How to make a beehive from polystyrene foam with your own hands using Finnish technology. Styrofoam beehives Production of polystyrene beehives

The bees are beneficial insects that require careful maintenance. Naturally, they live in families in specially designated places - beehives. The latter can be made from any material. However, Styrofoam beehives have become very popular today. Naturally, they have their own characteristics, pros and cons.

Advantages and disadvantages of the presented designs

Among the advantages of such products are the following:

Easy to manufacture, so you can make even the most complex design yourself;

Light weight, due to which the hives are easily transferred from place to place (in this case, in some cases, it is necessary to cover the product with something heavy so that a sudden rush strong wind couldn't take it down)

Low cost that quickly pays off;

Possibility of quick repair;

No need for additional insulation, as the material of manufacture has excellent thermal insulating properties.

However, a polystyrene foam hive, a drawing of which you can make yourself or look in books, has certain disadvantages:

Low level of strength;

The need for additional protection from mice and rats (although, in principle, they do not eat polystyrene foam);

If the product has weak spots, then the bees can easily gnaw through it.

What materials are needed for work?

Before you make a beehive out of polystyrene foam, it is advisable to assemble the entire tool and pick up suitable material. So, you will need:

1. Expanded polystyrene for beehives (extrusive). Moreover, you can even use the materials that you have left after buying a large household appliances. You should buy polystyrene foam painted in a certain shade, which is used to insulate buildings. Usually it has a homogeneous structure. It costs much more than regular foam, as it has higher strength. The thickness of the sheets should be about 3 cm.

3. Liquid nails or other strong adhesive. You can also use mounting foam.

4. Fine sandpaper.

5. Sheet metal profile for the roof of the hive.

6. Ventilation grill.

7. Metal frames, on which, in fact, the bees will settle down.

In principle, such tools and materials are enough to make a box.

How to build a structure correctly?

Naturally, in order to properly make a beehive from polystyrene foam, the drawing must first be drawn on paper. Of course, you can find a ready-made sketch, but in your own you have the opportunity to take into account everything necessary details. Now you can start making the product.

So, it’s easy to build a beehive from polystyrene foam with your own hands. First you need to carefully prepare the sheets of material. Cut out blanks of the required size from it. Pay attention to the edges of the cuts: they should be even. If during operation they turned out to be a little crooked, then this drawback can be quickly removed with sandpaper.

Cut blanks should first be tried on to each other, and then glued. To do this, you can use either or any glue that will fix the elements well. If even after that there are gaps in your design, then they can be closed up mounting foam. The extra parts, respectively, will need to be cut off so that the frame becomes neat.

It is advisable to leave the glued cases alone for 24 hours. During this time, all parts will stick well to each other. After that, all parts of the frame that will be installed one on top of the other must be rubbed in from above and below. Further, making a beehive from polystyrene foam with your own hands is very simple. All cases are glued together, taking into account the fact that on the front and rear walls it is necessary to build folds for the hangers of the frames. It is desirable to attach small wooden planks to them. It is on them that the frames will be established.

The roof of the hive is built last. To do this, you can use polystyrene foam, plywood, metal profiles or other materials that, with their weight, will not destroy the frame itself. If the roof is too light, then you can put some kind of load on top of it.

In order for your product to last a long time, it is desirable to have all the expanded polystyrene, which will be under constant influence sun rays, paint with paint. Naturally, it should not have a strong smell, and you should choose a product without toxic substances in the composition. The fact is that bees are very sensitive insects. Choose a water-based paint that does not contain acetone or other irritants.

Also make sure that the body joints do not have slots. Otherwise, unnecessary noise will reach the bees, excess light will seep through. Such factors can seriously disrupt the microflora in the hive.

If you bought material for the manufacture of the product, then you should stock up on a few extra plates.

Features of the operation of structures

It is not too difficult to make a beehive from polystyrene foam with your own hands, it is much more difficult to use it later. Very important point is the ventilation of the structure. In spring and winter, the grate should not be closed too tightly, despite the fact that the expanded polystyrene can “breathe”. In summer it should generally be somewhat open, especially in hot weather.

In principle, the product does not require additional insulation; in extreme cases, you can use an ordinary plastic film.

It should also be noted that the presented structure has a high degree of fragility, so it is necessary to lift it loaded with honey very carefully. Naturally, make sure that the material is not affected by negative atmospheric influences.

