Tweaked D.Coates Nuc Box

[duck]

Im about to start my building again as I have queens and need nucs for them now.  Sooo, I got to tweaking on the dimensions for the D.Coates style box.  I can build 6 nucs from one sheet of plywood.  I build the lids out of 1" x 3/4" strips that are scrap from my bottom board builds.  I also use a luan type material for the lids.  Anyway, here is the layout in google sketchup on the 4x8 sheet. enjoy

http://bigthicketbees.com/?page_id=434

oh yeah cut your entrances on the bottom edge of the front panels of course hehe, and Im using 1/2" blondewood from lowes.. I like a nicer sanded finish on em.  Its 29.80 a sheet soo it comes out to 5.00 a nuc box minus the lids.

Edit: I guess this should have been in that sticky above didnt see that.

[BlueBee]

Luan doesn't last long in our weather up here.  I looked for a photo on my computer of the mess it created here, but I couldn't find it.  Problem is the stuff delaminates something awful.  I used the stuff for some of my hive/nuc entrance tunnels.  I made them 9mm wide to start with and before long the dang luan started to delaminate and closed the things down to 5mm, and less.  A good queen/drone excluder/includer!

[duck]

yeah I used luan at first, then the lumber yard switched to a different material it is from a hardwoord and they are calling it hardwood utility panel.  I still call it luan even though it isnt.  I have been having good luck with it so far. of course I cover everything in metal.

[beeghost]

Thanks for the layout measurments duck!! Gonna build some nucs next weekend in preparation for spring splits!!

[duck]

ripping the sheet longways for the first three cuts is the easy part!  Its the others that are tricky.. a table saw can get away from you if not careful, i speak from experience!