slatted racks using emt conduit ?

[tngold]

I have been thinking about using metel conduit in my slatted rackes, bottom boards. I have a very good supply of plenty of good but used 5/8 od pipe. would you think there may be some problems using this stuff? The price of the pipe is free. Ive learned some times you get what you pay for. Has any one tryed to do this? Thanks in advance for your comments pro or con.

[Understudy]

The biggest problem I see off the top of my head is the winter issue. The conduits will hang onto cold longer than wood dowels. Other than that I think they would be fine.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Angi_H]

I wouldnt use them as metal freezes and gets cold faster then wood. They also will old ice and frost longer. It would be like you placing ice cubes in the middle of your hive in winter.
Ever stick your tongue to a metal pole in the middle of a snow storm or when it is all frozen outside?

Angi

[tngold]

The cold conduit is a concern. what i had in mind was to build a bottom board with open bottom and screen, put the slats under the screen. This way the bees would not be in direct contact with the metel pipe. This would let the air flow work and let the mites fall thru. Just looks like the normal rack would loose some of the efect of a open mesh bottom. The dead air space is a good thing. Losing mites is good. life is good.

[Brian D. Bray]

The cold conduit is a concern. what i had in mind was to build a bottom board with open bottom and screen, put the slats under the screen. This way the bees would not be in direct contact with the metel pipe.

This defeats the purpose of a slatted rack.  The advantage of the Slatted rack is that besides providing a thermal air layer at the bottom of the hive it also gives the excess bees a place to hang out so they aren't bearding and blocking the entrance.

This would let the air flow work and let the mites fall thru. Just looks like the normal rack would loose some of the efect of a open mesh bottom. The dead air space is a good thing. Losing mites is good. life is good.

Okay, but where do all those excess bees go on a hot day?  Back to clogging up the entrance.

[tngold]

Thanks Brian,points that do make me want to put a little more thought into this. For now I will keep using my old racks. As for more ventilation I use a full screen inner cover in warm weather , it appears to help cure honey faster and I see less bearding even when the hives are up to full strength. This was the first winter I used slatted racks I had no winter losses. (27 out of 27) So maybe best I dont fix it. Thanks for the comments.   Jeff :)