Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: slacker361 on April 05, 2012, 05:26:23 pm
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is it worth it?
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Does it have enough room for my accordion? :-D
A metal ammo box is a good place to keep a smoker. It wont start an unwanted fire after you are done using it.
When I need to bring tools, veil & etc, I usually throw them in one of those reusable shopping bags. If I need an empty nuc, I'll bring one of those too.
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is it worth it?
Well are bees worth it ??? :-D
BEE HAPPY Jim :)
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Not to me.
You have to make that decision for yourself.
Joe
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Well, it looks considerably nicer than my plastic cat-litter container, but as Joe said, it's a decision you have to make for yourself. Me? I'd spend the $45 on something else.
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Build your own, it's cheaper. It's just a modified nuc box.
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I have one and I like it. That said, a plastic pail from Lowes or Home Depot would probably be just as suitable for much less. It does have premade places for frame rests, brushes, etc and can double as a place to stash a swarm for transport, but again, a bucket does too :)
It's a personal call, like everyone says. I figured what the heck and got one.
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I used a plastic bucket for years till I picked up enought plywood cutoffs to make a bee gear box. 3/4 inch plywood makes it a bit heavy but it can be used as a step to get into taller hives. I don't keep my veil or gloves in it, just hive tools, smoker fuel and the smoker that has the tip plugged with a cork. I like the look and design of the Merrill tool box, just can't see buying one right now.
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If you like it and it doesn't bust the bank,it's worth it.If it takes you a half day to build it and you feel your time is more valuable,it's worth it.
Not every one is a handyman,or has the woodworking tools to build it.
Strictly a personal preference. :)
People spend a lot more on a lot less in other hobbies.Look at the price of a bowling ball. :)
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I have an old large ammo box. The only reason I used it was that I could put a lit smoker in it and rest assured it would put the smoker out. No need to be trailing sparks out the back of the truck in drought stricken Texas. Don't want to be responsible for wild fires. Since I'm taking it along anyway I throw the rest of my nonflammable gear in there as well. Two smokers, 3 or 4 hive tools, a frame grip that was given to me but that I never use are all along for the ride. A wooden tool box like a carpenter used to make for himself, with a dowel handle, carries the flammable/meltable(is that even a word? :)) gear.
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I saw it and liked it but was worried about the weight so I got a little Huskey tool bag from Home Depot.
Francus, do you know how much the Merrill Tool Box weighs empty? -Mike
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I have an old large ammo box. The only reason I used it was that I could put a lit smoker in it and rest assured it would put the smoker out. No need to be trailing sparks out the back of the truck in drought stricken Texas. Don't want to be responsible for wild fires. Since I'm taking it along anyway I throw the rest of my nonflammable gear in there as well. Two smokers, 3 or 4 hive tools, a frame grip that was given to me but that I never use are all along for the ride. A wooden tool box like a carpenter used to make for himself, with a dowel handle, carries the flammable/meltable(is that even a word? :)) gear.
:lau: :lau:
Well it pass Spell Check
I do not know but I like it.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
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I have one and I love it! It is more organized than many other options.
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I have three of them. If I had the time I would have built my own. I didn't have the time...
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I was tempted to buy one this weekend, but reading the posts I came to the conclusion that it was heavy and expensive when you factored in the shipping costs from Brushy.
So I went with an 5 Gal pail that I had and splurged $10 at Tractor Supply (or Harbor Freight) to get a bucket organizer. The organizer has tons of pockets for the tools, and the pail is big enough to hold a smoker and a frame holder. Extra bonus is that you can toss burr comb and excess propolis in the bucket.
The only upside I can see is that you can sling the Merrill over your shoulder leaving both hands free, with the bucket you're down to one.
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Make a sling for that bucket. :-D
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I ordered one a couple of years ago and admit I was kinda disappointed when it arrived. But honestly I have used it more than I ever thought. It's storage in the "off" months, the strap is easy on my back and arms for toting and lifting or other heavy work. And my son, who is not a beek, feels safer when he's helping me with honey harvest. I brush the bees off, put the frames in, close the lid and send him to the house as my honey mule! All-in-all, it was a worthwhile purchase.
