🔵3 way queen mating boxes! BIG spring expansion-gearing up for a busy spring!!!!
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- Hundreds of hours go into spring preparation!
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I have found that beveling the top of the outside handles so they drain away from the hive body extends the life of the handles. Extra step but worth the extended life. Mine usually last the life of the box.
Good idea.
@@jweaver7170 I've been doing the same thing, only 5°or so. Also cut the bottom of the handle the same angle in parallel. Makes for a better finger grip.
@@coreymatheson4132 I’ve cut mine that way for years. Great grip even with numb fingers.
I quit the multi section queen mating nucs.Beetles slime one and you cant hardly get them out and they end up in the next section and then the next.The holes up from the bottom and you cant get them out also.With a bottom entrance you could sweep them out with a small brush.But then what works for one person doesnt work for someone else.
You need to start dumping two gallons of diluted permethrin around each hive location in the evening.
Once a month or more frequent. You're making your own beetles bro.
Here in Australia, for those still using wood, the rabbit joints are more prevalent than the tongue and groove, although we have both. My experience is that the rabbit joint outlasts the other, because there seems to be less end grain to rot. I always added stainless dry wall screws to the top and bottom corners of all my boxes because this area gets more work. We glue everything, boxes, frames external handles etc with a propitiatory glue called liquid nails, then wax dip and paint while hot. With all this work to do is it any wonder that most of us have converted to polystyrene. When you add the labor cost they make sense.
Good thoughts
I like my Hitachi 1/4 crown. Last fall I bought a used 7/16 Dewalt gun and got 2" leg stainless for boxes and 1 1/4" galvanized for frames. Oh so nice. Only draw back is the weight of gun.
Great video as always
router under the handle and then you have a good grip. Loving your videos. Oh, pre-drill your screw holes to prevent the splitting of the wood.
OH, doesn't the propolis clog up the slots?
Yes you are right on all accounts. But we need speed and thankfully wax dipping should help alot with the rotting at the handles
I build a lot of boxes with the rabbet joint they work great. I particularly like how fast it is to make. I make feeding shims out of plywood so i dont use up my deep hive bodies when feeding.
If you want to avoid splitting why not pre-drill.
Speed. You are correct though
Nice video and thank you for sharing your insights us. Please don’t look again into that stapler where the staples are shot out.
I noticed one thing I had a question about: The middle divided nuc has a hole in the 'front' middle. If you make the adjustment to create only (2) nuc spaces with your divider boards, does the divider cut through the front hole, or are you offsetting it a bit? Great video, thanks!
I've got one of the Harbor Freight ones and I paid about 20 bucks for it. I like it. It does jam once in a while, but that's nothing I can't handle. Of course I'm not putting together as many frames or boxes as you are. Nice looking box. You've got me interested once again.
For the money they seem to be the ticket
You had a lot of those styrofoam(?) mini mating nucs stacked against the wall of your barn in another video.
Why did you decide to make your own from scratch?
Mini nucs are sensitive and these have more option other than mating queens. I had the wood lying around so I thought I would make these. We shall see how they do
Those harbor freight staplers are pretty good you just have to flood it with air tool oil pretty often.
Two (2) drops every time you start up.
I use a Freeman stapler and have never had any issues with it at all. I like this box design, make sense to have three mating nucs in one box. Thanks for sharing.
I like that HF stapler for frames. For boxes, not so much. I use a 15ga nailer for the boxes (as well as glue). Just my experience.
Thanks ! I'm just so tankfull for your videos! Both that Kamon share of himself that it is ok to do things so it works ok. But Most important, it is ok not to on top and perfect all the time. It is ok just to be one self. And that is a really good thing to share! So beautiful! Me and Tobbe just bought a miter saw, for making it easier to make boxes. And we have one staple gun that is to old so we are fixing a New one. We got 2 metal top/roofs that are not for hives from the beguinning but has a shape that made it possible for me to make 4 x 4frame nucs in the same box. So working on making space for those new Queens you gonna teach me how to graft this year Kamon 😉😁😎
Send some love to your family. Be careful of yourselves! There is Only you of you..... if you understand what I try to say that is so lost in translation here.... ( Swedish song, "there is only one of you and that is you") Lot's of love from Sweden!
Do the bees propolize the slots?
I have a friend that runs 130 of these for queen mating and never removes the inside dividers. At end of season he just stores them and then sets them back up in spring. He runs about 400 hives total.
Do you add vent holes with screens or are they not needed in Tenn area you live? It gets hot in Ga and I had vented mine in the past. Also I like the idea of three slots.
Thanks Kamon. My HF works like a charm. I just completed 100 frames and 5 deeps using a 3 year old nailer. While this is not much use compared to your usage, I’ve been very pleased with mine.
