Author Topic: Robber Screen & Moving Screen (Read 23591 times)

iddee · « **on:** April 15, 2014, 07:50:25 pm »

I've had a few requests for my robber/moving screen, so here it is.

First, rip a 1X, two pieces, 3/8 in. thick the length of your entrance. Rip 2 more pieces 6 in. long.

Cut a piece of 1/8 in. hardware cloth the same dimensions and staple to the two long pieces.

Now staple or nail the two 6 in. pieces to each end, on top the screen' and staple the screen to them.

You now have a robber screen. The bottom board will prevent them from going under, so the only entrance is from the top. The house bees will adjust to it, the robbers will not.

Next, cut a piece from the edge of a 2X4, which is 1 1/2 in. thick, 1/4 inch and longer than your screen. Notch it on both sides to slide down into the entrance.

Open entrance.

Closed entrance for moving.

blueblood · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2014, 08:17:40 pm »

Thanks for posting. Looks fairly simple to build.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2014, 08:21:22 pm »

I have built a couple.. not quite like that but same principle.. but I used the aluminum window screen.. is there a reason to use the #8 Hardware cloth Iddee?? Its harder to get and more expensive so checking to see here.

blueblood · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2014, 08:38:37 pm »

Quote from: LazyBkpr on April 15, 2014, 08:21:22 pm

I have built a couple.. not quite like that but same principle.. but I used the aluminum window screen.. is there a reason to use the #8 Hardware cloth Iddee?? Its harder to get and more expensive so checking to see here.

I buy all my #8 hardware at Do It Best Stores. Reasonable too. Here is the closest one to you I think: http://waskohardware.com/

iddee · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2014, 08:47:04 pm »

The bees have to see it as a fence, not a wall. If they see it as a wall, they will find the entrance as quick as the house bees. I've never used anything other than 1/8, so I don't know about the screen.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2014, 10:47:26 pm »

Keosaqua is a little over an hour from here. Closest place I have found that carries it is in Iowa City.. 45 minutes away. Ace, True Value, Menards, almost every place around that USED to have it no longer even sells it because they don't sell enough of it so they dropped it from their product line..
Wal Mart and the big stores are wonderful until you cant get what you need at them anymore. They have already driven the mom and pop stores out of business that carried those kind of things so it just means were out of luck.. I can order it, but the cost of ordering and shipping I can drive to Iowa City and buy it and come out about 5 bucks ahead...
I will hold off on more screens until I try these. I do have some #8 left, not enough to make all the screens I need but enough to get started. Thanks for the tip Iddee and the location of Wasco Blue! Next time I go through I will stop in and see if they have it.

tefer2 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2014, 08:21:42 am »

Some True Value hardware stores carry hardware cloth. Make a few calls around.
I have a hundred of his screens made up. They work great and are easy to make.

Barbarian · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2014, 03:01:45 am »

1/8 metal screen is not easy to obtain here.

Would 1/8 plastic screen or clear acrylic sheet work ?

tbonekel · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2014, 06:38:53 am »

It's hard to find around here as well, even at the small mom and pop places still open and I need some as well. They have it on Amazon, I just haven't pulled the trigger on that yet. I would say if you can find the vinyl or plastic with the same dimensions, then try it out. I'm sure it wouldn't last as long. The bees would probably chew it up.

tecumseh · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2014, 06:47:15 am »

as some may know I highly promote these to new beekeepers trying to keep a few bees in urban areas. most of the time I hear reports of bees suddenly turning excessively defensive and these will quite often resolve this problem. for some reason it sticks in my mind that some time long ago iddee was the person who turned me on these.... at the time I had a problem with a small group of 8 hives that suddenly had turned hot. prior to this they had been setting in chest high weeds and when I knock this vegetation down they turned means and remained this way for the next several days. once the hives had settle a bit I ended moving all to another location.

CpnObvious · « **Reply #10 on:** May 22, 2014, 06:55:11 am »

1/8" hw cloth has become very hard to find... however... some sellers on ebay offer it a pretty reasonable price. OR here's what I did:

I checked a local mom+pop lumber yard (actually it's the one I used to work at and where I get all my lumber). He had a roll of it 3'x10'. The price was marked at $24 and the sticker indicated it was from 1998, if I remember right. It was the back saw room. Had more dust on it than I have sand in my sand driveway. I asked what he really wanted for it... that's right folks, I paid $13.99 for it.

There is a difference between being cheap frugal, and a smart shopper. Box stored won't wheel N deal. He took one look at it and said "glad to see it leaving".

tmrschessie · « **Reply #11 on:** May 22, 2014, 09:26:16 am »

...box stores don't haggle.... have to disagree with you on that one. My wife could not believe it the first time I haggle with a manager at one of the big box stores and walked away with several plants for her flower garden at a reduced price. Now don't try that at the beginning of the season but towards the end. LOL Tom

CpnObvious · « **Reply #12 on:** May 22, 2014, 11:42:15 am »

Quote from: tmrschessie on May 22, 2014, 09:26:16 am

...box stores don't haggle.... have to disagree with you on that one.

No disagreement... That's what I said. Only I have a typo so it says "stored", not "stores".

G3farms · « **Reply #13 on:** May 22, 2014, 06:01:21 pm »

I got a big roll from my local ACE hardware store. Check their online catalog, they will ship it to the nearest store for free.

riverbee · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2014, 07:26:49 pm »

yes, what g3 said, ace hardware carries it or would order it for you. i get mine from fleet farm.....or farm and fleet......

i have both moving and robbing screens, and make them myself.

tefer2 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 02, 2014, 10:14:51 am »

Best time to make these screens is now. Don't wait until robbing season is upon you!
We put ours on right after pulling supers in August.

tmrschessie · « **Reply #16 on:** June 02, 2014, 11:56:59 am »

Can you post bigger pictures and also of them installed? Tom

tefer2 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 02, 2014, 02:56:40 pm »

They do distort when enlarging the pics on here!
Maybe iddee can take a few shots up close to see the detail on them.
They fit in between the side rails of your bottom board.
You need some sort of method to fasten them to the hive body.
A couple of nails or screws, maybe even a bungee strap around the whole box.
Make sure you install them at night, after everyone is home for good.
They figure out the new entrance by the end of the first day.
That's unless your bees are stupid or blind!

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2015, 08:33:04 pm »

I am attempting to figure out how the notched piece works and where it fits to close the entrance? Does it LAY across the side boards and the notches fit over the boards on the screen?

This should be in the DIY section.. Took me forever to find it

iddee · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2015, 08:50:18 pm »

When the screen is mounted, the top between the two verticals is open. The bees go down the front of the box to the entrance. If you lay the closer flat against the front of the box and slide it down, it hits the two verticals. Notch it so it continues down enough to fill the entrance and stay in place.