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Don't want a heavy wooden nuc or just want the fun of recycling/re-purposing something that ends up at the recycling plant? Make these light-weight 5-frame nucs from political signs (or other) after they are no longer useful for their original purpose.  You may see some metal duct tape in these photos, but primarily the purpose of the duct tape was to hold a hinge or corner in place while I burned holes and zip-tied it solid. I left the tape there, but could have removed it. However, metal duct tape is good if you wish to seal a seam or join panels that are too small to allow folding of all corners and bends. This is my first prototype. I will be making improvements on then second one I make. You can modify these to suit your purpose... add porches, nuc entrance dials, landing pads, or however you wish. I chose a hinged lid, you can just make a separate/loose lid, etc. etc. If you have ever seen old political signs discarded, you will notice that they hold up very well to the elements and probably will last as long as unpainted or painted wooden nucs.
 On this 3-Frame version I left a little bit of a landing flap at entrance end.. plus I made a little slide gate to close off (or open) the entrance hole.
9 Comments
Melly
4/6/2017 07:14:07 pm
Looking good, how do they handle the heat? I made one up but used Iight wood for 'framing' and learned they get too warm in the heat of the summer, although I think I didn't have enough ventilation holes. 4/6/2017 08:28:51 pm
Ideal temperature is about 92 - 95 degrees. The bees expend a lot of energy evaporative cooling hives down to the ideal temperature. I do not allow hives to get too many hours of afternoon sun and the bees will fan the entrance to circulate hot air outside the hive. Position hives so they receive at least partial shade in the afternoon if possible (full sun okay for most of day, morning, early afternoon). The corrugated plastic light-colored signs provide trapped air spaces and do not transmit heat readily from outside to inside. Burning (or drilling) some 3/16" holes in the plastic sign board near the top around perimeter can help, but I prefer no ventilation other than entrance due to hive beetle access through vent holes. It is rare that we have 95-degree weather here and usually not a problem. Make sure there is an established, permanent water source nearby for use by the bees to evaporative cool should temperature reach 95. These nucs are (as are most nucs) a temporary home for growing the colony for transfer to larger 10-frame. I have had no overheating, wax melting or comb breaking problems to date. 11/7/2018 11:52:03 pm
These same nucs (made from the political signs) are still working fine in the Florida heat and sun and have little to know deterioration. Not even fading. Holding up better than my purchased white commercially made nucs made of the corrugated plastic. 11/7/2018 06:33:25 pm
Thank You so much for this idea!! all of my neighbors are giving us their signs!! 11/7/2018 11:56:39 pm
Should be a bunch of signs available now that the mid-term elections are over. I also use them as covers for top bar hives. Just lay a 2x4 or a couple of bricks on them to keep them from blowing off. They are holding up well. Hope you get some good use out of the "free" signs.
Paul
11/8/2018 06:22:12 pm
Love to see a quick video or step by step photo- great idea!
Matthew
2/27/2019 07:56:13 pm
I also would love to see a video! I just got 58 of the 4’x4’ political signs from the gentleman who won office. I just need to see it done! Leave a Reply. |
Dennis RiggsRegistered FL Beekeeper and Live Bee Removal specialist, Natural, Treatment Free, Alva, FL Archives
May 2022
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