Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: randydrivesabus on December 01, 2007, 12:46:20 pm

Title: outer cover aluminum
Post by: randydrivesabus on December 01, 2007, 12:46:20 pm
you know that sheet that covers the outer cover? do they sell that material at Lowes or HD? I guess it would have to be about 19" wide. Maybe they sell flashing like that. anyone ever buy any?
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: pttom on December 01, 2007, 12:57:54 pm
I use the flashing from Lowes on all my top. Works great and will never have to be replaced.
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: randydrivesabus on December 01, 2007, 01:00:02 pm
yeah...i just looked online lowes.com and found 20"x50' roll for about $35. do you have an easy way to cut it accurately?
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: pttom on December 01, 2007, 01:06:30 pm
I just use a framing square and tin snips. very easy.
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: randydrivesabus on December 01, 2007, 01:13:00 pm
thanks. easy is good.
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: Robo on December 01, 2007, 01:40:53 pm
I buy the rolls of flashing at Lowe's too.  I use a framing square and chisel and just scratch score it and bend it to break.  I find it is a straighter/cleaner cut then with snips.
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: T-Bone 369 on December 01, 2007, 03:18:05 pm
Robo is onto the best way to cut rolled alum - a solid strait edge and something sharp (a utility knife works great).  Score it once (doesn't have to be too deep) along the strait edge (you have to hold the strait edge pretty tightly - a clamp or two is bennificial) then flex the alum along the score a couple of times and it will snap right off.  Remember to watch the shart edges.

A realy handy tool for bending the flashing is a hand break - it's a flat peice of metal with groves in the sides.  The one we have has different bend depths on the different bend sides (3/4 inch and 1 1/2 IIRC) making it easy to get consistent crisp bends.

(http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImage/fcbed577-a637-4588-80ba-2a6004fa6f60_400.jpg)

Here is one from Home Depot that runs $11 - mine is different only in that the short ends are also notched to make short inside bends. 

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jspStoreDir=hdus&catalogId=10053&marketID=401&productId=100341484&onlineStore=true&locStoreNum=8125&keyword=100341484&langId=-1&searchRedirect=100341484&storeId=10051&endecaDataBean=com.homedepot.sa.el.wc.catalog.beans.EndecaDataBean%402e434a62&ddkey=Search (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jspStoreDir=hdus&catalogId=10053&marketID=401&productId=100341484&onlineStore=true&locStoreNum=8125&keyword=100341484&langId=-1&searchRedirect=100341484&storeId=10051&endecaDataBean=com.homedepot.sa.el.wc.catalog.beans.EndecaDataBean%402e434a62&ddkey=Search)
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: Robo on December 01, 2007, 05:38:26 pm
Thanks T-Bone.    I'm gonna have to pick one of those up.   The cutting is a piece of cake, it is the bending that is the hassle.  A block of wood and a hammer doesn't do the great job....


Rob....
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: randydrivesabus on December 01, 2007, 06:05:45 pm
so how would you use that to fold something 20" long? fold once then slide it down to fold again?
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: asprince on December 01, 2007, 07:06:07 pm
A framing square and a utility knife over a piece of wood. Tin snips for the notches. I have an 8' aluminum brake that I use in my business. Makes nice covers.

Steve
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: BenC on December 01, 2007, 11:45:53 pm
so how would you use that to fold something 20" long? fold once then slide it down to fold again?

You could do that, but will always see a kink right where the hand tongs ended.  Either find someone who will let you use a table break, or go look at one to get the idea and make it yourself, Appalachian style ;)  Clamp the metal between a piece of 2x4 ripped so it has a nice sharp corner (set the tablesaw at about 10degree bevel) and a table top (not the dining room table), right at the edge and leave the 1/2 or whatever bend you want exposed.  use a 2 ft 1x4 in your hands- palms up, and fingers under edge of table.  Your fingertips will be the hinge and you lift the wrists until the desired bend is achieved.  Additional weight on the table may be needed, but for trim stock less than 2ft this should work fine for you, I did it like this for quite a while before building a "real" break for the purpose.  You may want two rips of 2x4, one at the 21-3/4inch? length and one at an 18 inch?  length to avoid messing up those inside corners.  If you have any metal left over, be creative and make metal roofed bird feeders or something.
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: randydrivesabus on December 02, 2007, 09:06:40 am
my neighbor across the road who died a few years back had a break that we used when doing his roof but they are very expensive...or so it seems for what you get. i wonder what he did with it???? i bet its sitting in one of the outbuildings over there...theres no one living over there and if he were alive he'd practically beg me to use it. you know what i'm thinking :evil:
when i flashed my roof i bent it using the edge of a work bench but its really had to get the crisp bend you get with a break.
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: Cindi on December 02, 2007, 11:00:18 am
Men....(and you too Linda!!!!).  Every time I read posts about you guys  building stuff for the bees, innovation, new ideas, new plans, I get so envious that I can barely stand it.

