Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: tbrinck on February 26, 2013, 09:31:02 am

Title: polystyrene hive
Post by: tbrinck on February 26, 2013, 09:31:02 am
Out of curiosity I looked at the price of the Owens Corning Foamular F-250 2 in. x 2 ft. x 8 ft. Tongue and Groove Foam which is about $20. With one of these sheets i can build 9 10 frame deeps or 14 med. supers. Therefore i figure two sheets should give me enough to do 2-3 hives with extra supers for honey season and an extra deep for bucket feeding. I was wondering if anyone had any success with making hives from this material when compared to wood? Also what should i coat it with the prevent any damage to the foam? Would i just be better off buying the wood deeps and supers at local store? thanks
Tyler
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on February 26, 2013, 11:57:28 am
Foamular 250 is rated for compression loads of 25psi.  You don’t need that much compression strength for a bee hive.  I would go with Foamular 150 which is rated at 15psi and is typically 30% cheaper.  In Michigan, you can buy 4’x8’ sheets of 2” Foamular 150 for $21.  The prices of the stuff does vary a lot from State to State; possibly due to the high shipping costs.

IMO, the best use of foam in a bee hive is the brood box.  That’s the only component of the hive you should have the bees in during the winter.  The insulation is primarily for warmth during the winter at Northern latitudes.  Yes you could build the honey supers from foam, but supers get moved around a lot and are subject to a lot of mechanical injury (dropping, prying, denting).  If you’re a hobbyist and plan to be very careful, they will work.  For me (a mere hobbyist) foam supers are not worth the extra effort without a palpable benefit.  I use wood for honey supers.  Now brood boxes is a totally different story, mine are all made out of Foamular 150 or the Dow (blue stuff) equivalent.  
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: derekm on February 26, 2013, 07:24:50 pm
the most important parts are the roof and the sealing of the roof to the boxes below.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: fshrgy99 on February 27, 2013, 07:02:22 pm
This is where I first saw them.

Beekeeping by Rotation System (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKTvp1lupHY#)

These polystyrene hives are prefabbed. If you build your own from a sheet how do you fasten/glue the corners? I am Interested as my winter is long and cold.
Thanks
Dennis

P.S. What a worker bee!
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on February 27, 2013, 08:07:49 pm
Making your own boxes from sheets of polystyrene is very easy, but it is time consuming.  Time is money, so while the materials are cheap, the final product cost (material + labor) is high.

XPS foam is easily glued together with polyurethane glue (like gorilla glue).  Easy but very messy and time consuming because you have to clamp the pieces together for a good 20 minutes for the glue to set up before moving to the next step.  The gluing and clamping delays are the real time killers in making your own. 

The bees will start chewing on exposed XPS foam sooner or later, so it would be very wise to cover or coat the interior surfaces with something.  Foil, hardboard, plastic, paint, etc.

Finally it would be very wise to paint the finished XPS hive because it is susceptible to UV from the Sun.  It will break down pretty quickly when exposed to the full Sun.  Regular latex works fine for painting the hives.

(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j365/MichiganBee/Bee%20Equipement/Jumbo%20Hives/Jumboswinter2013_zps46f113b8.jpg)

The hives in the photo are constructed of 38mm thick extruded polystyrene (XPS).  These happen to use a mid entrance which isn’t the most thermally efficient, but it keeps the skunks at bay.  These hives are toasty warm inside all winter as long as your bee population doesn't tank. 
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on February 28, 2013, 09:39:07 am
.
Home made hives from insulating board will not work.
It is mere waste of material and work.

I have used 25 years polyhives.
I have made too own "styrene hives" but truly they are rubbish.

.here poly box price is 15 euros.

.

Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on February 28, 2013, 12:05:44 pm
No, it isn’t rubbish to make homemade hives out of insulation board.  They work very well and are probably 2x better insulated than Finski’s store bought units.  That’s because the insulation board is low density foam and it doesn’t conduct heat as readily as the denser commercial poly hives.  Homemade units can also be thicker which makes them a better insulator.  The commercial hives are not 50mm thick.  All in all, a homemade box will be much warmer for the bees. 

