Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: OzBuzz on August 18, 2010, 10:51:46 pm
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Hi Everybody,
I got some plans for a plywood 5 frame nuc from here Plywood 5 frame nuc plans (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,27006.msg233600.html#msg233600) and they are seriously the easiest to make! i got given a heap of plywood for free from work (they were going to throw it out) and there wa enough there to cut timbers for 8 nucs! i've so far assembled three of them. Can't wait to fill them with bees!
Phil, i won't be brining the used equipment on Saturday! i'll have some nucs with new frames...
Here's how it looks! it's a bit rough but it hasn't been sanded or the countersunk holes filled yet... i'm thinking of givig them a really fine sand and then lacquer them
(http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/3947/photozwc.th.jpg) (http://img188.imageshack.us/i/photozwc.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Give it a shot! they're so easy! and cheap!
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Made these too, I love them! They are so easy to build with not much wood. Have a great day and thanks for sharing! Country :)
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Looks good.
Are they big enough to fit the whole nest in, assuming it doesn't extend too far down the chimney? Depending on what we find, and given Saturday is not looking at being that warm, I was considering just putting the nest in as close to as is as possible. Once there's a warm day and comb can be transfered, or foundation/drawn comb placed in a super above the nest. Just trying to ease the girls into it without disrupting them too much. I suppose the chimney is not that wide anyway and a 5 framer should be about right.
I would not lacquer it at this stage. It does not have enough time to finish outgassing by the time the nest goes into it.
How thick is the plywood?
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I've made up four of them and I'll still bring the other bits and pieces too. I have 25 new frames and a few second hand ones... If the hive goes all the way down the chimney were in trouble :) Saturday isn't looking that great weather wise as you said... Were going to have to chop the comb up anyway so as to get it in a box is itbworth just putting it in frames? Since were doing it inside maybe I could bring a heater to warm up the room a little? I'm also going to bring some lemongrass oil to hopefully draw the ones that will be flying in the room to a nuc-will be an interesting experiment if nothing else. I also got a Kangaroo Island Ligurian Queen just in case we don't find the queen or we have enough brood to make a separate nuc-if not I can make a split from my current hive which is booming. I'm not sure what the best thing to do will be-this is my first cut-out ever so I'll happily be the student :) If we just put the comb in a box could it be hard to pull apart later? I've noticed a heap of activity in my hives with the warm days of late.
I won't be lacquering the hives-I'll make some more-lacquer them then transfer tge frames.
The ply is 12mm
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With mine, I used that cheap lowes chipboard for $8 a sheet then painted it with leftover paint from the house. It is holding up so far, I think it was around half inch stuff. You can make so many from one sheet it is amazing! Country :)
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Since were doing it inside maybe I could bring a heater to warm up the room a little? I'm also going to bring some lemongrass oil to hopefully draw the ones that will be flying in the room to a nuc-will be an interesting experiment if nothing else. I also got a Kangaroo Island Ligurian Queen just in case we don't find the queen or we have enough brood to make a separate nuc-if not I can make a split from my current hive which is booming. I'm not sure what the best thing to do will be-this is my first cut-out ever so I'll happily be the student :) If we just put the comb in a box could it be hard to pull apart later? I've noticed a heap of activity in my hives with the warm days of late.
It'll be a real play it by ear job.
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I agree - it's supposed to be 14oC tomorrow - a bit crisp still but atleast we won't be working up on that roof!
What time are you planning on getting there? is the owner able to leave a key out? i can get there early and start pulling the plaster off the bricks if you'd like
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I was planning on heading over there as soon as I get out of the polling booth. What time do they open?
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Not sure mate... the AEC website should be able to tell you www.aec.gov.au (http://www.aec.gov.au)
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I like the way they fit so snugly accross the boot of your car. :)
(http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2144/sam0116i.th.jpg) (http://img265.imageshack.us/i/sam0116i.jpg/)
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I dont suppose you wrote a set of plans in metric by any chance?
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Started making these yesterday...i am using the circular saw with a home made guide, clamped to the sheet to get straight cuts. Anyone got any better ways, without buying a saw bench?
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I found the easest way Pete was to just use a tape measure that had inch measurements on it - meant nothing to me but the boxes worked out :)
I actually didn't use a guide at all on my saw - just made sure that i took it nice and slow and followed the lines that i had drawn - use a permanent marker to make the lines so they're easily visible. Don't mark out a complete box on one board though and then do the cuts - dependent on the width of your blade you'll potentially reduce the dimensions by 2X blade widths which will leave you with gaps (does that make sense? :?)
I actually had quite a few boards so i dedicated one board to bases, one board to sides, one to lids etc
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Yeah i have been using the tape with inches on it. I prefer to run with a guide of some sort, i just clamp a straight edge parallel with the line. For smaller cuts i free hand it.
I will re measure in mm once i have finished, and tested.
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There ya'll go with that mm stuff again...I didn't even know you had candies that melt in your mouth, but not in your hand down there! :-D
Scott
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:lau:
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The countries in red in this picture do not use the metric system...its a very difficult system, with investment and learning your country too could learn how to count to...umm....10. :-D
(http://freerefillsamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Metric_system.png)
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:devilbanana: X:X
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Try using inches, feet, yards...... and quarters.....and 1/32.....wow, try that one metric world! Anyone can count a ruler with only 10 on it! :-D Ours adds excitment! Especially when the measurer drinks! :-D
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These nucs are great!
I have made 2 so far - so quick and simple to make.
Anyone know sources for free/scrap plywood?
ML
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Metric is definitely the majority! doesn't the UK still use imperial though?
The countries in red in this picture do not use the metric system...its a very difficult system, with investment and learning your country too could learn how to count to...umm....10. :-D
(http://freerefillsamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Metric_system.png)
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Meadlover, when I lived in Brisbane, I used to find all sorts of useful wood in skip bins; industry, people moving house and ditching all their stuff, but the very best was building sites and demolitions.
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Thanks Cullz.
I found a local place that has lots of scrap MDF but nowhere I've seen plywood yet.
I'm a bit iffy on grabbing stuff from construction sites nowdays as in the past few years they have brought in HUGE fines if you pinch stuff, and Murphy's law says the time I grab some ply is the time they weren't intending on throwing it out!
Will keep an eye out though, there's a lot of new houses and units going up around my area.
ML
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Thanks Cullz.
I found a local place that has lots of scrap MDF but nowhere I've seen plywood yet.
I'm a bit iffy on grabbing stuff from construction sites nowdays as in the past few years they have brought in HUGE fines if you pinch stuff, and Murphy's law says the time I grab some ply is the time they weren't intending on throwing it out!
Will keep an eye out though, there's a lot of new houses and units going up around my area.
ML
Contact some timber floor layers - they often use plywood as underlay - also shipping companies who often pack odd sized equipment in plywood containers
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Its regularly on special. Bunning has 2.4m x 1.2m sheets of 12mm for $33 right now. I am guessing 3 maybe 4 boxes per sheet?
My issue is cutting it straight....arrgghhh!!!