The worst thing in the world that I could ever have to do is to build something.  That is hideous to me.  That is probably because I have the type of mind that cannot follow these types of rules, the rules of carpentry, building.  Only knows, I wish that I could have even the tiniest bit of that ability, it is just not there.  I can garden, weed, build rockeries and gardens and design gardens and such.  BUT.... build anything like that that  encompasses cutting, measuring, (I even have difficulty following a pattern to make a blouse or a dress), well, I think that comes from an alien planet for sure.

So.....I depend on my Husband, who is a master at these types of things.  He bends over backwards to help me out, and does wonderful jobs with the things he designs for me.

I just wish that I didn't have to bother him so much, he has so many things to do to.

So, I want to tell all you guys, I take my hat off to you all, you are wonderful and marvelous at what you are all doing with the building and designing.  Be grateful that you all have these special skills, never take that for granted, as you just plain and simply probably do.  It is a gift, given to so many humans in this world.  Cherish it.

Eeeks....you know me, I tend to go on and on and on and on, sometimes I feel like I am the rabbit on the battery commercial when it comes to sending these thoughts through my fingertips, to my laptop keyboard, to eventually be read and absorbed by the minds of others.  Have a wonderful and beautiful day, enjoy your skills, use your skills, and most all, best of great health to us all.  Cindi
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: mark on December 02, 2007, 04:47:33 pm
next time you see bed frames at the curb grab them up.   you can cut them any length and use them as forms to bend sheet metal.  i sandwich the sheet between two rails and bend at the right angle.   i use the finished edge to roll the edge of the project piece for a safe finished look. made many a bird cage tray this way and my hive tops.
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: randydrivesabus on December 09, 2007, 12:34:27 pm
i finally got around to completing my first outer cover and it came out pretty good. i cobbled up a bending system out of a couple of old bed frame parts, c clamps, and vice grips. it works very nicely. the corner treatment is a learning experience. i think if i cut diagonally before bending it will work best. the one i made i didn't do that but notched the side i bent first then overlapped it and fastened it. the air stapler is too powerful for the aluminum so i am using a hand stapler. that works well.
how do you guys do the corners?
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: mark on December 09, 2007, 09:21:35 pm
the top is more weather proof if ya just bend and fold the corners.  i don't make any cuts at the corners
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: randydrivesabus on December 10, 2007, 07:02:26 am
i don't know how i can bend a side without being able to move the adjacent bent edge out of the way.
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: Robo on December 10, 2007, 09:13:21 am
Just like wrapping a Christmas present :-P
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: randydrivesabus on December 10, 2007, 09:26:34 am
Just like wrapping a Christmas present :-P
i was never very good at that. i will try what you suggest on the next one i build...i understand the concept.
ho ho ho
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: deantn on December 10, 2007, 10:02:52 am
i the air stapler is too powerful for the aluminum so i am using a hand stapler. that works well.
how do you guys do the corners?

Using the air stapler is just a matter of turning the air pressure down, if running 90#'s pressure turn it down to 75#'s pressure and try that if not it turn it down a little more.
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: BarneyG on January 18, 2008, 03:23:26 pm
Hello  All    i use the poor man way   i get the alumnum print sheets from the news paper printing press about 20  sheets only cost $4.00 here  and they work great  !    Barney
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: annette on January 19, 2008, 01:31:47 am
I'm with you Cindi on this one. I am totally helpless in the building arena. That is why I have to purchase everything assembled. 

Annette

Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: gwalker314 on April 12, 2009, 04:22:45 pm
I know this is an older thread but I couldn't find one that addressed gluing the aluminum cover. What if any adheasive is used to glue the top? I know the ends and sides would be stapled or nailed.

Thanks,

GW
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: asprince on April 12, 2009, 07:16:57 pm
No glue is needed if you staple the edges.

Steve
Title: Re: outer cover aluminum
Post by: contactme_11 on April 12, 2009, 08:18:00 pm
so how would you use that to fold something 20" long? fold once then slide it down to fold again?


Cut the metal with good long tin snips fold with one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Malco-24F-24-Inch-Folding-Tool/dp/B00028954M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1239578149&sr=1-2

Did I mention I do sheetmetal fabrication for a living?