I finally built a jig that has helped tons in keeping boxes square.
Your video is coming at a good time. I need to built some mating Nucs next.
Thank you.
if you drill the holes before screwing there less likely to split the wood. love what you do man keep doing it
I’ll be repeating a lot of the comments, so here goes.
HF has worked well for me. I do use oil before every use. Just finished my 3rd 3 section mating Nuc. Those plus other 3&5 frame Nucs will more than work for my queen rearing needs.
Thanks as always for your videos.
I bought the harbor freight cheapie and love it
I did that to two 10 frame boxes this winter. I did use 3" blocks so bees don't walk to other entrance. I'm just waiting for spring. 16 degrees right now.
Nice hat Kamon Haha, I've been checking out your videos for about a week now and i think im almost done them all, i've been a beekeeper for 7 years and and looking to get to where your at eventually. So saying that your videos have been informative and great during my Canadian winter. I've been watching Ian stepplar for a few years and adopted his single deep brood system with great success( 2019 was 6 hives wintered, split up to 14 hive total, made 440lbs of honey to finish the year - Lost 10(+/- 1 to bad advice ->). But this year I pulled a rookie stunt and used some vinegar in my syrup for winter... Welp that was a terrible idea to adopt and now im near square one with the number of hives i have. Im defintely going to stick to Keeping it simple, having good queens and taking care of those mites. Thanks for making quality bee videos you two, much better then the quantity of BS on here. Cheers.
Love my inexpensive HF stapler👍. Also built a box jig this year, but now I want to upgrade it LOL. I built all my deeps to be a able to put a center divider for a Palmer Style Nuc. Great info thanks for sharing. I have vids of my builds so far, but I’m not a pro that’s for sure.
That's exactly how I make my boxes! Awesome. You have a great jig built for it and that's a great idea for me to add. Thx
I use a 10 frame deep with waxed masonite or thin plywood in the middle to separate it into two 5 frame mating chambers. Will use reduced entrances at each corner on one side, at opposite ends caddy corner to each other, when not using 5 frame nucs pushed together facing different directions. What I like about the halfed box 10 frame deeps is that you put in queen cells, let them mate and lay for 3 weeks, then have enough nurse bees to do it all over again. Plus if one side doesn't take pull out the divider and let the good mated queen lay across all 10 frames. Then half and repeat if the season allows. Plus a good way of banking single queens and not all together on one frame having a change for a virgin to emerge of the frames next to it to kill all of them alt once. I have seen this before with 5O to 100 in a commercial outfit. 👎 So you can use her for a failing old queen or drop into a box that needs more bees, brood, or to get rid of a drone layer in the late summer is always helpful. Works for me! Thanks for showing us how you do it. 🐝 P.S. I put 2" cleat handles on the front and back too, glue chalk them and order or make my boxes without the dadoed factory handholds. Plus I will shoot a nail or 7/16" staple a 1/2" longer than the thickness of the two 3/4" pieces and use screws too and painted them with oil based and soaked in linseed oil. Wax dipping is the new way to go now-a-days. 👍
Why would you use the cheap one over the matabo ?
Trying it out. The Hitachi I chose not to use it superior in everyway but it is 3 times the price I am trying the other one out so I can see if they would be good to recommend
If you mount your jig on a turntable you can spin the box around as you shoot the stables. You can order them from Woodcraft or other woodworking supply houses.
Thank you!! Your miss ups helps me on my screw ups.
You box building table needs a bolt through it so it can swivel like a lazy Susan. That’s how I did mine. Stand still and spin the box 📦
Good
Avoid having the screws splitting the wood, by pre-drilling a hole just smaller than the screw diameter.
An extra step, but worth it I think.
I have a Bostitch stapler that is probably one of my favorite tools. Any thoughts on the bees propolizing those divider boards or slots closed making adjustment difficult?
have you used these boxes before and if so what kind of results have you had?
I have used similar boxes and they work well. Any system has its nuances. We will be showing you all when we use them how well they work.
@@kamonreynolds yes I've been looking to get some because I like the idea of having them for Queens and also to keep the bees tight because of the small Hive beetles my mortal enemies😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Kamon what was the material you used as the divider?
I make and run some of these for a couple of seasons but went away from them the ones I made the boards didn't pull out my first boxes the division boards do pull out but a pain in the arse to transfer a growing colony out of into a 10 framer. I use 3 an 4 frame singles now..
I started out with queen castle's, work good but give it about a month and those groves will be packed top to bottom with propolis and the partitions will be glued in place. You'll be cursing them if you ever want to swap them around. Good concept though.
If you mount this jig on a "Lazy Susan", you'll not have to shoot left handed. Just spin it around.
I build my boxes the same way also but the jig is definitely a must. Good video.