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I could give you a deal on all the cool stuff to fill the box. Frame grabber, queen catcher, queen marking tube, queen muff, frame rest, powdered sugar sifter and more. All I carry now is 2 or 3 hive tools in the truck door pocket, a helmet and hood and a jacket with hood in the back seat of the cab, a bucket with a smoker, a lighter in my pocket and a torch for windy days
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I use a plywood nuc box with the lid hooked on the side with a luggage strap hooked to it. I carry all the small stuff (matches, back up lighter, queen catcher, marking pen, queen cage, cork for plugging smoker, etc) in an old candy tin to keep everything dry. My smoker fuel (newpaper and old blue jeans torn in strips) is rolled in a plastic bag to keep it dry. I have two hive tools, bee brush, frame hanger, veil, and a smoker lose in there. Everything fits in the smoker fuel bag if you need to use the box for swarm removal.
It allows me to carry everything I need for a sudden swarm removal in a tight easy to carry multi-use container. If you're making some plywood nucs the cost of one Merrill box will more than cover the material cost of one sheet of plywood that will render you 4 nucs. Whether use a homemade nuc box or a Merrill tool box I'd recommend it. It keeps things compact, forces you to get rid of things you don't actually use, and makes you look very professional.
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The fact that it is a great stool AND you can put your tools in it AND you can put a swarm in it, are all nice things...
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ya'll have inspired me. I have been staring at one in the catalog for over a year now. So I picked 20.00 of 1x12's and 1x8's this weekend. I'll start on it when I get done nailing together swarm traps.
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I really liked the look of the Merrill tool box in the catalog but couldn't justify the purchase with shipping and everything. I had enough scrap laying around from building deeps that I just decided to dive in and build one. It may not be quite as pretty as the Merrill box but ours is just as handy and I couldn't imagine not having it now...it makes things so nice and easy to take on a cutout extraction or to the apiary. Still have to find a nice piece of webbing for a shoulder strap and that will be the icing on the cake. I really recommend buying the Merrill or building one for yourself as I have done for Julie and I. Here are a few pictures of my "ugly Merrill wannabee"!! Note the screws sticking through to the inside that I have since ground off and difference in the orientation of the hinges on mine verses the Merrill.
(http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/5061/71808376.jpg)
By chrissimmonds (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/chrissimmonds) at 2012-05-29
(http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/4660/27814548.jpg)
By chrissimmonds (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/chrissimmonds) at 2012-05-29
(http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1097/43900308.jpg)
By chrissimmonds (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/chrissimmonds) at 2012-05-29
(http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9545/59965454.jpg)
By chrissimmonds (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/chrissimmonds) at 2012-05-29
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Love to putter in the shop, so am building my own. Don't have the problem with trailing a smoker in the back of the truck as the hive is in the back yard. Just wanted something to carry "all" my junk in one trip! All about making beekeeping easy and fun! That's why we got into this in the first place isn't it! :-D
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My mentor has a box similar to these. I don't think it's a "Merrill" box.... He has some mobility issues and also uses it for a stool to sit on while inspecting brood boxes. His box is probably 18" tall (tall enough for him to sit on comfortably with knees bent naturally) and it has an open compartment beneath the closed box area. The pivot handle is a flat metal one that attaches to either side(like a bucket)
Simmonds, my mentor's box has no handle on top...handle might be a problem when sitting on it. :-D
Ed
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My mentor has a box similar to these. I don't think it's a "Merrill" box.... He has some mobility issues and also uses it for a stool to sit on while inspecting brood boxes. His box is probably 18" tall (tall enough for him to sit on comfortably with knees bent naturally) and it has an open compartment beneath the closed box area. The pivot handle is a flat metal one that attaches to either side(like a bucket)
Simmonds, my mentor's box has no handle on top...handle might be a problem when sitting on it. :-D
Ed
Ed, yes I can see how that could be a problem! :shock:
I am thinking of ditching the handle one I get some quality webbing for a carrying strap. Maybe I will attach a small piece as a handle as well then I could also use mine as a stool.