The major problem with the homemade units is the time and effort it takes to make them and their limited ability to tolerate mechanical abuse.  From a bee perspective though, they usually work great.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on February 28, 2013, 12:17:52 pm
.here poly box price is 15 euros.

I can make about 2 of my jumbo hives from a $20 sheet of foam.  When I add in the cost of a liner, glue, and other parts to assemble the things, the total cost is around $20 a box for the materials.  Since one Jumbo is all I need for brood, they replace the need for 2 deep boxes.  If Finski is paying 15 euros for each deep brood box, then he’s out 30 euro’s per bee hive.  My home made unit total material cost is 15 euros per hive, so I’m better insulated than Mr Finski’s hives for half the price! X:X

However if you count my labor costs, Finski wins.  :(
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on February 28, 2013, 01:53:57 pm
.
We will see in what condition are your boxes after 5 and 10 years.

.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on February 28, 2013, 03:04:34 pm
Touchdown Jesus was made of Polystyrene.  He stood strong along I-75 in Ohio for many years until he got struck by lightning.   

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_egP47Ts4kYw/TBd4QxUtcSI/AAAAAAAAAho/zn023C20y54/s1600/TDJ.jpg)

Do you have lightning in Finland?
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: danno on February 28, 2013, 03:32:13 pm
Bluebee
I see from the photo that you put alot of effort into your woodware or foam ware in this case.    How many colonies do you have?   I see you have been here for 2 years so tell me how many years do you have keeping bee's?  I'm just curious as to what you base all your knowledge on.    
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on February 28, 2013, 04:36:18 pm
Dannyboy, you’re clueless.

I’ve gone through 8 generations of poly hives and run over 30.  Heck, I’m just here trying to share real observations with folks interested in different ways of doing things.  Obviously you’re not one of those folks.   If nobody is interested, then fine, I’ve got plenty of other things to do.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: danno on February 28, 2013, 04:59:12 pm
Dannyboy, you’re clueless.

I’ve gone through 8 generations of poly hives and run over 30.  Heck, I’m just here trying to share real observations with folks interested in different ways of doing things.  Obviously you’re not one of those folks.   If nobody is interested, then fine, I’ve got plenty of other things to do.
Clueless I'm not.   30 is a good number to base your observations on.  I wouldn't have believed your numbers were that high.  It was a honest question.  I saw 3 in the picture not 30.  You do things way different then me but honestly I think thats OK.  So what does 8 generations actually mean in years
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: fshrgy99 on February 28, 2013, 05:01:06 pm
nobody likes my video?  :-P
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on February 28, 2013, 06:58:40 pm
I take photos of the hives in my back yard, it’s more convenient.  The majority of the hives are located on a farm.  I may expand up in numbers as I get my designs completely tuned for my goals.

Fshrgy99, that video has been posted on here at least 3 times before.  It is a good video none the less.  That bee keeper is quiet the trooper.  Lots of good ideas in that video IMO. 
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: danno on February 28, 2013, 07:35:51 pm
I take photos of the hives in my back yard, it’s more convenient.  The majority of the hives are located on a farm.  I may expand up in numbers as I get my designs completely tuned for my goals.

Fshrgy99, that video has been posted on here at least 3 times before.  It is a good video none the less.  That bee keeper is quiet the trooper.  Lots of good ideas in that video IMO. 

One more time What does 8 generations actually mean in years?   How many winters have you been through
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Grandpa Jim on March 01, 2013, 12:58:17 am
Fshrgy99 ....those hives in the video are now available in the US.  www.modernbeekeepingusa.com (http://www.modernbeekeepingusa.com)  Our club has purchased one to try this year.  We will see how well they do. 

The goose wing she uses as a brush...I got some and they work great.

Jim
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 01, 2013, 05:27:05 am
One more time What does 8 generations actually mean in years?   How many winters have you been through

winter is nt a point . It is bees and ants which destroy self made hives because insulating boards are  so soft.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: fshrgy99 on March 01, 2013, 06:53:04 am
Hi Jim,

Did your club purchase an entire hive and does a full super weigh any less? In that video it looks like that slip of girl is managing the hives with magic. Doesn't break a sweat either!