Features of cleaning the hive

Having built a beehive from polystyrene foam with your own hands, you should not forget about regular cleaning and disinfection of the body. To do this is quite simple. You need to wipe the walls of the case with a cloth soaked in the solution detergent. If necessary, for processing, you can use an alcohol infusion of propolis.

If any infection has appeared in the family, then a weak solution should be used. After treatment, it is advisable to rinse the body well with clean water and dry it in the sun.

In organic natural conditions, bees lived and live in tree hollows. At the dawn of beekeeping, people settled industrious insects in logs - wooden "cylinders" obtained by hollowing out the core of a log. Later came the era of wooden beehives. The pinnacle of evolution has become a polystyrene foam hive that can provide the modern bee family with the most comfortable living conditions, and for beekeeping professionals - the availability of production.

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What it is

The good idea to replace the traditional tree with expanded polystyrene (EPS) first appeared at the end of the last century among the Finns. The reason for this was the harsh climate of this northern country, which is why the second name of the new bee housing is Finnish hives.

Styrofoam hives



pros

Compared to wood products, beehives made of PPS have a large number of impressive advantages. The main one is the low thermal conductivity (8 times lower than that of wood) of this material, which:

• allows you to provide even in severe frosts the bee colony with warmth, without resorting to any additional measures;
• minimizes the energy consumption of bees for heating;
• increases the productivity of the apiary.

In the hot season, PPS-walls do not allow overheating inside, maintaining the optimum temperature.

However, low thermal conductivity is far from the only advantage. Expanded polystyrene houses have additional advantages:

1. 1. Differ in minimum weight, which greatly facilitates their transportation and installation. So, a beehive with 7 floors will weigh only 10 kg, while its wooden counterpart will weigh at least 40 kg.
2. 2. They let in enough sunlight so that the bees do not feel a lack of light.
3. 3. Due to the extremely low moisture absorption coefficient, they are not affected by moisture and are not destroyed even during prolonged use in conditions of high humidity.
4. 4. They do not deform, so damaged parts can be easily replaced with new ones, which is impossible in wooden hives, the geometry of which undergoes significant changes under the influence of the sun, rain, frost.
5. 5. Do not have sharp corners and parts that can hurt you.
6. 6. Sufficiently strong, although they are inferior to wood in this parameter.
7. 7. Easy and convenient to manufacture and assemble.
8. 8. Able to provide enhanced ventilation when it is needed (during the main bribe).
9. 9. Available in production due to the cheapness of polystyrene foam.
10. 10. Do not allow harmful microorganisms to develop on the surface.
11. 11. Differ in ecological cleanliness.
12. 12. They have an attractive appearance and decorate apiaries.



Minuses

Not without drawbacks, many of which are a continuation of the advantages:

1. 1. Light weight, which helps to transport and install Finnish hives, turns into a disadvantage during their operation, since the weightless structure made of polystyrene foam can tip over even with a slight gust of wind.
2. 2. The zero coefficient of moisture absorption saves the inhabitants of the hive from the ingress of dampness from the outside, but also does not get rid of moisture, which is the result of the vital activity of bees, which accumulates inside.
3. 3. The ease of processing polystyrene foam was appreciated not only by people, but also by bees: as soon as a tiny ray of light penetrates through some gap, they immediately begin to gnaw an additional notch in this direction.
4. 4. Difficulties also arise during disinfection in the hive: the blowtorch, which is used in this case for wooden hives, is not applicable here. You have to purchase expensive preparations that will clean the walls without entering into a chemical reaction with polystyrene foam, will not be able to harm the bees, or, once in their body, subsequently migrate to honey.
5. 5. The high temperature in the hive causes the bees, in comparison with the inhabitants wooden houses become more active and consume more food.

All of the above shortcomings will not be able to interfere with either beekeepers or bees, if you remember the features of the Finnish hive.



Design nuances

Outwardly, the PPS construction is similar to a conventional wooden hive, but when creating and installing it, it must be remembered that the floor in the polystyrene foam hive is made of an aluminum grate with cells of no more than 3.5 mm, which serves for ventilation. A retractable tray is installed under it, which makes it possible to regulate the air flow, enhancing it when you need to lower the temperature in the hive or get rid of excess moisture.

