I'm not really sure who came up with this style of inner cover, but I discovered them from LazyBkpr when I was at his place... He says a beekeeper named Tim Wilbanks showed them to him... before that, who knows?
Anyways, the nice thing about this style is it has a shim built right into it for winter use. just flip it over and away you go. I like them because I use all mediums in my apiary, and with the extra space the one side provides, when feeding with mason jars, one medium is enough to cover the jars and be able to add the telescoping cover, something that is not possible with a traditional inner cover. I was finally able to get rid of the last of my deep boxes when these started seeing use!
**DISCLAIMER** I am using OSB for the inner portion of the cover. This is because it is what I had laying around, as I made these for the express purpose of this post, and didn’t feel the need to go out and buy new plywood or lauan, OSB it was. There have been discussions on the use of OSB for beekeeping woodenware in the past, and from what I have read, the chemicals that were most often cited were no longer in use for OSB after 2004. Another study stated that the highest emissions from the glue occur 6 weeks after manufacturing, so if you aren’t buying brand new stock, you should be good to go.
I personally wouldn’t use it, not because of a fear of chemicals, or degassing issues, but due to longevity. Once moisture gets in them and then winter hits up here, OSB never lasts too long after…
Anyway, on with the post!
Materials needed:
1x4 6ft long.
Flat stock at least 18 7/8” by 15 3/8”
Table saw
Glue
nails or screws
Rip the 1x4 down to 3". cut to 2 pieces at 16 1/4, and 2 at 19 1/8".
Dado the width of your material (1/2" in my case) 3/8" deep, and 1/4" from the bottom edge of each piece.
Rabbit 3/8" (1/2 width of the board) down 3/4" (width of the board) along the end of the 16-1/4" pieces.
If you plan on having an upper entrance, this is the time to add one. mark the center of one of the 16-1/4" pieces on both sides of the dado, and cut an entrance 1-1/4" wide by 1/2" deep.
Cut your inner cover material to 18 7/8" x 15 3/8". Mark the center for whatever hole you plan to cut.
Cut your hole. I do not use porter escapes, so I cut mine to take the mason jars i feed with.
The hole will just fit the cover of the jar...
Assemble the sides, with the board sliding into each dado. here is the "shim" side...
And the traditional 1/4" side.