I'll also look for the other 3 postings of the video in forum records ... maybe my questions are answered there.

I am kind of committed to wood as I have a pile of wood from sawn logs but a full size honey super is just too heavy for me.
I quickly went to mediums.

We get a long winter here so I might be interested if they weigh a lot less and I can build a durable version. (Bluebee seems to be enthusiastic.)

I'd love an update on how you like those hives sometime. I get the impression that some love them and some hate them.

Dennis
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: danno on March 01, 2013, 09:26:40 am
One more time What does 8 generations actually mean in years?   How many winters have you been through

winter is nt a point . It is bees and ants which destroy self made hives because insulating boards are  so soft.
Finski winter is not your point but it is mine.   I agree with yours.  Ants will find a hole or crack and tunnel right in.  My point is does bluebee have enough colonies and winters using them to make judgements
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 01, 2013, 12:09:38 pm
.
Bluebee has so strange ideas and judgements that I do not believe that he has so much hives what he says.
That amount of bees need real experince and it seems to me that Bluebee has only odd experiences. He had not said how many tons he harvest honey from his hives. With that feeding it must be huge.

.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 01, 2013, 01:16:24 pm
.
If you are going to use polyboxes, it is best to bye some boxes and look, how they act.
i did this and I was amazed about spring build up and about the handling weight.

Boxes were quite expencive but the colony growth was so great that better honey yield payed boxes back during first summer. The weight in migrative beekeeping was especially good.

Floor stucture must be different  than  wooden box has, because condensation water drills to bottom.

If you have enough beekeeping, you will see easily the influence.
When listening these guys on this forum you will loose rest of your mind in this shildish debating. If you have said earlier  blaa blaa, then you learn to say blaa blaa blaa a a aaa.

.

Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on March 01, 2013, 01:24:21 pm
Funny how people like Danno think they know all about foam hives and don’t even run a single one.  LOL, you’re truly clueless.  Maybe people living in glass houses should keep their rocks to themselves?

I’m not dumb enough to run 30 home made foam hives without solving basic issues like ants and bees chewing on the foam.  You guys must really be asleep at the wheel if you think those are the biggest issues.  Definitely shows your lack of experience.   

What do geniuses like you think I do with all this foam?  Eat it?

(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j365/MichiganBee/Bee%20Hives/BeeHiveFoam_zpscc11b80b.jpg)
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on March 01, 2013, 01:24:44 pm
Finski, my experience may be “strange” because my hives are strange.  They are probably much more insulated than your poly hives and that requires some different management practices.  Some of my practices are also experimental trying to find the best way to maximize yields and winter survival.  Aren’t you yourself using electric heat to boost yields?  Does that make you strange?  You’re using poly hives while 90%+ of Americans use wood.  Does that make you strange? 

Fshrgy99, a foam hive with bees doesn’t weigh a lot less than a wood hive with bees.  Most of the weight in a hive is honey.  As for me being enthusiastic about them; not really.  I’m just using them because they can work very well in my climate.  I have wintered numerous 4 frame medium nucs in my foam designs this winter.  How many people do you know in Ontario, or Michigan that successfully overwinter 4 medium frames of bees in a box?
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: danno on March 01, 2013, 01:35:07 pm
Funny how people like Danno think they know all about foam hives and don’t even run a single one.  LOL, you’re truly clueless.  Maybe people living in glass houses should keep their rocks to themselves?

I’m not dumb enough to run 30 home made foam hives without solving basic issues like ants and bees chewing on the foam.  You guys must really be asleep at the wheel if you think those are the biggest issues.  Definitely shows your lack of experience.   

What do geniuses like you think I do with all this foam?  Eat it?

(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j365/MichiganBee/Bee%20Hives/BeeHiveFoam_zpscc11b80b.jpg)

I know NOTHING about foam hives and have never claimed to.  The only funny thing I see here is you still have not answered my question.  HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU DONE THIS!!!!!   As for the pic its foam on a trailer and nothing more
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 01, 2013, 02:19:32 pm


Fshrgy99, a foam hive with bees doesn’t weigh a lot less than a wood hive with bees. 


when I transport my hives to distant pastures and brintem back, i lift 2 brood boxes together alone. Wooden box weights 9 kg an poly 1,0 kg. So 2 woodenboxes are 16 kg more than polys.