The lower mesh also serves as protection against small rodents and insects. Lattices are also installed between the cases: they are needed to collect propolis. From above, the product is covered with a lid designed so that the hive can be ventilated. You should take care of a special bar for the notch, which will regulate its size and, accordingly, air circulation.

When installing a purchased product, it is necessary to connect all the elements as tightly as possible to avoid gaps. When self-manufacturing, it is important that all parts exactly match the drawing, do not have distortions and irregularities. It is imperative to protect the ends of the PPS parts with plastic overlays: polystyrene foam will not crumble, and it will become much easier to keep the hive clean.

You will need to firmly fix the house. The simplest way used for small structures - put a brick on its roof (for high beehives consisting of several buildings, you need to choose a more reliable option, such as a wire bracket).



The easiest way to secure the hive cover

Components for the construction of a polystyrene foam hive can be purchased at the store, Finnish “beeboxes” are especially popular now, in which everything is provided for the convenience of both bees and the beekeeper: gratings for collecting propolis, feeders, anti-swarm systems, etc.

How to make a Finnish hive yourself

The Styrofoam hive consists of three main parts, for the manufacture of which you will need sheets of extruded PPS 5 cm thick - a body, a roof and a base.

To make a hive with your own hands, you will need the following tools and materials:

• pencil;
• glue;
• sharp knife;
• a ruler with a length of at least a meter;
• wood screws;
• plastic corners (15x15 mm) to protect the ends
• glue for PPS (you can "Titan");
• water-based paint;
• assembly foam.

When calculating how much material is needed for production, it is important to consider that products are multi-case and can have up to 7 floors.


1. 1. PPS sheets are marked with a pencil with a small allowance. The markup should be as accurate as possible.
2. 2. Using a ruler and a knife, blanks are cut out.
3. 3. Their edges are cleaned with sandpaper (for this, an allowance is needed). All surfaces must be absolutely even and smooth, otherwise a tight connection cannot be achieved.
4. 4. Grooves are made on the walls, where frames will subsequently be inserted.
5. 5. Glue is applied to the joints, the parts are connected and fixed with self-tapping screws, which are screwed in to a depth of 5 mm. The distance between the screws is 11-12 cm.
6. 6. Possible glue drips are removed.
7. 7. It is advisable to make recesses in the back and front walls with a knife and paste handles cut out of the remnants of polystyrene foam into them: in the future they will come in handy when you have to disassemble the hive.
8. 8. The product should dry for about a day, after which its walls are slightly processed with emery without undue pressure. At this stage, it is necessary to check the hive for tightness and, if cracks are found, close them with mounting foam.

Examples of drawings of a one-story hive:

Details	Drawing image

Now you can proceed to the final operations:

1. 1. Fix the plastic corners on the ends.
2. 2. Install a frame inside each of the housings.
3. 3. Lay aluminum mesh on the bottom of the hive and on top of each body.
4. 4. Put on the cover.
5. 5. The finished hive should be painted on the outside. Water based paint ideal for these purposes, as it is non-toxic, incapable of destroying polystyrene foam and will protect the product from minor damage, extending its life.

Beekeepers who already have experience in operating Finnish hives recommend making several spare parts at once, or at least leaving polystyrene plates for their subsequent manufacture. They can come in handy since the Styrofoam product is not able to withstand strong impacts.

Finnish hive all year round

Since Styrofoam walls are unable to absorb moisture, the thermoregulation and ventilation of a PPS hive differs from that of a hive made of hygroscopic wood.

In summer, the notch and the hole in the bottom open completely, providing a constant movement of air from top to bottom. If there is a dividing grid between the hulls, you will need to drill the upper notch, otherwise it will be difficult for the bees loaded with nectar and pollen to get from one hull to another.

In the spring, the bottom should be closed completely, the entrance should be covered, reducing its size to an average of 3 cm. If there is no special bar, a piece of foam rubber can be used for this.




During the first spring flyby of the bees, the hive is usually cleaned in this order:

1. 1. With a chisel, excess propolis and dirt are carefully removed from the walls.
2. 2. A weak solution of caustic soda is prepared, and the inner surface of the hive is treated with it. For this purpose, you can also use an alcoholic solution of propolis or sunflower tops diluted with water. You can also purchase a store-bought preparation intended for disinfection of PPS beehives.
3. 3. After treatment, all surfaces are washed with clean water and dried.

