Beekeeping

[Torvy]

I came here to ask about extracting, but the workbench aside is very timely. I just bought lumber yesterday. 3/4 MDF for the top, on a layer of 2x6 and 2x4. I don't do fancy woodworking, just a basic shop bench. 4x4 legs with some steel braces designed for that purpose. I am no expert, so any advice is welcome. Circular saw, jigsaw, reciprocating...no table saw or fancy planers, etc. I've got more time than money.

 

[Torvy]

So, my beekeeping question.

Wife has a frame or two she wants to extract (1st year). Only part of what they've made.

She was looking at an extractor. Any thoughts, recommendations, etc.?

Not just on what to get, but cleaning, upkeep, whatever you care to share.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

So, my beekeeping question.

Wife has a frame or two she wants to extract (1st year). Only part of what they've made.

She was looking at an extractor. Any thoughts, recommendations, etc.?

Not just on what to get, but cleaning, upkeep, whatever you care to share.

Many companies make manual extractors (spinners). We typically just pressure wash ours and dry with a clean towel. It should be stainless steel, so corrosion isnt an issue.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

As for bench building. A miter saw on a stand would be awesome for the dimensional lumber cuts. Circular will do it, just not as repeatable.
My MDF I cut to size with a circular saw and a long straight edge clamped to the surface. That is how I break down all of my plywood too. I wanted to make sure the top was square, because I use it to lay out sheet aluminum for rooftops

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Traps are done. Aluminum work went faster than expected. Three roofs wrapped in 45 minutes!

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Had a friend over today to play with the bees. Pulled about 60 pounds of honey and sold him some bee equipment! Here is a shot of the inside of a new trap, with foundation on the frames and the scent ampules installed near the opening.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Enclosed a couple hives today! 10 more to go

 

[BackRoad]

First, Mr. CloverKnoll, that looks like some thoughtful, and detailed construction taking place...retirement is great!

1. Enlighten us armchair beekeepers on the 60# of honey...Is that your harvest for the season?

2. Looks like IN is mostly Zone 5, similar to us in PA. We're seeing frost at night and 70 degree days. How do the bees act with that kind of temp swing in this mid-fall season?

3. Have you tucked in all your bees and hives for winter yet?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Due to the drought and some new colonies struggling with that, I think we will harvest about 75-90 pounds. We had three late swarms and a split who will not be harvested from. I'll keep 10 pounds for us and sell the rest.

We have had a few frosts, but during the day it's so warm, the bees are quite active. Most colonies have already began to shrink and prepare for winter.

We will close them up for winter, by Halloween... Due to the early temps, I'm not in a hurry. I probably won't extract honey until about Halloween!

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Arguably all bee equipment is just a wooden box for an insect to live in. However I decided this week to make it my goal to build the best traps I've ever built. Planed the panels to smooth them and true them. If something is misaligned, I cut it and true it. This is the nicest trap I've ever built. Still needs the roof installed, but she sure is pretty. I'd love to wax dip or linseed oil this thing.

 

[BackRoad]

It's the tension of time...

In the normal workforce, anyone driven to provide the best quality work they're able to produce is typically working under tension with time.

For me, the time allowed to produce a new solution, write a contract, restore service, complete an implementation...whatever, was constantly decreasing over my 40 year IT career - it was a constant expectation to provide ever greater results in a shorter duration of time...and I accepted the tension of time knowingly.

Now retired, there's still a drive to provide the best quality work one can possibly do...but you now control the acceptable time to completion.

The pure satisfaction of doing something right, and seeing the results sky rockets, whether it's digging a ditch, mowing a field or building a beehive.

It's because you can now be in the moment, doing what you want to do, on your time schedule, at the quality level you decide. It's the best of times, because the oppressive tension of time has been eliminated.

Sorry for going philosophical...

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Well said!!

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Processed 12 more sheets of plywood this weekend, so the shelves are stocked with parts. Still have about 6 hours of cutting dimensional lumber, then assembly. This should fill all current orders and leave 5 new hives in stock for later. Time to hunker down in the shop for winter soon.

We will be pulling the last of the honey today, and closing up the hives tomorrow, for winter. That basically consists of a thick wool pillow over the brood nest.

 

[ponytug]

Processed 12 more sheets of plywood this weekend, so the shelves are stocked with parts. Still have about 6 hours of cutting dimensional lumber, then assembly. This should fill all current orders and leave 5 new hives in stock for later. Time to hunker down in the shop for winter soon.

We will be pulling the last of the honey today, and closing up the hives tomorrow, for winter. That basically consists of a thick wool pillow over the brood nest.

I'm envious of your productivity! Do you have photos of the wool pillows?

All the best,

Peter

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Parts and pillows.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Collected another 30 pounds of honey today. Got three hives closed up, three more to go tomorrow. Rough year for the bees, but that is nature when you don't intervene and let them sink or swim on their own.

 

[lsgreg]

Nice hive builds.

I usually buy used hives, clean them, and slap mistinted paint on them ...

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Nice hive builds.

I usually buy used hives, clean them, and slap mistinted paint on them ...

I would, but there aren't a lot of used Layens hives around

 

[lsgreg]

I would, but there aren't a lot of used Layens hives around

That's for sure.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Last of the hives were checked for resources today, some were given honey frames from other colonies. All got their wool pillows and were locked up. I'll see them in Late February