Source for #7 hardware cloth

[David LaFerney]

Don't give up on that just yet.  I built mine last summer using #6 and a few bees do get through it, but not all that many.  Except once when I had a lot of robbing, which I put a stop to by reducing the entrances.  I think that controling the SHBs is more important than the few bees which you will normally lose.

All that being said, If I can find any #7 I'm going to change the ones that I have and use it to build some new ones as well.  Even losing a few bees is too many if it can be avoided.  If I can't find any #7 I'm going to use #8 on the new ones and run them side by side with the ones I already have for a real comparison.  I still think that some of the bigger beetles won't go through #8 though.

If anyone out there has a role of #7 hardware cloth I'd love to buy some if you can spare it.

[Robo]

You just missed the Brushy Mountain free shipping   I took advantage and got another 100ft roll.  Hopefully that will last until next December

[David LaFerney]

You just missed the Brushy Mountain free shipping   I took advantage and got another 100ft roll.  Hopefully that will last until next December

Do they have #7?  I'm only seeing #8 and #5.  My local store stocks #8 so that's my backup position if I can't find what I want.

[Robo]

My bad,  got #8.

[Meadlover]

Don't give up on that just yet.  I built mine last summer using #6 and a few bees do get through it, but not all that many. 

An update on my #6 stainless steel mesh -  it's working a treat with not one bee through it yet!
Thanks for the encouraging words David, seems that in theory #6 doesn't work, but in practice it works great, for the 2 of us anyway 

A note to add here is that the supplier I got my #6 mesh from has 3 different #6 meshes, the difference being in the wire thickness, therefore the aperture size. The 3 different aperture sizes are 3.3mm 3.0mm and 2.7mm and the one I am using is the largest of them at 3.3mm aperture.

ML

[Intheswamp]

WARNING...this is a reply to an older thread...Sorry to resurrect such an old thread, but I'm curious if anyone ever came up with a good source for #7 mesh wire?

Thanks,
Ed

[100 TD]

I too have made a SHB trap with #6 stainless mesh, no problems with bees going through. 3.3mm aperture, just need to find a cheap supplier.

[Lazy W]

I also would like to know if anyone has a source for #7 mesh.

[Ray Bayless]

DAMMIT! the design I used from here is no good then:
http://www.greenbeehives.com/

The mesh needs to be large enough so the beetles fall through easily (#6 .035 aluminum or galvanized steel, where #6 means 6x6 wires per inch and .035 is the diameter of the wire) and too small for the bees to get through.

 

That's what I use too. Find a bee every now and then, lots of SHB. #6 galvanized mesh works well.

[Lazy W]

I ordered #7 from Simpson's. It should be here Tuesday.