In winter, the bottom opens completely, the size of the notch is about 5 cm, the roof turns over. Air moves from bottom to top. The upper surface of the frames is covered with a film (but a gap must be left on the sides for air movement). Moisture from the breath of the bees will collect on it and on the walls of the hive, and then drain into the hole in the bottom.





The use of special pillows or insulation is not required.

Beekeeping is considered a conservative branch of the economy. The best place residence for bees has always been a wooden hive, as it is closest to the natural conditions of their habitat. A beehive made of polystyrene, expanded polystyrene is an innovation and the pinnacle of evolution in this area. Such a place of residence for bees is comfortable, and a person does not bring inconvenience in maintenance and care.

Peculiarities

The period of appearance of polystyrene foam hives (PPS) falls on the end of the last century. The idea to build this type of housing for bees appeared in connection with the harsh and cold climate in Finland. This type material - foam - creates a comfortable microclimate for bees and helps to increase their productivity. In practice, it has been shown that Insects adapt to foam hives much easier and faster than to wooden hives.

In the manufacture of XPS, extrusion technology is used. In a specially designed chamber, plastic granules are melted. Further, a solid, closed cellular mass is produced from them, which is held together at the molecular level.

In this case, oxygen or gas is used as a heat insulator, which is enclosed in small cells.

In finished form, foam boards are very dense and durable.

There are models that capable of withstanding pressures of several tons. A striking example is hives from the Lyson company, which are in great demand among users, so they are quite easy to use. The material of their manufacture is reinforced foam of good quality. There are a large number of holes in the case, so the temperature and humidity are always optimal inside the product.

PPS loungers are very popular, especially among novice beekeepers. Their peculiarity lies in the horizontal frame expansion of the nests. Also, when using these devices there is no need to drag the structure, which farmers like very much, does not require effort and time.

Advantages and disadvantages

If you compare foam hives with structures made of another material, you can notice a lot of differences. The advantages of dwellings for bees from PPS include the following:

• low noise level;
• cost-effectiveness and lack of large financial investments during construction;
• light weight and easy transportation;
• reliable protection of bees;
• optimal microclimate, i.e. in winter it is warm in the dwelling, and in summer it is cool;
• no decay;
• easy assembly procedure, as well as replacement of elements.

The disadvantages of foam hives are:

• the need for a weighting agent due to the ease of construction;
• short period of use;
• the possibility of deformation and insufficient strength;
• the inability to collect propolis, since the foam tends to crumble;
• poor breathability;
• fire hazard.

Dimensions and drawings

The dimensions of the hive will be influenced by the characteristics of its design. For self-manufacturing frame house for a family of foam bees, you can use the following options: Dadan, multi-hull hive-lounger.

You can make a ten-frame Dadan yourself by following the drawings that are attached to the article. In this case, the thickness of all the main parts is 5 cm. The body is assembled from the following elements:

• front and back walls with a length of 55 cm, a height of 32 cm;
• sidewalls - 37.5 cm long, 32 cm high;
• lower edging - front and back, the length is 61 cm, 10 cm - height, 3 cm - thickness, in the side part, length - 47.5 cm, 10 cm - height, 3 cm - thickness.

The inner part of the case is characterized by a thickness of 45 cm. The folds for honeycomb frames should be cut on the upper part of the front and rear walls. Their dimensions are 15 by 15 mm.

If desired, a corner made of metal, such as aluminum, can be attached to this part.

The cover consists of the following elements:

• roofs - 53.5 by 61 cm and 3 cm thick;
• cover strapping - front and back length - 61 cm, height - 5 cm, thickness - 3 cm, dimensions of the side parts - 53.5 cm in length, 5 cm in height, 3 cm in thickness.

Bottom dimensions are as follows:

• floor - 60 by 37.5 cm, thickness - 5 cm;
• ventilation hole - 20 by 30 cm;
• two side elements - 65 cm long, height - 13 cm, thickness - 5 cm.

It is worth taking into account that the dimensions of the inner part of the hive must be selected according to the dimensions of the frame. Often the standard width is 43.5 cm. The type of bee house affects the height of the structure.

The dimensions of the hive-bed are as follows:

• length - 108-120 cm;
• width - 58 cm;
• height - 50 cm.

This type of housing for bees is able to accommodate 24 honeycomb frames, which measure 43.5 by 30 cm.

In order to prevent damage to the foam, it is worth using wooden inserts.

