Beekeeping

[CloverKnollFarms]

No, when something killed all dad's hives at the same time he quit. I never pursued beekeeping, instead I hired on at Westinghouse Electric.

I'm a retired pilot, so I finally have time to go all in on my beekeeping hobby. Planting an acre of phacelia next week for them

 

[RayIN]

I'm a retired pilot, so I finally have time to go all in on my beekeeping hobby. Planting an acre of phacelia next week for them

BTW, I live near Bloomington IN.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

BTW, I live near Bloomington IN.

I'm only a short drive from you! Up in Putnam County

 

[BackRoad]

I live in PA, but went by your exit a few weeks ago while on a trip to OK. Actually thought about stopping to see if you had any honey left!

You live in a nice rolling hills part of IN...but a bit close to Indianapolis for my "living far away from humanity" self.

Seriously looking forward to reading about your bee escapades this year! I find it hugely interesting...bees are pretty amazing creatures.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I live in PA, but went by your exit a few weeks ago while on a trip to OK. Actually thought about stopping to see if you had any honey left!

You live in a nice rolling hills part of IN...but a bit close to Indianapolis for my "living far away from humanity" self.

Seriously looking forward to reading about your bee escapades this year! I find it hugely interesting...bees are pretty amazing creatures.

That is awesome! I have a couple bottles in reserve... I saved the darkest honey for my special stash.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

About 200 pieces cut, 200 more to go...

 

[RayIN]

I'm only a short drive from you! Up in Putnam County

Been through there many times, it's the shortest route from my house to I74. Long ago I used to camp at Leiber SP and Cagles mill. I live just inside Greene county from Bloomington. Had an aquaintence that lived there, Bob Laveneau.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Been through there many times, it's the shortest route from my house to I74. Long ago I used to camp at Leiber SP and Cagles mill. I live just inside Greene county from Bloomington. Had an aquaintence that lived there, Bob Laveneau.

Oh yeah, we are like 2 miles from Lieber. Small world.

 

[drumminj]

About 200 pieces cut, 200 more to go...
View attachment 2942359

I suspect this has already been asked+answered, but what do you shape those with? Router? Scroll saw?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I suspect this has already been asked+answered, but what do you shape those with? Router? Scroll saw?

2x6, I lay on its side, and taper with a 1” wide dado blade on a table saw. Then rip into 3/8” bars

 

[drumminj]

2x6, I lay on its side, and taper with a 1” wide dado blade on a table saw. Then rip into 3/8” bars

Thanks. That sounds far more efficient!

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Thanks. That sounds far more efficient!

I leave a couple thin strips on each side, to stabilize the board as I carve out the rest of it. I also run the board through a planer first, to make sure they are completely flat on each side, before I start, and exactly the same thickness

 

[ponytug]

2x6, I lay on its side, and taper with a 1” wide dado blade on a table saw. Then rip into 3/8” bars

Do you have a photo? I'm sure this is obvious, but I'm having trouble visualizing it. 2x6x30"?, 6" side flat on saw?

All the best,

Peter

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Do you have a photo? I'm sure this is obvious, but I'm having trouble visualizing it. 2x6x30"?, 6" side flat on saw?

All the best,

Peter

Yessir, they are about 16” in length. So the 6” flat is laid down on the saw. The dado bade .25” depth of cut. I have a mark on my fence so that I know where to stop the taper. I don’t have a photo sadly.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I'm buying enough wax foundation to prime 450 more frames.

I used to build maybe 3 hives per year, and maybe 60 frames per year. Now I'm looking at 12-18 hives per year and about 400 frames per year

 

[ponytug]

Yessir, they are about 16” in length. So the 6” flat is laid down on the saw. The dado bade .25” depth of cut. I have a mark on my fence so that I know where to stop the taper. I don’t have a photo sadly.

Thanks! I was a bit curious on how you were executing the stop of the taper. I'm impressed at the repeatability, and care of your work. The SOP binder seemed very en pointe for a former pilot somehow, at least to me. (I'm not a pilot, but I am a fan of the training and SOPs in use in aviation, especially the flight deck.)

Thanks for the thread!

All the best,

Peter

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Thanks! I was a bit curious on how you were executing the stop of the taper. I'm impressed at the repeatability, and care of your work. The SOP binder seemed very en pointe for a former pilot somehow, at least to me. (I'm not a pilot, but I am a fan of the training and SOPs in use in aviation, especially the flight deck.)

Thanks for the thread!

All the best,

Peter

Yeah, after two decades of flying and training pilots, I'm very much in tune with repeatability and SOP

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Tilled so that we can plant an acre of phacelia this week.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Also built some new swarm trap mounts using French cleats