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Author Topic: My latest contraption...  (Read 12888 times)

Offline The Bix

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My latest contraption...
« on: January 11, 2013, 05:18:35 pm »



Still working on the floor, the quilt and the roof, but you get the idea.




Close up of the box




Top view




Window

What do you think?

--John

Offline bud1

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2013, 06:42:58 pm »
naw i dont    must be one o them doo hickys
to bee or not to bee

Offline bailey

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2013, 08:00:49 pm »
So where do the frames go?
Bailey
most often i find my greatest source of stress to be OPS  ( other peoples stupidity )

It is better to keep ones mouth shut and be thought of as a fool than to open ones mouth and in so doing remove all doubt.

Offline BlueBee

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2013, 08:21:33 pm »
A bee rocket ?

Offline tefer2

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2013, 08:50:42 pm »
It's a NASA warp drive! Haven't seen one in a while though. The frames would have to get wider the closer you get to the middle.

Offline AllenF

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2013, 08:52:01 pm »
Space bees?

Offline edward

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2013, 09:03:43 pm »
I guess there will bee one big bee in each cell/box  :-D

You'll have to ask nicely when trying  to harvest the honey though  ;)

mvh edward  :-P

Offline The Bix

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2013, 08:58:26 am »
Awesome responses.  Those are actually boxes for a modified Warre hive.  I don't have the top bars in yet.  :)

Offline The Bix

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #8 on: January 12, 2013, 09:02:56 am »
The frames would have to get wider the closer you get to the middle.

Yep, there will be four full-length top bars and two shorter and two more really small.
Warp drive not likely with a  de-funded NASA, now we have to have the Russians fly us into space.

Offline tefer2

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #9 on: January 12, 2013, 10:12:12 am »
It's fun to see what others are working on. Making the frames will turn out to be a task I'm afraid.
Make sure you take plenty of pictures for us Bix.

Offline bailey

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #10 on: January 12, 2013, 07:54:14 pm »
My only question is why?   
Otherwise I think the woodwork is great
Bailey
most often i find my greatest source of stress to be OPS  ( other peoples stupidity )

It is better to keep ones mouth shut and be thought of as a fool than to open ones mouth and in so doing remove all doubt.

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2013, 09:30:43 am »
It looks cool, but I wouldn't like that lack of interchangability of the combs.  I like that you did a hex instead of an octagon... it seems more "right" than an octagon...
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
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Offline The Bix

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2013, 01:44:40 pm »
My only question is why?   
Otherwise I think the woodwork is great
Bailey


Thanks for the compliment on my woodwork Bailey.  In reality, it's about a "5 footer", meaning it looks really good from 5 feet away (with my eyesight).  If I make another, I think I can get it down to a "12 incher" ...but as to the why?  Well, quite simply because I can. ;)

But also, the hexagon seems more natural as it is closer to the shape of a tree than a square box and...well... it's a hexagon.  Like Michael said, "it seems more 'right' than an octagon."

Offline The Bix

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2013, 12:34:44 am »



Top bars in place...

Offline tefer2

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2013, 09:53:40 am »
You have to cut the slots for each frame in every box? I think that it will be a real pain to get those frames out of there. Send us some pics a few months down the road.

Offline BEEMAN

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #15 on: January 21, 2013, 11:43:51 pm »
Hi The Bix
I have been looking for the plans with dimensions and angles for the hexagon cuts. Do you have the plans or know where I can find them? I just want to build one as a conversation piece to put in my bee yard. I am always looking for odd bee hive designs. I would appreciate any help. Your hive looks great.

Offline aridostlari.com

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #16 on: January 22, 2013, 10:41:07 am »
Hello, here called on all the friends who came to Turkey for a holiday if you'd like to see, please find me regards bees
KAFKAS ANA ARI. ANADOLU YERLİSİ. --- DAMIZLIK ANA ARI NASIL ÜRETİLİR? -. İTALİEN ANA ANA arı satışımız Nisan ayında başlar,Ekim ayına kadar devam. Ana arı satışı için için önceden aldığmız listeye göre satışlarımızı yapmaktayız. Ana arı satışında Petek,petek ve arıcılık втором imalat ve satışı yapmaktadır. ...

