Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: The Bix on January 11, 2013, 05:18:35 pm

Title: My latest contraption...
Post by: The Bix on January 11, 2013, 05:18:35 pm

(http://s9.postimage.org/rca57jgob/IMG_1294.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/rca57jgob/)

Still working on the floor, the quilt and the roof, but you get the idea.


(http://s7.postimage.org/8tljz199z/IMG_1289.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/8tljz199z/)

Close up of the box


(http://s14.postimage.org/q6x7cozot/IMG_1290.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/q6x7cozot/)

Top view


(http://s9.postimage.org/s9pr7w6y3/IMG_1288.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/s9pr7w6y3/)

Window

What do you think?

--John
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: bud1 on January 11, 2013, 06:42:58 pm
naw i dont    must be one o them doo hickys
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: bailey on January 11, 2013, 08:00:49 pm
So where do the frames go?
Bailey
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: BlueBee on January 11, 2013, 08:21:33 pm
A bee rocket ?
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: tefer2 on January 11, 2013, 08:50:42 pm
It's a NASA warp drive! Haven't seen one in a while though. The frames would have to get wider the closer you get to the middle.
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: AllenF on January 11, 2013, 08:52:01 pm
Space bees?
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: edward on January 11, 2013, 09:03:43 pm
I guess there will bee one big bee in each cell/box  :-D

You'll have to ask nicely when trying  to harvest the honey though  ;)

mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: The Bix on January 12, 2013, 08:58:26 am
Awesome responses.  Those are actually boxes for a modified Warre hive.  I don't have the top bars in yet.  :)
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: The Bix on January 12, 2013, 09:02:56 am
The frames would have to get wider the closer you get to the middle.

Yep, there will be four full-length top bars and two shorter and two more really small.
Warp drive not likely with a  de-funded NASA, now we have to have the Russians fly us into space.
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: tefer2 on January 12, 2013, 10:12:12 am
It's fun to see what others are working on. Making the frames will turn out to be a task I'm afraid.
Make sure you take plenty of pictures for us Bix.
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: bailey on January 12, 2013, 07:54:14 pm
My only question is why?   
Otherwise I think the woodwork is great
Bailey
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: Michael Bush on January 14, 2013, 09:30:43 am
It looks cool, but I wouldn't like that lack of interchangability of the combs.  I like that you did a hex instead of an octagon... it seems more "right" than an octagon...
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: The Bix on January 14, 2013, 01:44:40 pm
My only question is why?   
Otherwise I think the woodwork is great
Bailey


Thanks for the compliment on my woodwork Bailey.  In reality, it's about a "5 footer", meaning it looks really good from 5 feet away (with my eyesight).  If I make another, I think I can get it down to a "12 incher" ...but as to the why?  Well, quite simply because I can. ;)

But also, the hexagon seems more natural as it is closer to the shape of a tree than a square box and...well... it's a hexagon.  Like Michael said, "it seems more 'right' than an octagon."
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: The Bix on January 15, 2013, 12:34:44 am

(http://s1.postimage.org/fcjiqtnh7/IMG_1375.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/fcjiqtnh7/)

Top bars in place...
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: tefer2 on January 15, 2013, 09:53:40 am
You have to cut the slots for each frame in every box? I think that it will be a real pain to get those frames out of there. Send us some pics a few months down the road.
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: BEEMAN on January 21, 2013, 11:43:51 pm
Hi The Bix
I have been looking for the plans with dimensions and angles for the hexagon cuts. Do you have the plans or know where I can find them? I just want to build one as a conversation piece to put in my bee yard. I am always looking for odd bee hive designs. I would appreciate any help. Your hive looks great.
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: aridostlari.com on January 22, 2013, 10:41:07 am
Hello, here called on all the friends who came to Turkey for a holiday if you'd like to see, please find me regards bees
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: Maryland Beekeeper on January 23, 2013, 10:08:40 am
Bix,
I think you are selling yourself short :) Its a work of art ! Got a couple going myself. Love how you did the window, might have to steal that :) We got into a little discussion on aspect ratio on another thread so I thought I'd try hex.
Beeman, 30 degree cuts gets you hex.
Cheers,
Drew
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: The Bix on January 24, 2013, 06:06:15 pm
Thanks Drew...

By the way, it's done:

(http://s7.postimage.org/quuw5pgbb/IMG_1379.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/quuw5pgbb/)

Closeup of the roof:

(http://s8.postimage.org/mlksfta4h/IMG_1377.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/mlksfta4h/)
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: The Bix on January 24, 2013, 06:13:01 pm
BEEMAN,

Here's a place to start, do a search for "hexagon warre beehives" and you'll find exactly where I started.   Find the link that says "Beekeeping with the Warre Hive -- Hexagonal hive"

If you follow the links there you'll actually even find a calculator for your miter angles, but Drew is right, 30 degrees.  Well the total angle at each junction is 60 degrees, but if you're doing mitered cuts, set your miter angle at 30 degrees.  I had to set mine to 60 degrees, because in my design I joined the edges to the side instead of edge to edge..I hope that makes sense.

The volume in my hive is about 80% of a normal Warre hive.  I originally designed it so that I could put a regular Warre roof on top.  I did and hated the way it looked so I put the six sided pyramid on top and I think it looks much better.  Have fun!

--John
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: edward on January 24, 2013, 07:46:42 pm
 :-D COOL pictures  :-D



mvh edward  :-P
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: Rex Smith on February 06, 2013, 12:14:33 am
Good looking project, John!

Rex S.
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: JP on February 06, 2013, 11:35:35 am
Very cool and inventive, and looks like a lot of fun!

Does the top line up with the bottom boxes, frames and all?


...JP
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: fshrgy99 on February 28, 2013, 05:06:12 pm
Bee condo! I love it! Think it needs JP's red umbrella on top tho'.
Would love to see it full of bees.
Nice nice
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: Georgia Boy on March 02, 2013, 09:05:31 pm
That is way too cool.  Great job. Obviously you have GREAT woodworking skills. I need lessons. :)
 
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: The Bix on April 02, 2013, 09:32:56 pm
JP,

I didn't use a jig to router out the area to hold the top bars, so they are not perfectly aligned.  However, I did measure with a meticulous eye, so they are close.  I did use a jig to put the boxes together, so they are near perfectly aligned.

Rex, thanks man!  Nice to hear from you Hawk.  Georgia Boy, it requires some patience, determination, oh and of course some time.  It also helps to have a mentor.  Without all four, I never would have finished it.  I want to build another, but will have to wait till next winter.

--John

Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: greg755 on April 17, 2013, 12:04:19 pm
How much time and cost do you have in this?
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: The Bix on May 09, 2013, 12:42:49 am
Cost wasn't much, used rough cut 1" stock.  Beetle kill pine was pretty cheap at the time of purchase.  Amount of time?  A lot.  I didn't exactly keep track, but there were many parts that had to be cut with precision so it took quite a bit of time to set things up, cut parts, assemble, etc.  Did it for the enjoyment, not efficiency.

--John
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: beeonellc on May 09, 2013, 05:18:28 pm
IMpressive... new to bee keeping   I look forward to learning
Title: Re: My latest contraption...
Post by: Sunnyboy2 on May 10, 2013, 01:01:49 am
That is a beautiful hive.  I hope your bees find it a great home.