Thanks Kamon. I wonder how hard it will become inserting and pulling out plywood pieces after bees propolize them and grooves.
I am sure it will be fun especially in winter time. We shall see
Kamon, What about using 3/4 plywood for this to cut costs?
thanks for the video! would love to see how you build the inner cover/separators.
I use these too but mine are solid with 1/2" dividers screwed in.
I've got 6 and will build 4 more this winter. If you're using these "queen castles" you'll need lots of duplex hive bodies with nucs to stack onto them. You build up to 4 over 4 deep frames then put it into a full size deep, put excluder on, super it, and rock n roll. It takes time but that's sustainable beekeeping.
would a bevel on the handle help them last longer? 20 degrees or so would also add a lip on the underside to grasp.
Please tell what the divider boards spacing is for a router to cut in a hive box that’s not grooved? Thank you...
How important is it to give them lots of space between bottom board and bottom of the frames?
I'm not sure what the problem was but i kept losing queens when the frame was too close to the bottom. I made the same setup. I stopped losing queens when i made more room at the bottom. The queens i had were laying.
Great idea thanks for sharing.
hello Kamon I am an Italian beekeeper I would like to ask you what you think about this 3-way system !! have you had any problems or are there any defects?have you had problems with propolisation of the grooves? I would like to try this system for raising queens
Compared to the Hitachi your going to be upset with the harbor freight one. I started with those and they work ok but not the best
I built one of these!! I had 1 hive last yr I have 7 hives yr 2
Is the wood treated because your not using glue, and no glue means end grains will fill with moisture and rot these out on a couple of seasons
I notice that you are placing your entrance holes considerably up a ways from the bottom board of your nucs and mating boxes. Seeing as how colonies are constantly removing their die off (hive clean) at every opportunity, it would seem easier for them to accomplish if they was not having to climb a wall with them first. So, with sorta that line of thinking, can you explain your reasoning for placing these entrances up where you do. Thanks
Can't wait to see all those bees!
Hey Kamon, do you glue your rabbets? Stu PS I like your jig, I plan on stealing it!
Hey Stu I do glue my rabbit joints I love strong equipment (since laurel is so rough with it lol)
I have a question about the Apimaye hives. (Can't find your video) Anyway I came across the Lyson polystyrene hives. At $200 CHEAPER for the Lyson...is there that much difference? Thanks
I am trying some poly hivrs out from bluesky bee supply this year as well as the apimaye. If you are wanting insulation they are a great option also.
@@kamonreynolds thanks. I checked them (bluesky) and since my wood supers can be utilized with those am considering that. I think most can be mixed n matched but these seem preferable. My intention is to keep the brood/colony cooler in summer and warmer in early spring when we have those cold snaps that are relentless some years. Appreciate your time and videos!
Nice and fast. Would love to learn more about the jig, looks great!
Thanks !!
Trying this out also gonna try to super a 2 queen colony using same box
You have a way of being super detailed, yet still not covering all of the details 😂 thank you. What size hole do you drill for the entrance?
That's a great setup. It's almost go time here in Texas. I'll be starting my 10 over 10 on the 22nd and will be grafting on the 3rd of march.
Good timing..I'm in SETX.getting brood boxes aired out now. The earliest swarm I caught last year was on feb 22
When I load my queen castles and put in my "ready to emerge" queen cell, how far do they need to be from the donor hives. It seems to me that the nurse bees on the brood frames that I pull are likely to stay with the brood, do I have to move them far away or would 10-15 yards be adequate?
Are these langstroth frames and deeps?
Yes deep langstroths
Didn't see your compressor but sure could hear it. The Fortress line at Harbor Freight are great and very quiet. Replaced my HF pancake with one of them. Now I won't go deaf.
The Ultra Quiet Series I should have added.
Thx Jeff for the compressor mention. My HF pancake is loud and acting wonky. Time to replace. Quiet is good
Kaymon, are you using 2 or 3 individual lids for nucs?
Good Morning! Kamon if I would want to order a queen from your apparently gentle stock do you do single orders? New Jersey...
Backyard Bees NC thanks kind of thought so.
Hi Christina. We won't be selling queens till late May since the first 300 will be for the nucs we sell. After that, we sell in large orders to save time hopefully in the future we can do smaller quantities
Thanks
اشهد ان لا اله الا الله واشهد أن محمداً رسول اللّه
I have an older version of that HF stapler. It doesn’t have the push down safety, so you have to be careful with it. That’s a good idea to make them for two or three. Thanks for the video.
Great video
What kind of wood do you use as the dividers?
It is a partical board. I will have that info in the next video on them
You can also use 3ply
Does a fine job
Great video and thanks for sharing I am going to try to make me one of those.
Hoping to experiment with these this year. Are the dimensions in another video?
