Design Features

Developed in 2003/2004, the main design problems to be overcome, were to fit with standard hive parts, give direct access to every brood frame, prevent the bees sticking the moving parts with propolis, or brace comb, and to avoid crushing bees when opening or closing the brood box.

To this end, there is careful control of bee-space and bees are prevented from gaining access to the working parts of the sliding mechanism, in the closed position.

 

 

 

 

In top bee space hives, space is limited, below the frames, by means of a flush slatted rack.

This fixture accurately locates the open ends of the outer case and prevents comb being built below the frames.

Space is defined above the frames, by another rebated, slatted rack, or a framed queen excluder. Excluders should have the grill flush with the bottom face of the frame, or the bee space can be too big.

With bottom bee-space hives, a rebated rack, to give the bee space, is fixed to the bottom and a flush rack limits the top bee-space. A  queen excluder is laid on this as it would normally be laid on the frame top bars.

MV Drawhives are produced in good quality exterior plywood.

Waterproof adhesive is used and all fixings are stainless steel or brass, for corrosion resistance.
The extending support rails are rated to carry 45 kg.( 100 lb ). These are zinc plated steel and, as they are greased, rusting is not a problem.

 

These brood boxes are effectively double-walled on three sides and provide good insulation.

 

© Michael Vesty 2006 all rights reserved. Patent pending

Drawhives are supplied treated with a fungicide, but need a wood preserver applied, to the outside, for long life.  

Ours are treated with ‘Cuprinol Garden Wood Preserver’.

 

Drawhive principles can be applied to all standard single-wall hive types, which use removable frames.