queen exer

[super dave]

does any one have any plans for making a queen excluder-- mostly your thoughts for the screen size
thanks :shock:

[stilllearning]

The spacing in a queen excluder is critical.  Too small and the workers
cant get through, too large and it is useless. Queen and Drones will
pass through.  Spacing on most commerical made is .162 to .163 depending on wheather the edges are square or rounded.  It appears
each manufacture has their own critical space according to their own
experts.  You will find almost 50% of members of this forum dont use
any excluder, and the other 50% would not do with out them.  You will
learn from you own experience what is best for you, but from a practicle
stand point, you can probably buy cheaper than you can build if your time is worth anything.

[Michael Bush]

You can use #5 hardware cloth.  But a real queen excluder is better.  They will lose the pollen off of one leg getting through the #5 and I'm sure there's more wear and tear.  I don't use an excluder, but if you really want one, you can make a queen "discourager" by taking a sheet of plywood and drilling some holes in the corners.  The queen usually doesn't go there and usually won't go up to the next box.

http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/excludertypes.html

[beebiz]

Hey Michael,

What size drill bit would you use to drill the holes in the plywood?

Thanks

[Michael Bush]

You could probably use anything from 1/4" to 3" as long as you put them in the corners.  I've never done it.  I don't use an excluder.  But 1/4" is the smallest the bees can EASILY get through (1/6" is the SMALLEST they can get through), so, if I were to make an excluder, I'd probably go for 3/8" to a 1/2".

[beebiz]

Thanks