Manufacturing instructions

If the farmer is willing with my own hands make housing for his bees, then he must prepare polystyrene boards standard size, liquid nails or glue, self-tapping screws with a length of 5 cm, metal corners (15 by 15 mm), fine mesh for ventilation equipment.

In order to make a beehive for bees with your own hands, you should be guided by such an algorithm of actions.

1. Sand each of the parts in sections using sandpaper.
2. On the front, as well as the back wall, select the places where the comb frames will be located.
3. For boron evidence, it is worth using glue. Self-tapping screws should be used as additional fasteners. The beekeeper must observe a pitch between self-tapping screws of 100-120 mm.
4. Handles are cut separately. Their installation takes place with the help of glue, while it is necessary to pre-cut recesses for them on the side parts.
5. When the insect house is ready, it must be tightened with straps until it dries. If defects are found, they can be covered with mounting foam, joints and cracks are processed in the same way.
6. When the design is dry, you can proceed with the installation ventilation mesh at the bottom. The gluing of metal corners to the folds and slats takes place on the wall recesses, which are prepared in advance.
7. To improve the appearance of the evidence, its outer part is painted with a water-based emulsion paint.

1. Proper ventilation. In the summer, it is worth keeping open not only the entrance slot, but also the bottom window. But, in case of lack of fresh air, the farmer can cut through an additional upper window with dimensions of 30 by 30 cm. This entrance not only promotes ventilation, but also makes collecting honey much easier. IN spring time the window at the bottom should be closed, and the entrance door should be closed, leaving only a gap of 3 cm. In winter, all the entrances are clogged, but the ventilation on the floor remains open.
2. The presence of canvas. The polystyrene house is equipped with a piece of polyethylene film, which helps protect against drafts and also collects condensate. Bees prefer to lick water droplets and thus quench their thirst.
3. Strengthening during transport. PPS evidence must be secured with straps during transport. Bricks, which are laid out on the bottom of the structure, contribute to additional stability.
4. wintering insects. In the frosty season, the evidence must be on the street. Nest insulation is also not needed. This microclimate favors early spring flight.

If about 50 years ago, beekeepers used only wood for the manufacture of hives, but today the 21st century offers a large selection of materials. Of course, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, such material as expanded polystyrene is already in great demand today. Do-it-yourself drawings and videos presented in our article will help you make beehives from polystyrene foam with your own hands.

What should be the hive?

If we evaluate evidence from expanded polystyrene, then this is, first of all, lightness and good moisture resistance. This housing is easy to work with, requires little maintenance, and is perfect for a variety of applications. climatic conditions. For the bees themselves, such a house is also very convenient, because it is always comfortable and quiet in it. In addition, a very important advantage of such hives over wooden ones is that all its parts are interchangeable and durable.

Expanded polystyrene is a good modern material, durable and lightweight, and unlike polystyrene, it does not crumble.

But for hives, it must meet certain requirements. First, it must be environmentally friendly, that is, safe to use. The material must be smooth and uniform in thickness. To do this, you should choose only reliable manufacturers who guarantee quality. To make a beehive from polystyrene foam with your own hands, you need to have material, tools, drawings, a little time and effort. How to make it yourself, let's talk in more detail. The video will also help us with this.

How to make it yourself?

You can find expanded polystyrene today in many hardware stores, this is a fairly popular material. Many still make their hives from solid sheets of foam plastic in the old fashioned way. But you can also find ready-made parts made of expanded polystyrene, so you can choose for yourself the most suitable option. We will only note that it is much more convenient to cut polystyrene foam than wood. It is easily cut with an ordinary clerical knife, and fastened with self-tapping screws and glue, which you will see in the video.

Dimensions

The dimensions of homemade hives are well represented by the drawings. Therefore, its manufacture will be even easier for you. However, you can choose any suitable size, more convenient to operate in your apiary. Therefore, choose any suitable option. For example, multi-hull hives, sunbeds, single-hull or double-hull. You should always remember that the hives should be comfortable not only for the bees, but also for you to work with.

• Double-hull hive with extensions (all parameters are presented in mm): height - 1200, width - 445, width of the top of the roof - 491.
• Multi-hull hives: height - 1260, bottom width - 375, roof width - 445, side - 520.
• Single-hull hives: height - 671, width - 722, side - 565.
• Sun bed: height - 640, bottom width - 870, top width - 916, distance between entrances - 440.