Offline Maryland Beekeeper

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #17 on: January 23, 2013, 10:08:40 am »
Bix,
I think you are selling yourself short :) Its a work of art ! Got a couple going myself. Love how you did the window, might have to steal that :) We got into a little discussion on aspect ratio on another thread so I thought I'd try hex.
Beeman, 30 degree cuts gets you hex.
Cheers,
Drew

Offline The Bix

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #18 on: January 24, 2013, 06:06:15 pm »
Thanks Drew...

By the way, it's done:



Closeup of the roof:



Offline The Bix

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #19 on: January 24, 2013, 06:13:01 pm »
BEEMAN,

Here's a place to start, do a search for "hexagon warre beehives" and you'll find exactly where I started.   Find the link that says "Beekeeping with the Warre Hive -- Hexagonal hive"

If you follow the links there you'll actually even find a calculator for your miter angles, but Drew is right, 30 degrees.  Well the total angle at each junction is 60 degrees, but if you're doing mitered cuts, set your miter angle at 30 degrees.  I had to set mine to 60 degrees, because in my design I joined the edges to the side instead of edge to edge..I hope that makes sense.

The volume in my hive is about 80% of a normal Warre hive.  I originally designed it so that I could put a regular Warre roof on top.  I did and hated the way it looked so I put the six sided pyramid on top and I think it looks much better.  Have fun!

--John
« Last Edit: January 25, 2013, 09:19:08 am by The Bix »

Offline edward

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #20 on: January 24, 2013, 07:46:42 pm »
 :-D COOL pictures  :-D



mvh edward  :-P

Offline Rex Smith

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #21 on: February 06, 2013, 12:14:33 am »
Good looking project, John!

Rex S.

Offline JP

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #22 on: February 06, 2013, 11:35:35 am »
Very cool and inventive, and looks like a lot of fun!

Does the top line up with the bottom boxes, frames and all?


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Offline fshrgy99

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #23 on: February 28, 2013, 05:06:12 pm »
Bee condo! I love it! Think it needs JP's red umbrella on top tho'.
Would love to see it full of bees.
Nice nice

Offline Georgia Boy

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #24 on: March 02, 2013, 09:05:31 pm »
That is way too cool.  Great job. Obviously you have GREAT woodworking skills. I need lessons. :)
 
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Offline The Bix

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #25 on: April 02, 2013, 09:32:56 pm »
JP,

I didn't use a jig to router out the area to hold the top bars, so they are not perfectly aligned.  However, I did measure with a meticulous eye, so they are close.  I did use a jig to put the boxes together, so they are near perfectly aligned.

Rex, thanks man!  Nice to hear from you Hawk.  Georgia Boy, it requires some patience, determination, oh and of course some time.  It also helps to have a mentor.  Without all four, I never would have finished it.  I want to build another, but will have to wait till next winter.

--John


Offline greg755

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #26 on: April 17, 2013, 12:04:19 pm »
How much time and cost do you have in this?

Offline The Bix

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #27 on: May 09, 2013, 12:42:49 am »
Cost wasn't much, used rough cut 1" stock.  Beetle kill pine was pretty cheap at the time of purchase.  Amount of time?  A lot.  I didn't exactly keep track, but there were many parts that had to be cut with precision so it took quite a bit of time to set things up, cut parts, assemble, etc.  Did it for the enjoyment, not efficiency.

--John

Offline beeonellc

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #28 on: May 09, 2013, 05:18:28 pm »
IMpressive... new to bee keeping   I look forward to learning

Offline Sunnyboy2

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Re: My latest contraption...
« Reply #29 on: May 10, 2013, 01:01:49 am »
That is a beautiful hive.  I hope your bees find it a great home.