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wuertele
House Bee
Joined: 29 Jan 2014
Posts: 11
Location: Menlo Park, CA
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 Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:10 pm Post subject: My first hive |
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Last Saturday I got my first bees and installed them in a TBH I built myself. Here is a link to some photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wuertele/sets/72157644247591773/
Glass sides with 100% view and closing insulated panels
Glass follower board
5' internal length
1-3/8" top bars with 20% angle
3mm SS mesh floor
All wood (except stand top surface) reclaimed from demoed redwood 2x4s
Silvered foam canopy with space for gallon feeders
Dave |
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Invision
Guard Bee
Joined: 11 Jul 2013
Posts: 71
Location: Poulsbo, Washington USA zone 8b
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| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Looks pretty cool, just remember to put all the sides up when you want to mow the lawn  .
I hope you have some good insulator between the glass and the elements, glass transfers heat and cold really easy.
Any reason for not using wooden sides?
looks like it may have cost a little bit of money for this one
Last edited by Invision on Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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wuertele
House Bee
Joined: 29 Jan 2014
Posts: 11
Location: Menlo Park, CA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Invision wrote: | | Any reason for not using wooden sides? |
I thought about wood, but I couldn't figure out a way to make it see-through.
Dave |
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Invision
Guard Bee
Joined: 11 Jul 2013
Posts: 71
Location: Poulsbo, Washington USA zone 8b
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| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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Oh,
well good thing is your never going to have to worry about the sides warping going to be a lot of condensation in that one though. Might want to check for mold often. |
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wuertele
House Bee
Joined: 29 Jan 2014
Posts: 11
Location: Menlo Park, CA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Invision wrote: | | going to be a lot of condensation in that one though. Might want to check for mold often. |
I have already noticed significant condensation. Since I have insulated panels closed all the time (except for when I peek), I expect the temperature of the glass to be similar to what it would be had I built the hive out of wood. The main difference here is that the glass is not porous, so no condensation will be absorbed. I think lack of absorption may actually reduce the incidence of mold. If there is enough condensation it will drain into the bottom section which I can choose to vent or not. The venting is stopped with foam right now, which is very porous, and the air here in N. California is pretty dry, so I am not too worried about mold. |
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Houstonbees
Guard Bee
Joined: 25 Jul 2012
Posts: 84
Location: Houston Tx, USA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Well....ummmm.......ugh......hmmmm......interesting. |
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MikeRobinson
Foraging Bee
Joined: 01 Apr 2012
Posts: 201
Location: Upper Northwest Georgia, USA
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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Seems a bit odd to me, yes, "here in the steamy South," but ... what the hey, bees are sturdy and resilient. (After all, they manage to survive in glass-walled "demonstrator hives" in food-stores and beekeeper-shops and science-museums everywhere.) 
(And actually, in California, it's probably a very safe bet. Been there, too. Done that.)
Somehow, the Girls manage to find a way to put-up with our "bright ideas," regardless. Mmmmm....?
Enjoy your bees!! |
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biobee
Site Admin
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 1063
Location: UK, England, S. Devon
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Dexter's shed
Scout Bee
Joined: 16 May 2014
Posts: 307
Location: Grays, Essex, UK
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 9:39 am Post subject: |
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that's truly a work of art, I'm presuming you work in the glass industry,
my only advice would have been wax starter strips in those top bars, but will be good to see pictures/video in a month or two time |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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