Required Tools

To make making hives with your own hands convenient, you will need:

• Extruded polystyrene foam 50 mm thick (Penoplex, TechnoNIKOL, Ursa and others);
• Stationery knife;
• Pen for notes;
• Ruler metal;
• Glue "Titan" or any other for similar material;
• Self-tapping screws 5 and 7 cm;
• Screwdriver or screw driver;
• plastic corners 15x15 mm;
• Metal grid for ventilation in the bottom with a cell of 3.5 mm.

Step-by-step instruction

1. We study the drawings and with the help ballpoint pen or a felt-tip pen, we mark up our material. This is clearly visible in the video.
2. With a clerical knife, cut out the necessary details along the marked lines. Everything should be done carefully so as not to damage the polystyrene foam during operation.
3. We fasten the parts using glue. First, we glue the parts, smearing both edges, and then fix them with self-tapping screws for greater strength.
4. It should be made very carefully and carefully so that there are no gaps and gaps. This will disrupt the internal microclimate.
5. Be sure to make a special mesh ventilation in the bottom. See the video for more details. What hives should be ready-made is also represented by a photo.

Drawing of a homemade case

Bottom drawing for a homemade hive

Video "U pour with your own hands»

In this video you can see the step-by-step production of evidence from modern material one of the amateur beekeepers. How to fasten parts and how to assemble them, everything is clearly visible in this material.

Today, even a novice bee lover who does not have special skills will be able to independently build a beehive from polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam at no special cost. However, there is no unity among beekeepers regarding the use of modern synthetic materials.

There are heated discussions on the forums about the construction of such hives. Someone is in favor, and someone adheres to conservative views, arguing that better than wood find nothing. Therefore, it is worth considering this issue in more detail.

Expanded polystyrene (EPS): pros and cons

Polystyrene plastic, including expanded polystyrene, as well as its denser extruded version - EPPS (foam or styrodur), is actively used for the manufacture of a wide variety of products in many areas: in construction, food industry, medicine and others. Its use in beekeeping is gaining more and more adherents in Russia and other CIS countries every year.

Consider the main trumps of supporters of the use of teaching staff:

The first advantage of the material is its ease. An ordinary wooden hive without bees with 12 empty frames weighs an average of 25 to 35 kg. The mass of a similar housing made of PPS is about 3-5 kg. If we calculate the total weight with full frames and a bee colony (one 450x450 frame with honey weighs 3 kg, a colony weighs up to 8 kg), then the advantage of a polystyrene foam dwelling is obvious - 48 versus 79 kg.

Secondly, ease of material handling. This factor can often become decisive: neither complex tools (grinders, planers, woodworking machines, etc.) nor the art of using them are required. When using PPS, you can only get by with a metal ruler, construction knife with a set of blades and glue. You can assemble the structure anywhere, even in a city apartment, and without any noise and debris - shavings and sawdust.

Third, ease and speed of repair. The damaged area can be cut with a blade, cut off a piece of the desired shape and size from the plate, and then use glue to seal the hole with it.

The next argument is availability. Extruded polystyrene foam boards are always on sale in building materials stores, their cost is relatively low.

And finally high degree of thermal insulation- the ability of PPS to retain heat is several times higher than that of wood. This feature allows insects in such hives to winter in the open air and survive frosts without problems. Practice shows that even weakened families successfully endured wintering.

At the same time, list of cons also great. One of the biggest disadvantages is a certain brittleness of the material. The strength of expanded polystyrene is much higher than that of ordinary polystyrene, but, nevertheless, beekeepers often have to deal with characteristic problems:

• damage to the body of the hive during transportation or loading. Even a weak blow can cause a crack or lead to a hole;
• damage to the body outside by domestic and wild birds (especially chickens, woodpeckers and tits), as well as mice and shrews;
• damage from the inside by insects - the bees themselves, which can gnaw on walls and joints, moths (gnawing passages inside the plates), etc .;
• difficulties in carrying hives (especially full ones). Traditional methods of equipment with handles cannot be applied in this embodiment;
• difficulties in cleaning the inner walls from traces of diarrhea, propolis, etc. - it is impossible to use a chisel, it will also not work to burn with fire;
• negative consequences of transportation. Given the condition of Russian roads, shaking on potholes and pits leads to the fact that, due to insufficient rigidity of the body, the distance between opposite walls can increase and frames with honey and brood often break off the folds and fall down.

