drywall screws.

The advantage of butt joint/biscuits is that the running length of wood is under six feet.   If you build using finger joints, you over run six feet.




Offline bee-nuts

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #25 on: June 05, 2010, 03:00:14 am »
How do you make these biscuit joints?
The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory

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Offline bee-nuts

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #26 on: June 05, 2010, 03:04:13 am »
I was also thinking last night that a thin sheet (1/8" or thicker) of white plastic should work as well if not better than the tin cover on the telescoping covers.  Has anyone tried this.

              bee-nuts...........
     The aluminum roofing for hive cover can purchased for almost noting in the form of (use litho sheets) at almost any newspaper office @ $0.25 per sheet a sheet is (35"X 22-1/2") In Athol,MA.


    BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :)

At newspaper printing office?  Tell me more.
I bought aluminum valley metal which I did not care for when roofing cause its to chincy.  Would much rater use galvanized metal but too spendy for a cover.
The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory

Thomas Jefferson

Offline Jim134

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #27 on: June 05, 2010, 09:09:10 am »
At newspaper printing office?  Tell me more.
I bought aluminum valley metal which I did not care for when roofing cause its to chincy.  Would much rater use galvanized metal but too spendy for a cover.

 Yes  most if thay use litho sheets. It is about the same as  aluminum valley metal for roofing. All so look at


     http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,27509.msg216453.html#msg216453



            BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
        Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."
 John F. Kennedy
Franklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

Offline Jim134

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #28 on: June 05, 2010, 10:21:58 am »
     If you can find a concrete foundation co. to sell you some use  plywood that thay use on the concrete forums.You can use at for bottom boards and outer covers

 Note:it's a marine grade plywood  hope this help you out.


                BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)


« Last Edit: June 05, 2010, 03:38:42 pm by Jim 134 »
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
        Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."
 John F. Kennedy
Franklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

Offline JWChesnut

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Re: Beehive lumber (biscuit joints)
« Reply #29 on: June 05, 2010, 12:38:34 pm »
Biscuit joints are cut with a biscuit joiner aka biscuit cutter.  This is a hand held power tool that is standard in cabinet shops.  They can be purchased new for about $125, and lightly used for much less.

They are essentially a special purpose cutting blade-- a small carbide blade cuts a slot to a predetermined depth.  The biscuits are compressed wood, when glue is added they swell and tighten the joint.  Biscuits can be purchased in bulk for about 4 cents each. They come in 3 standard sizes #0, #10 and #20.  #10's are best for butt jointing supers.  For making up top covers from smaller boards, I  use the larger #20's.

Biscuits are self aligning and forgiving in make up (slight miscuts can be adjusted in the glue up stage).  They are safe to use if you watch out for the tendency of the cutters to "walk" off narrow end pieces, as in cabinet face frames.




Offline bee-nuts

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #30 on: June 05, 2010, 03:51:51 pm »
    If you can find a concrete foundation co. to sell you some use  plywood that thay use on the concrete forums.You can use at for bottom boards and outer covers

 Note:it's a marine grade plywood  hope this help you out.


                BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)




Absolutly helps.  I know a concrete guy.  When they get rid of them ther are probably beat up pretty bad though are the not?
The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory

Thomas Jefferson

Offline bee-nuts

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #31 on: June 05, 2010, 03:56:38 pm »
JWChesnut

Im guessing you need to clamp everything till glue sets good with swelling biscuits?  Or will the screws do the job?  Im really liking the sound of this for deeps if I dont need a million clamps if I want to make more than one box a day.
The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory

Thomas Jefferson

Offline Jim134

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #32 on: June 05, 2010, 04:05:18 pm »
Absolutly helps.  I know a concrete guy.  When they get rid of them ther are probably beat up pretty bad though are the not?




 The ones that do houses are the best.



        BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
        Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."
 John F. Kennedy
Franklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

Offline Jim134

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #33 on: June 05, 2010, 04:12:59 pm »
Will the screws do the job?  

 Just use decking  screws for the corner joints




     BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
« Last Edit: June 05, 2010, 06:45:38 pm by Jim 134 »
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
        Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."
 John F. Kennedy
Franklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

Offline JWChesnut

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Re: Beehive lumber-- no clamps just drywall screws
« Reply #34 on: June 05, 2010, 09:45:36 pm »
No need for clamps, use high quality drywall/exterior deck screws. 