You have heavy hives and then you add on it 16 kg. 

most of weight is honey. Yes very new to me. Unbelieveable.

Box is 1 kg and honey 20-25 kg honey. Yep, it is most.



I know enough about polyhives. If a human does not learn in 25 years, let t be. Don't even try.
.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: edward on March 01, 2013, 02:20:00 pm
Some positive input :brian: , the pink stuff is harder for the bees to chew on but they can after awhile, with a coat of paint it will make it harder to chew and it will last longer.

mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: fshrgy99 on March 01, 2013, 02:59:30 pm
Edward, you look so wise in your emoticon! I feel compelled to trust you!
d
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 01, 2013, 03:28:25 pm
Some positive input :brian: , the pink stuff is harder for the bees to chew on but they can after awhile, with a coat of paint it will make it harder to chew and it will last longer.

mvh edward  :-P

2-3 years longer.

But everybody should understand that insulating board is not meant to bee hives. It is just so.

But when we have polyhives made by different companies, even those all are not good enough against bees's jaw. Many ask, how strong they are in normal usage.  And many say that they have met too soft material.

What I mean is that positive attitude does not help in issue not a bit. Adult men, to whom is impossible to speak sense. And then these men build big houses to humans. Somebody should be afraid.

.

Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on March 01, 2013, 03:37:43 pm
LOL, No, don’t trust the guy with a trailer load of XPS foam, 30+ homemade foam hives, and years of doing this.  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

On a positive note :brian:, I do agree that Edward is pretty fair and balanced. X:X  He’s worth trusting.  The XPS foam is a lot denser than the white Styrofoam some of these guys must be imagining.  The Foamular 250 is even denser, but it is still prone to ants and bees chewing if you don’t take basic precautions.  It certainly isn’t brain surgery to make a hive from insulating boards.  Maybe I should hold a workshop for these nay sayers?
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: tbrinck on March 01, 2013, 03:43:19 pm
Thanks for the info  edward and bluebee. i am more than likely going to make my 3rd hive in polystyrene the pink stuff. to compare wood vs poly.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: fshrgy99 on March 01, 2013, 03:49:55 pm
Maybe I should hold a workshop for these nay sayers?


Not sayin I'm a naysayer but.... mid michigan is just a little west of here.

BTW I did manage to find some of the other references to the Rotation Method video in the forum and have deduced the following;

1) my admiration for the Frauline appears to be shared by many. (If someone can convince her to attend the next beemasters gathering I commit to driving down from Canada!)
2) It would seem that your friendship with the Fin goes back a ways
 
outahere!
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 01, 2013, 03:52:30 pm
.
Like Bluebee said, bees and ant are able to chew even hardest insulation board. They have very different cost, several times.

And if you bye such  commercial boxes which bees and ants can chew, you surely can return them and your get money back . What if a seller sell to you some litres paint and says: use this and they are like new again.

Of course every one may try his own hives. Carry on.

.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on March 01, 2013, 03:52:59 pm
2) It would seem that your friendship with the Fin goes back a ways

LOL, I think Finski will eventually come around.  I think there is hope for him.  :)
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 01, 2013, 04:30:55 pm
.

Funny gang

I try to warn you about ants you keep me an enemy

and who promises most,  he is a friend.

Not real, heh heh
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: edward on March 01, 2013, 05:25:03 pm
Even if the ants start to eat away at poly hives bought or home maid, painting the ant tunnels stops them from taking over.

:idunno: Are home made hives better than bought?  :idunno:

It depends on whats important, cost,style,size,durability,weight, second hand value?

The cost of things where i live makes the bought poly hives cheaper than making the from building materials. But if the cost was lower of I got a bunch of insulation boards for free?  :roll:

Also some people like to build things and it gives them great satisfaction  :chop: "having done it themselves"  :chop: even if it cost more time and money. Me?, I´m not the best carpenter

Hives in odd sizes and shapes are usually worth nothing in a secondhand market and standard size hives will always find a buyer.

