Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[biobee]

Many people ask me where to get suitable mesh for the floor of their hives. The stuff I used 5 years ago no longer seens to be available in the UK, and alternatives seem hard to come by.

The ideal would be a strong mesh made from corrosion-proof material, that can be sterilized if necessary, and that will lay flat and keep out wasps, wax moth and other nasties. It needs to have holes between 2.5 and 3.5mm, to allow mites to fall through.

Likely materials are: stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminium, nylon, PVC/other plastics, more-or-less in that order (without reference to their environmental impact).

Until now, I have referred people to horticultural suppliers, as suitable screening meshes can often be obtained from them. Other possibilities include: builders' merchants, specialist mesh-makers (there are such places still, I believe) and I have just identified another source - needlework/craft suppliers. My local craft shop - I just discovered - sells a nylon (that's what it looks like) mesh in pieces cut to 10.5" x 13.5", which could be cut lengthways to fit across a 5" opening. I think it is sold for some kind of cross-stitch work, and has holes around 2.5mm square. It is made in the USA and is labelled 'Darice 7 mesh #33900-2 white'.

I was also told the other day of a stainless steel mesh of around 3mm that is used in the clay refining trade.

Another idea - discussed somewhere on this forum - is to use PVC plumbing tubes, mounted on a suitable rack under the floor, with 3mm gaps.

If anyone has other ideas, or sources of material, please post here!

[Ishamael70]

I used a galvanized hardware cloth that you can find at Lowe's (the 1/4" mesh works well) - not sure what the equivalent would be in the UK.

[biobee]

[Barry Jackson]

Hi Folks
From a previous post (63 of mine) for plastic coated mesh:-
The company is:- The Mesh Company, Unit 1, Farrell St, Warrington, Cheshire
WA1 2WW
Email - sales@themeshcompany.com
They will cut to your size.
Cheers
Barry

[AndrewM]

I used # 6 SS mesh that I bought here: http://www.twpinc.com/twpinc/control/product/~category_id=TWPCAT_12/~product_id=006X006S0350W48T

The holes are just small enough so the bees cannot get through.

Two problems. It's expensive, paid more for it than everything else combined. And I think small hive beetles can get through it.

If it wasn't for the small hive beetle issue (and the cost) it would be perfect.

I am debating what size to use on the next hive. I remember seeing a # 7 SS mesh in a catalogue last year. I may try that, if I can find it.

Andrew

[Tavascarow]

I've just consulted the google genie & come up with these two results.
http://www.brass-grilles.co.uk/wire_mesh_grille.html
http://www.johnstaniar.co.uk/stainless-steel-mesh.html
The second one I haven't contacted yet.
The first one has an online calculator that gives a quote & 127mm x 1200mm (5" x 47" brass or stainless) price is £16.30 per unit.
10 to 25 of the above & the price drops to £11.08 per unit.
Delivery is £12.50 regardless of quantity (UK mainland).
Wondering if we could set up a bulk buy & distribute between ourselves?

[Duboisi]

Ebay is our friend. Found these suppliers: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Black-Epoxy-Beekeeping-Varroa-Mesh-450mm-SQ-4-Pack_W0QQitemZ150422132892QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item2305db989c#ht_1150wt_783 or http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Stainless-Beekeeping-Varroa-Mesh-450mm-SQ-4-Pack_W0QQitemZ130374809388QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item1e5af1b72c#ht_1150wt_783

and http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/metaloffcuts__W0QQ_armrsZ1QQ_fsubZ7501356

Possibly this (not sure about the mesh size) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Windbreak-Plastic-Fencing-Mesh-Black-1mx30m-Netting_W0QQitemZ190379369156QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item2c537ea2c4#ht_500wt_800

Personally I think I would go for 1000mm x 125mm aluminum netting, as it should be easy to cut and has a nice lenght. If I were to make many hives, and the mesh size is correct, I would probably go for the windbreaker netting.

[Ishamael70]

[coventrykid]

Biobee says: It needs holes between 2.5 and 3.5mm to allow mites to fall through.

Andrew M says: And I think small hive beetles can get through it. (This was in reference to another mesh)

Question: Will Biobee's mesh stop small hive beetles?

[Ishamael70]

[dan1]

Some of the beekeeping suppliers sell squares of varroa mesh floors, 18" square for about a fiver (eg fragile planet ltd). I cut one of these into 3 strips which overlapping end-to-end make a decent 6" by 50" strip for a long TBH.

[Nicki P]

We bought the mesh from our beekeeping supplies - it is the same as they use for varoa screen so should be perfect. They sell it by the meter - it wasn't too expensive and is easy to cut and manipulate.

