J T wrote:
> http://members.aol.com/beetools/obhive.htm
>
> This'd be kinda neat in a window.
I have made a nice Observation hive out of red oak. It had a mortised
lock in the lid to prevent someone from "accidentally" opening it. I
also used black 1/4 inch artists board (styrofoam sandwiched between
two heavy pieces of black paper found at any art supply shop), to use
as "Privacy curtains" for the bees. They would slide in and out as
needed on the outside of the plexiglass. Do NOT finish the inside of
the hive with any stain, varnish etc., leave it bare wood. Also make
sure base is wide enough to give solid support and prevent the
otherwise top-heavy hive from falling over...Bzzzzzzzz, OUCH!
The only problem is you really can't keep a hive like this going for
long. Maybe if you really work at it someone has but they need a large
hive to store plenty of honey for winter. Unless you constantly change
out filled frames of capped brood, (baby bees in the comb and place in
a real hive), the bees would want to swarm. Very challenging! Also as
was mentioned pay close attention to "Bee space"! Bees like 3/8 inch of
space between frames and frames, frames and walls. If too large a space
they will build comb. If too narrow, they will plug it up! Either way
it makes it harder to remove frames from hive.
But it is very cool observing the bees at work! I have some pics if you
would like to see the observation hive as it was just finished.
Tim
One of my many former hobbies was bee keeping. Still kind of miss it
but living in the city with close neighbors prone to spraying
insecticide willy nilly and who panic when a swarm alights on their
front door is a real drawback. Previous posters were correct,
observation hives aren't big enough to sustain a colony for long so be
prepared for swarms and to feed them over winter or buy new ones every
year. Many years ago I saw an observation hive that was in a service
station. It was made from the plexiglass gunners dome of a WWII
bomber. Now that was one large observation hive. Bees are fasinating
to watch though and interesting as hell. I have a story about a swarm
I gave away that people don't believe. Good luck.
Wed, Sep 20, 2006, 5:15pm (EDT-3) [email protected]
(Mike=A0in=A0Arkansas) doth sayeth:
<snip> observation hives aren't big enough to sustain a colony for long
so be prepared for swarms and to feed them over winter or buy new ones
every year. Many years ago I saw an observation hive that was in a
service station. It was made from the plexiglass gunners dome of a WWII
bomber. <snip>
I don't see swarms as a problem. Not as long as the rest survived
anyway. But, if that's a problem, I'd say make it sized the same as a
regular hive.
I saw an ultra-neat observation hive in a museum. It was the same
size as a regular hive, and set up internally the same way, but all the
outer sides and top were plexiglas, with a clear tube leading to the
outside. You could see the bees going in and out in the tube, view from
all four sides, plus down from the top, to see every part of the hive.
Very cool.
JOAT
I am not paranoid. I do not "think" people are after me. I "know" damn
well they're after me.
Great design there!
Just remember to make neat fit removable side covers for it (ply/masonite or
mdf) with handles and those swinging things to keep them on the perspex or
glass. IME they work better in the dark and don't have to spend all their
time blocking out the light & freezing their little backsides off.
Jock
"J T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> http://members.aol.com/beetools/obhive.htm
>
> This'd be kinda neat in a window.
>
>
>
> JOAT
> I am not paranoid. I do not "think" people are after me. I "know" damn
> well they're after me.
>
Bees are absolutely fascinating. There is something amazing about taking off
the top of a hive and looking into a working super. Also, except for the
buzzing of the bees it tends to be very private and quiet. Where do all
those people go in a hurry?
By the way, when making a hive keep all movement areas for the bees to a
mzimum of 3/8" or the little suckers will glue the thing together on you.
______
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS, Canada
www.aroundthewoods.com
"Jock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Great design there!
> Just remember to make neat fit removable side covers for it (ply/masonite
or
> mdf) with handles and those swinging things to keep them on the perspex or
> glass. IME they work better in the dark and don't have to spend all their
> time blocking out the light & freezing their little backsides off.
> Jock
>
> "J T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > http://members.aol.com/beetools/obhive.htm
> >
> > This'd be kinda neat in a window.
> >
> >
> >
> > JOAT
> > I am not paranoid. I do not "think" people are after me. I "know" damn
> > well they're after me.
> >
>
>