That beeing said some people buy others build  :idunno: As long as you look after your bees and don't infect mine you can do what ever and how ever you want   :brian:

mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on March 01, 2013, 05:25:14 pm
Who keeps you as an enemy Finski?  You are a ystävä. X:X

I enjoy hearing your experiences since we all know that you and Edward use poly hives, while most people on this forum use wood.  We are like brothers in foam.  I agreed with you that ants and bees chewing on foam is a problem.  But it is solvable.

It would be great if fshrgy99 can buy those German poly hives in Canada.  However commercial poly hives are not readily available at a competitive cost in the USA.  Shipping alone is astronomical.  So if people here want to insulate their bees like you and Edward do, then using readily available and low cost building insulation board is often the most practical way to try it.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Bush_84 on March 01, 2013, 05:39:03 pm
Is it worth making the inside of a hive out of thin plywood and covering in poly? 
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: fshrgy99 on March 01, 2013, 05:53:17 pm
.

Funny gang

I try to warn you about ants you keep me an enemy

and who promises most,  he is a friend.

Not real, heh heh

Finster, our North American ants are maybe not so ferocious like the Scandinavian ant?
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: edward on March 01, 2013, 05:58:14 pm
Those German hives "segeberger" are even expensive here in Sweden but are of good quality and are made of dens and durable poly and will last a long time.

They have the bee space under the frames , we normally have the bee space over the frames.

I think they can weigh about 23-25 full with honey. I sold 60 pieces of segerberger hives second hand and bought 80 new supers in the poly hives I use.

That beeing said I am thinking about building some honey suppers in wood beecause they will cost 50-60% less than poly boxes they will bee heavier but stronger and take more of a beating.

I will not bee using them to winter my bees in though.

mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: edward on March 01, 2013, 05:59:19 pm
Is it worth making the inside of a hive out of thin plywood and covering in poly?

Maybee the best of both worlds?

mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 01, 2013, 06:00:13 pm
.
Extremely stupid discussion.
Half Europe uses polyhives and here we have this kind of wisdom.

Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: edward on March 01, 2013, 06:02:59 pm
our North American ants are maybe not so ferocious like the Scandinavian ant?

The big ant piles in the forest aren't a problem , its the small black ants that chew up poly hives, though they don't disturb the bees.

mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: edward on March 01, 2013, 06:08:43 pm
Half Europe uses polyhives

And half don't  :lau: so is the hive half full or half empty  :idunno:


mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: fshrgy99 on March 01, 2013, 06:56:47 pm
Canadian Price list in Nova scotia (about 1200 miles or 2000 Kilometers away  :-\
$28.50 for a deep!
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee23/fshrgy99/polystyrenepricelist-1.jpg (http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee23/fshrgy99/polystyrenepricelist-1.jpg)

Although I am sure there is a closer supplier this is the 'real german' product!

Versus

FREE! since I have all the materials to build 50 or more  :)

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee23/fshrgy99/hivedeep.jpg (http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee23/fshrgy99/hivedeep.jpg)
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: edward on March 01, 2013, 07:02:38 pm
Is it worth making the inside of a hive out of thin plywood and covering in poly?

Gave this some more thought  :roll:

There are some semi professional beekeepers in the southern parts of sweden that use wooden hive bodies.

They also insulate there hives with a poly hat/outer-box casing so is the hive roof, is big enough to insulate the roof and all four walls of the hive under the winter months and size of the winterized hive.

Not to common but I guess it works and could bee an alternative in a transitional phase.

mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on March 01, 2013, 07:34:53 pm
this is the 'real german' product!