Not yet!
Great job Kamon, can't wait to see them in action!
Handles 5 staples and glue you aren't breaking it lifting full of honey
Nice box good job!
drill a pilot hole, then it won't split.
I love jigs and I like the way you incorporated it with the handle alignment too! That I never thought about.
I thought something was wrong with my ridged staple gun this winter, until I realized my daughter had unplugged it. lol
LOL
Having never owned a stapler, Does the HF stapler accept other manufactures staples? Are they typically generic? Great video, as usual. Really helps both the new bee keeper and those bee keepers who want to go a step further like me. What other equipment do you suggest? Just bought a table saw and getting ready for the season when the weather gets warmer here in Connecticut. Cheers
Kamon, what's your opinion on the 4-way mating nucs?
I prefer the 3 way ones. 4 will definitely work but are harder to maintain. Less room for them to store feed and they will swarm out of them faster. Advantages are there are less frames to hunt the queen down on
@@kamonreynolds That makes total sense. Your channel has helped me navigate the beekeeping hobby. I think I want to try both and see how it goes. I'll put the builds up on my channel, let me know what you think? Thanks again.
@@robwildfieldhoney send me a link when you get done and I will check it out
@@kamonreynolds The video is up: ua-cam.com/video/0VVmbFRWDsM/v-deo.html
Let me know what you think.
👍
What length and brand Staples do you like?
I have been using the hitachi staples. Now they are called metabo. 1/4 inch crown 1.5 inches long and 18 gauge
O man we have jigs for everything. Makes work much beter. Just the year i was thinkin i'm in front of them and the spring starts NOW. Got so much of those boxes to doo 😨😨🥵🥵
how long does the wax last and does the sun play a factor
Hey Kamon- what do you use for the dividers here and what size is the groove? Thanks!
Happy New Year 🎆
Looks like masonite board
I think Kamon called it particle board. Looks like what we call masonite in Aust. We call particle board - chip board, cause of the little wood chips, its not good for anything structural or exposed to any moisture. I've used thicker masonite for lids and bases it's called weathertech? And 3ply would be fine for the dividers - light and cheap.
One more thing. What is the spacing of the divider cuts other than the center one?
I love my queen 🏰. Can't wait to put them in action.
A particular brad nail? ?mn
Rust proof?
Have you ever lived down south? I’ve never heard anyone from north say “fixin too” lol. This Texan loves the videos, keep em coming sir!!
Nick - I never thought about it, but to you Kaymon is a northerner! Hahahaha!!! That’s hysterical. For me up here in Washington, Tennessee is down south.
That being said, my grandad was born and raised in Wyoming and always said “fixin to”. So I grew up saying it also. And I’m definitely a northerner! LoL!!!
I thought he lived further north than Tennessee. He is pretty much a southerner for all intensive purposes
I was born in Indiana but my dad was raised in Mobile AL. I am a hybrid of sorts which makes life fun. I am more of a southerner i would think... not that it matters. There are bums in all states north and south.
@@Nick-jr6qe half of Texas was populated by Kentuckians and Tennesseans, where do you think you got your dialect from? It wasn't from the original inhabitants...habla?!!!
My great-great grandparents are buried in Temple, Tx....they went there after the war of Northern Aggression ended, from Kentucky. My grandmother from the other side of my family was born in Dallas in 1912. My ancestors from both mother and father have connections with Texas...but we're all southerners from Kentucky. There was a fellow by the name of Jefferson Davis that was born here....ever hear of him? He became the president of the short lived Confederacy. Other bit players in that fracas from Kentucky were generals John Hunt Morgan, John Bell Hood and Albert Sidney Johnston....plus at least 36 more. Most of the CSA armies of Tennessee were commanded by generals from Kentucky. Hmmm.
So, yes....I think Kamon is definitely in the south.
@@kamonreynolds you are such a world citisen! Easygoing, full of joy and humorous jokes! Easy to understand and follow! Making my beelife so much more simple!
These work. Be ready to expand . I recover from my winter losses incredibly quickly by raising my own bees using the swarm cells in spring. It's too ez. We should all do it this way. I have been for years.
Little chilly to be out in the woodshop. Did you accidentally let us know who your soon to be ex employer is?
Ha Kamon can u do a video of what you do in the spring time inspections. I have watched a lot of videos from bushy mountain bee farm they thought in the inspection bring the brood down just do not rotate the boxes checker board the frames this helps prevent swarms. Treat asap for mites feed asap 1-1 sugar syrup, I live in virginia I go in my hives every 10-14 days checkjng for swarming cells.I also have my suppers on the production hives by april first for the flow and stop feeding when the supper are added.. The weaker hives I continue to feed and do splits with them using mated queens store bought.. I would like to know what u do thanks God Bless and have a great day