In general the biscuits square the case nicely, but I always check against a bottom board to prevent the occasional racked parallelogram box

Hardware sells deck screws by the pound for a ridiculously cheap price.  The nice annodized one make a nice finished look, but black drywall screws do fine with paint.  I use 1 1/2 or 1 1/4 long.  I put the screws in at a slight angle-- starting about 5/8 from the edge and angling outward slightly.   This means I avoid running the screw down the biscuit slot.   This is likely a unnecessary complication. The angle is done by eye, and the pilot holes are set up in a rough pattern usually 3, but if the wood is warpy I will do 4 on the side of a deep.  Avoiding the frame rabbet at the top is the only essential tip.

I use a pilot drill/counter sink to prevent the screws from splitting out the wood (usually). New wood won't split, but scavenged dried boards are more brittle.

Hardware makers make a nice phillips driver and pilot combo where you flip the magnetic driver.  If you have a couple of drills available, a dedicated pilot and a dedicated driver make things go faster. A driver with a clutch and depth gauge prevents the occasional head from torqueing off, but an experienced hand will not need that aid.

Offline JWChesnut

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Re: caution form boards are sprayed with Diesel
« Reply #35 on: June 05, 2010, 10:02:30 pm »
In my construction experience, concrete form boards were sprayed with Diesel or used Motor Oil.  This was a "mold release" agent. The instruction was to really saturate the ply.  Some poor apprentice would get the job using a pump sprayer and a load of really funky oil/diesel.  Like the Diesel used to wash out filters....

I would be cautious about using concrete form boards where the bees will be "cleaning" the surface.

Offline bee-nuts

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #36 on: June 05, 2010, 11:11:52 pm »
I will definitely be checking these things out.  I have been building all boxes but deeps because Im worried they would not hold up with my butt joints with screws and glue.  Been building all my bottoms, tops and inners and buying frames and assembling them.  Saves money.  I have been rummaging through discount scrap boards at three different lumber yards and my boxes have been costing me between two to four bucks, pretty much same for bottoms and tops.  About a dollar for inner covers.  The painting is what takes forever.  Ive been thinking about a spray booth in the old barn using the fans in wall for ventilation.  Those biscuits sound like the trick for the deeps.  The aluminum if I can find it will definitely be a plus too.  Every dollar I can shave off each hive adds up fast.
The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory

Thomas Jefferson

Offline JWChesnut

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #37 on: June 06, 2010, 03:24:43 pm »
One other tip on biscuits.. Make all the biscuit slots symmetrical -- on deeps this would be on centerline (4 3/4 strong), and the quarter-points 2 3/8 and 7 1/4  (ignoring the  exact 16ths).

 On fence boards of under/over nominal thickness dimension you can elect to shim the cutting table so the slots fall on the thickness centerline.  This is not necessary as the slots will still line up, just not be on thickness c/l, but does give some added interchangeability.

This means you can flip boards and interchange them without getting hung up. I have a piece of roofing tin with reference marks cut  for the exact layout which speeds marking.  The biscuits are forgiving in make-up by about 1/4 inch, just adjust with a hammer or mallet until everything flushes. 

Others have pointed out that the biscuit people make synthetic biscuits for use on laminate counters.  I don't think that would be worth the expense. And the biscuit built boxes have weathered for 4 years without any loss of integrity.  Biscuits are commonly used to join pieces of exterior trim (around windows, etc).  A lot of trucking might be harder on the boxes, so stress test the approach under your circumstances before fully committing to abandoning finger joints. 

Occasionally  a warped board (usually the end pieces) has to be drawn into flush.  A pipe clamp works, or just a jam stick (ie a custom cut wood "clamp" piece cut with some sloping slots that will draw everything up tight when the jam is hammered home. After screwing pop the jam off and move on to the next box.

Offline bee-nuts

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #38 on: June 06, 2010, 03:46:33 pm »
I do my best to stay away from warped wood because from my experience when you clamp it, it pulls on oposit corner and your box will then be warped and not sit flat or flush on top or the next box.  If I have to clamp it, I probably use the board for something else.

I hope you stick around this forum cause I may be looking for you this winter or fall if I buy one of these biscuit thingy dingys.  For advice that is.

bee nuts
The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory

Thomas Jefferson

Offline johnogaunt

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Re: Beehive lumber
« Reply #39 on: July 20, 2011, 01:03:52 pm »
If using butt joints try smearing the exposed grain with pva to waterproof the lumbar and help prevent rot reaching the screws.It is also useful to prevent water entering cut edges of ply.