You know that German engineering is never cheap!  :-D
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on March 02, 2013, 12:06:36 am
Bush_84, I have used the foam glued to plywood approach on an earlier generation of homemade foam hives.  It will work, but it did have some attributes I didn’t like.  First off, the thin plywood is typically 3 ply.  3ply plywood tends to warp this way or that way.  None of the boxes end up the same size and that causes problems.  Exposed edges get blasted away by UV and promotes air infiltration losses, water infiltration zones, icing, and bee chewing grounds.  The other problem with plywood is delamination if/when it gets wet.  Depending upon how you design your venting (or lack there of), it can get pretty wet inside a hive.  Plywood molds up easier than solid wood or other options.   
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on March 02, 2013, 04:48:23 am
Hey Fshrgy99, if you want to try wood, go for it.  Most beeks in the USA use wood.  We can’t all be cavemen (and women) can we?   Most of my hives are foam, but I do have a few all wood hives too.  Last time I checked, I lost 2 or 3 woods this winter, but I was surprised some smallish wood nucs have survived.  One of those wood nucs is just 13 half medium sized mating frames in a wood box with absolutely ZERO insulation, no tar paper, and a BIG top vent.  Somehow they’re still alive.  Go figure!  None of my wood hives have insulation on them.  Nada, zero, zip, ei mitään .  I’ve probably lost 3 and have 3 living; 50% loss in the wood hives for me.  Might be raising queens from those surviving wood babies this summer  :-D

Personally I’m sticking with foam hives because my overwintering yields are better, they’re more tolerant of beek mismanagement (IMO), and they’re more flexible for my management style.  But as T Beek wisely says, "different strokes for different folks".  If you want to try wood, by all means give it a whirl.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 02, 2013, 06:30:45 am

Personally I’m sticking with foam hives because my overwintering yields are better, they’re more tolerant of beek mismanagement (IMO), and they’re more flexible for my management style.  But as T Beek wisely says, "different strokes for different folks".  If you want to try wood, by all means give it a whirl.


insulation is needed to keep bees warm and to save winterfood.

What heck "flexible mismanagement tolerant insulation"!

.
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: danno on March 02, 2013, 09:26:45 am
Hey Fshrgy99, if you want to try wood, go for it.  Most beeks in the USA use wood.  We can’t all be cavemen (and women) can we?   Most of my hives are foam, but I do have a few all wood hives too.  Last time I checked, I lost 2 or 3 woods this winter, but I was surprised some smallish wood nucs have survived.  One of those wood nucs is just 13 half medium sized mating frames in a wood box with absolutely ZERO insulation, no tar paper, and a BIG top vent.  Somehow they’re still alive.  Go figure!  None of my wood hives have insulation on them.  Nada, zero, zip, ei mitään .  I’ve probably lost 3 and have 3 living; 50% loss in the wood hives for me.  Might be raising queens from those surviving wood babies this summer  :-D

Personally I’m sticking with foam hives because my overwintering yields are better, they’re more tolerant of beek mismanagement (IMO), and they’re more flexible for my management style.  But as T Beek wisely says, "different strokes for different folks".  If you want to try wood, by all means give it a whirl.

Maybe the reason you lost "2 or 3" is you fed them syrup in Feb in Michigan!!!   Are you kidding me!!!!   I guess we cant all be a cavemen.    You refuse to tell how many years you have so as I can only guess this is your second winter.   Also wonder why when I brought up you had only 3 colonies in your yard, you scrambles to delete them. 
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on March 02, 2013, 02:14:42 pm
DannyBoy, I think there is only one caveman here. :laugh:

I’m not going to answer your childish questions because your only goal here is to denigrate me.  Really, how much help has your rock throwing been to people trying to learn about bees?  How much real advice have you and Finski actually offered up the original poster?  All I’ve seen is a stream of criticism.

If you had been paying attention to the facts and not just looking to attack me, then you would know I AM feeding syrup (and water) to 2 weak FOAM hives that I added electric heat to on Feb 15th.  This was an experiment relating to rapid spring build up.  If you had more than a grade school understanding of science, you would know it would be pointless to try this experiment in a wood hive because 35 watts of heat would not be enough to keep the syrup warm in Michigan.  My 50% losses in wood hives had nothing to do with syrup or electric.  