A serious drawback (and for some, perhaps a plus) is reduced hygroscopicity. Expanded polystyrene walls do not absorb moisture. Condensation collects inside the hive, which flows to the bottom.

It is worth adding that such an advantage as low weight can threaten the danger of tipping the hive with a gust of wind.

Since the bee houses are outdoors (under the sun, rain, hail and other precipitation), constant exposure to ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes can lead to their rapid deterioration, so it is necessary to cover the outside of the body with paint. Here another problem arises, which is that not every paint will be suitable. Alkyds and oils can react chemically with PPS, so the best option will use a water emulsion with pigments.

You can learn more about the pros and cons of PPS hives, as well as some of the properties of this material, from the following videos:

Thus, an unequivocal answer to the question of whether beekeepers should abandon wooden structures and there is still no switch to PPS. In principle, everything is simple - if it is profitable and convenient, then you can try it. If it is connected with overcoming difficulties and material costs, it is not necessary to rush and chase after new products, especially since bees have always loved and continue to treat wood well.

Making a beehive from polystyrene foam with your own hands: what you need to know

Having considered the listed pros and cons, each owner can take advantage of the strengths of this material and think about how to negate the existing shortcomings.

Design features and drawings

The design of the Styrofoam hive differs from the standard wooden one. When starting its construction, it must be remembered that the microclimate in the nest will turn out to be completely different. So, the heat-saving properties of the material make it possible to do without warming in the cold season, and in the summer heat they create comfortable conditions for insects. Due to strong condensate, a lap is not needed here, a film is used instead. Water flows down the walls and further out through the notch and the grated hole in the floor, so it is advisable to provide a slight slope towards the notch. Air will circulate through the lower opening and a fully open notch, which will provide ventilation inside.

The design shown in the photo includes four main parts: two hulls, a bottom and a roof.

1. Frame

The lower parts of the hulls are girded with "skirts", thanks to which the line of joining of the hulls is covered and tightness is created, and a notch is formed - a gap 10 mm high between the bottom and the lower "skirt".

1. Roof

Given the oversized dimensions of the roof, in order to save material, it will have to be “growth”.

Necessary materials and tools

For the manufacture of a two-hull hive, you will need:

Material	Name	Characteristics	Quantity
PPS sheet	Penoplex, TechnoNIKOL, URSA, etc.	1200x600x50 mm	4
		1200x600x30 mm	1
		1200x600x20 mm	1
Glue	PVA, "Liquid nails", "Titan", "Cobra", etc.	Liter jar	1
Metal grid	Cells no more than 3.5 mm		1
self-tapping screws	For wood	3.8x55	1 package
		4.2x75	1 package
Dye	Any	water emulsion	1 bank
Additional materials (optional)
fiberboard	-	15x450x3 mm	4
Plywood	-	610x610x6 mm	1

From the tools you need to take:

• construction knife with a set of spare blades. You should pay attention to the fact that the blade itself is as large and massive as possible, has a secure fastening and does not “play”, otherwise the cut line will be crooked (stationery knives are not suitable);
• metal meter ruler (can be replaced with a metal level);
• pencil;
• screwdriver;
• fine sandpaper;
• brushes or rollers for applying glue and paint.

Step by step work

At the first stage, it is necessary to mark up the teaching staff sheets:

When marking, it is advisable to leave an allowance of 3-5 mm in case of uneven trimming. This will make it possible in the future to achieve a perfectly flat surface with fine-grained sandpaper. The marking of the figured cutout on the sides of the bottom must be applied on both sides. This will help avoid inaccuracies when cutting. The marking of the ventilation hole (180 by 280 mm) on the bottom should be applied in the center of the future nest.

Second phase- cut blanks and prepare them for assembly. To do this, firmly pressing the ruler to the surface, the sheet is cut gradually, with soft movements, without trying to cut off a large piece at once. The knife must be held at a right angle. After cutting, it remains to remove the flaws with sandpaper.

Third stage- on the front and rear end walls, you should choose folds (450x15x15 mm). If the beekeeper wants to protect himself from the destruction of the folds when removing the frames (the bees can fasten them with propolis), you can stick a strip of fiberboard so that the hangers of the frames rest on it. In this case, the allowance should be increased by 3 mm.