[Ozark Lady]

I just checked in my hobby supplies, I have 6 pack of multi colored plastic canvas for cross stiitch. It is 7 mesh. It cost me $.75 for the package with 6 sheets that are about 10x13".
There is white, flourescent yellow, hot pink, and purple... would color matter? Or is it only the hole spacings?
It is made by Uniek, Inc. Waunakee, Wi 53597

[biobee]

Oh yeah, colour matters. I mean, can you imagine bees with any taste at all wanting a hot pink floor? It just wouldn't go with their stripes!

[jtcweb]

Here in the US no one near me had 1/8" hardware cloth (why is wire mesh called cloth?) in stock. However the local ACE hardward was willing to order a roll, I just had to wait a week until the next truck came in.

[luvfunstuff]

I found this mesh in the gutter/soffit/fascia area at Lowes- a major chain hardware store here in the Midwest USA. It was about $9.00. It's made of fiberglass, so it's flexible & very strong. It measures 8 inches X 100 feet. There are 9 holes per linear inch. (exactly the 8 to 10 holes per inch that is recommended in the plans)

It is called "All Purpose VENT SCREENING" by a company called New York Wire - their motto is "Quality Screen Products for Every Corner of the World" so I guess they sell overseas too? (in UK?) they have titles and instructions in Spanish & French on the package too.

This mesh is designed to keep leaves out of gutters, and bugs & varmints out of vents in the soffits or louvers. I would still recommend applying 1/4 inch galvanized steel hardware cloth on the outside of the screen floor to keep out large hungry critters like raccoons or skunks.
Good luck all!
Michelle

[strider3700]

I went to michaels today and found #7 needlepoint mesh for $0.50 a sheet. That works out to 3.6mm spacing. I just overlapped the ends a bit and used 3 and 1/2 to cover the bottom so it was less then $2 to do it. That was for the burgandy color. White/black/anything else was 70 cents each.

[d_a_n_d_a_n]

Dear all,

just found some mesh 0.5m x 25m - white - plastic, on eBay - £14.

only problem is the aperture size is only 2mm x 2mm.

will this be OK or are the holes too small?

[biobee]

Adult Varroa will not readily fall through a 2mm mesh, being about that size themselves.

[Ivan]

[Norm]

Beg to differ! The adult mite is 1-1.8 mm long and 1.5-2 mm wide. I have used 2mm mosquito netting before. Of course they have more chance of latching on to a 2mm hole than a 3mm hole but I think it would still be useable.

[Gareth]

I like the wooden spoon approach. Like the old fashioned way of making a puree for baby food or similar. Probably highly nutritious......

[d_a_n_d_a_n]

again - thanks for your input, although the conflicting views make it hard for me to make a desicion!

just thought that at 0.5m x 25m at £25 that this was a bargain

do we have a concise answer - is 2mm x 2mm plastic mesh desirable or mearly acceptable(ish)???

HELP? please.

Dan

[Cacklewack]

While I don't screen my floors anymore, when I did I used 1/8 inch hardware cloth from a local hardware store. I may experiment with it again at some point.

Cheers,
Matt

[Norm]

http://www.themeshcompany.com/acatalog/Beekeeping_Varroa_Mesh.html

[d_a_n_d_a_n]

Cheers Norm

1 sheet will do a four foot Phil Kenyan!

Awaiting delivery now!

Thanks again!

[womblin3]

My, but they sting you with the postage on that site!

Thanks though Norm, I was having trouble finding suitable mesh. This solved the problem nicely for me.

[Judith]

I just installed a 3 lb package into a 4ft HTBH. Lots of bees, very gentle, released queen yesterday and everything seems to be humming along.
My question is, since the mesh floor is fixed on the hive and I have a closely suspended bottom board for potential mite counting, what about all of the dead bees (there seem to be many) which have accumulated on the hive floor?
Will they eventually haul them out? Its early days, so I would imagine they are concentrating on building comb. I feel as though I should have made the screen bottom "dumpable" so that I could clear it of the girls that expired in transport.

[biobee]

Bees will do their own housekeeping, given time, but I think there is a good argument for making floors openable.

[Judith]

thank you. "openable" is a much better word.
also, I noticed in one of your videos (installing laundry basket of bees into hive after a winter under cover) that you did not replace top bars on the outsides , either side of the follower boards. I would think the bees could then slip under the cover into the empty space? I suppose there would be no motivation for this...
And, how many days do you think I should wait before going in and checking for the addition of empty bars. They are currently enclosed in 7 bars.