As for the photo of my 3 hives in the backyard suddenly disappearing, they’re still there.  I recently re-organized the structure of my photobook photos because it was getting unwieldy.  This forum doesn’t make a local copy of the photos and hence when you re-organize, the photos no longer show up.  It’s not some big leftist conspiracy theory; you can go back to your cave now. :laugh:
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: danno on March 02, 2013, 03:46:29 pm
I ask a question.  You answer like a politician.    You even threw in some 2nd grade name calling.   Nice!!!  Real Nice!  
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Moots on March 02, 2013, 03:50:40 pm

I’m not going to answer your childish questions because your only goal here is to denigrate me.

Bluebee,
Not to jump into your and Danno's pissing contest...BUT!

Honestly, it's a fair and relevant question.

Obviously, your comfortable and confident with your level of knowledge on the subject. Why not be up front and honest about the timeframe over which you acquired it?
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: edward on March 02, 2013, 03:55:59 pm
If you guy get out a ruler and start to unzip give the rest of us fair warning so we can avert our eyes  :deadhorse:
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: BlueBee on March 02, 2013, 04:42:50 pm
Edward, it’s really too darn cold out there today to have a contest with these guys  :-D

Maybe this tread helps to explain why bee keepers don’t use poly hives more in the USA.  It’s just a constant stream of ridicule and belittlement.  What do I care, most of my bees are alive and well.  God forbid a bee keeper ever tries to experiment to save the bees around here!  LOL. 
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Moots on March 02, 2013, 06:40:51 pm
Edward, it’s really too darn cold out there today to have a contest with these guys  :-D

Maybe this tread helps to explain why bee keepers don’t use poly hives more in the USA.  It’s just a constant stream of ridicule and belittlement.  What do I care, most of my bees are alive and well.  God forbid a bee keeper ever tries to experiment to save the bees around here!  LOL. 


Maybe the fact that I live in Southeast Louisiana and the "trend" of temps dipping below 32° maybe a hand full of times a year...if that, better explains why I don't have an interest in using poly hives.

Regardless, your insistence on spinning and dodging a legitimate, relevant, and on point question is quit comical...and perhaps quite telling!  :)
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 02, 2013, 06:45:38 pm

Maybe this tread helps to explain why bee keepers don’t use poly hives more in the USA. 

It seems that USA has quite much poly hive sellers.



http://www.us.all.biz/m58801-beemax-hive-body-g133854 (http://www.us.all.biz/m58801-beemax-hive-body-g133854)

http://modernbeekeepingusa.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=17 (http://modernbeekeepingusa.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=17)    UK info

http://www.beevilla.com/ (http://www.beevilla.com/)

http://buildabeehive.com/p2-CoolMax-Bee-Hive-Starter-Kit-Unassembled-Polystyrene.html (http://buildabeehive.com/p2-CoolMax-Bee-Hive-Starter-Kit-Unassembled-Polystyrene.html)


Contact Us
 BuildaBeehive.com
1 World Trade Ctr, Ste 800
Long Beach, CA 90831

http://www.all.biz/foam-polystyrene-beehive-bgg1076896 (http://www.all.biz/foam-polystyrene-beehive-bgg1076896)

http://modernbeekeepingusa.com/Polystyrene%20Bee%20Hive (http://modernbeekeepingusa.com/Polystyrene%20Bee%20Hive)

http://www.hotsalekey.com/Cheap-Discount-On-Sales-124253--Polystyrene-Hives-plastic-beeHives-USD-52.00.html (http://www.hotsalekey.com/Cheap-Discount-On-Sales-124253--Polystyrene-Hives-plastic-beeHives-USD-52.00.html)

Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: tbrinck on March 02, 2013, 07:11:43 pm
You missed one
betterbee.com
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: fshrgy99 on March 02, 2013, 09:38:23 pm
If you guy get out a ruler and start to unzip give the rest of us fair warning so we can avert our eyes  :deadhorse:

 8-)
Title: Re: polystyrene hive
Post by: Finski on March 03, 2013, 02:12:52 am

BeeKeeping solutions
 
 
We offer some great German beekeeping supply in Canada.  We are specialized in hard polystyrene hives in all sizes, which keep your bees warm in winter and cold in summer. Convince your self about the advantages of our material and innovative sizes, which