Fourth stage- arrangement of a ventilation window with a grid. The hole must be cut out carefully, since the removed bar will be needed in early spring to cover the window in the floor to keep warm. After the future plug is removed, it is necessary to measure 10 mm from the edges of the hole, make cuts to a depth of 25 mm and carefully remove the resulting frame. Then cut off a piece of mesh (300x200 mm) and insert tightly into the window on the bottom. The outer edges of the frame should be treated with glue and inserted back. Then fasten each plank of the frame with self-tapping screws 3.8x55.

Fifth stage- hull box assembly. You need to start assembling from the walls. Apply glue to the edges of the facade wall, attach the sidewall to it and press the surfaces to be glued. Then connect to the back wall. After that, fix with self-tapping screws (4.2x75). After gluing, it is important to ensure that the surfaces of the upper and lower ends of the case are perfectly flat to avoid gaps. To do this, you need a lapping table - a flat sheet of plywood (100x100 cm), pasted over with sandpaper. You need to put the body on the lapping table and, gently pressing down, make several semicircular movements, then do the same operation on the other side.

Sixth stage- attaching the "skirt" to the body. Start with the side wall. Apply glue to the sidewall of the "skirt" (50 mm along the entire length) and attach to the sidewall of the box. After that, fix with self-tapping screws 3.8x55. Then the same must be done with the rest of the details.

seventh stage- assembly of the second body.

Eighth stage- bottom assembly. All operations are similar to the previous ones.

Ninth stage- lid assembly. Before proceeding with the assembly, it will be necessary to overcome some difficulties in cutting the sheet. Standard PPS sheets have a size of 600x1200 mm, here you will need a square blank 610x610x20 mm. It is important to understand that the PPS sheets that go on sale have folds on both edges, and the specified standard size does not take into account the protrusion of one of the folds - 15 mm. This moment will allow us to solve the problem in two ways.

In the first case, you can use the factory fold. To do this, you will have to cut the sidewall for the lid not 50 mm wide, but 65 mm wide, select a 35x15 fold from it and dock it with the lid using glue and self-tapping screws.

After that, you need to cut off the extra 5 mm from the opposite side of the workpiece, cut out a strip 10x15 mm in size and seal the fold with it.

The second method consists in gluing PPS 15x15 blocks on both sides of the workpiece (after which you need to cut off the extra 5 mm).

Attach the side edges of the cover with glue and self-tapping screws.

Tenth stage- cut a bar 550x10x20 mm to close the notch.

After that, you can already collect all the prepared elements and start painting the product.

The entire process of assembling a hive from PPS with detailed comments can be viewed in the following video:

Tip 1. One of the main difficulties associated with carrying Styrofoam beehives, especially full ones. Most often, wide belts are used that lead under the bottom. For convenience, when carrying, PPS bars (10x20x3 cm) are glued on the front and rear walls of the cases. The upper body should always be removed in stages - holding the bar, lift one side, holding the skirt, then the other.

Tip 2. Difficulties that arise when cleaning internal surfaces boxes - to prevent mechanical destruction, it is recommended to clean as follows:

• gently scrape off the propolis with a chisel (without excessive effort);
• Rinse hot water with a sponge, rags, soft brush;
• treat all internal surfaces, including the mesh, with a 3% solution of caustic soda;
• wait about two hours and rinse well with running water;
• dry.

Advice 3. Practice has shown that it makes sense to additionally equip the PPS hive with a liner made of a solid sheet of plywood with a hole in the middle (70x50 mm) and sides (70 mm) made of expanded polystyrene. The liner can be used if necessary to feed the bees.

Tip 4. Many beekeepers recommend using PPS sheets 30 mm thick for the construction of the cover. A self-tapping screw can serve as a temporary fixator, which is manually screwed into the corner of the cover and the end of the housing wall horizontally. This eliminates the need for bricks and other weights that can gradually push through the lid.

Video

From the videos below you can get detailed information on how to clean the internal surfaces of the Styrofoam hives:

An avid gardener, beekeeper and gardener, he is not indifferent to dogs and cats and other pets. He spends spring, summer and autumn in the country and experiments in the beds. He likes to communicate with "advanced" summer residents and find something new and useful for himself. collects better ways blanks and recipes for cooking dishes from products grown by one's own hands. He is happy to share his discoveries and secrets with readers.

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