Bendigo Annual pack down day, one for the diary

[prestonpaul]

MARK IN YOUR DIARIES

 BENDIGO BRANCH VICTORIAN APIARISTS’ ASSOCIATION INC.
 PLEASE MARK YOUR DIARY
 Annual Pack-Down Day
 with the addition of a Winter Working Bee with instruction in Bee Gear Assembly
 As with last year the day is intended to be for newer beekeepers wishing to learn the skills of assembling and maintaining their bee gear to have some hands-on assistance.
 Come along and be part of ...a group of like-minded people, enjoy the fellowship as well as satisfaction in mastering another skill.
 A great opportunity to have those questions answered.

 WHEN: Sunday28th April 2013.

 WHERE: R & E. McDonald’s, 15 Sawmill Road, McKenzies Hill, Castlemaine.
 Highway B180. (Please note - there are two Sawmill Roads in Castlemaine.)
 VicRoads Directory Map 59, D3.

 TIME: 10am to 4pm.

 LUNCH: A barbecue lunch will be provided at $10. per person.
 Tea, coffee and drinks available.

 ** Boxes will be wax-dipped (@ $5. per box ready for you to paint immediately – paint dries quickly due to the heat of the waxed box.
 ** Instruction on wiring frames, embedding wax foundation, wax coating plastic foundation.
 ** Fully assembled equipment will be available for sale.
 **How to build a small solar bees wax melter.

 HIGHLIGHT THIS YEAR –
 American Foul Brood (AFB) detection - Beekeepers Teaching Beekeepers
 • How to use AFB Test Kits
 • How to take slides samples
 • How to prepare Spore Test Honey Samples.
 • Details of how to claim compensation
 THINGS TO BRING:
 ** If you have a novice beekeeper friend who would like to share in the day, bring her/him along.
 *** There will be hives nearby for the usual open hive demonstrations, so bring your protective gear – hat, veil, gloves, bee suit etc.

 ALL WELCOME

 RSVP: by 12th April for catering purposes.
 Bill Shay, Mob. 0419 337 276 Email shaybill@hotmail.com
 Don McArthur 03 5449 3294. Email donaldmmac@iinet.net.au

[prestonpaul]

Bump! Next weekend!

[squidink]

Has anyone here been to a previous year Pack Down Day?

[prestonpaul]

I havn't been before, but there is a series of videos on youtube from 2011
http://youtu.be/Wah3zfgvmq0

[squidink]

Thanks for the link mate! It looks good, I have managed to get the Sunday off work so I'm going to go check it out!

[prestonpaul]

It was a great day.
 It was interesting to hear 2 different perspectives as to packing down, one saying go single or double depending on hive strength, the other saying put them all in to one box so they are packed in nice and tight to maintain heat.  I am now almost convinced I need to pack all my hives down to singles for winter.
It was good to see the wax dipping in action and I was impressed with the Blue Bees bottom board screen. I think I will build a couple of bottom boards using this screen over winter.  I don't have SHB problems but do have lots of condensation over winter so I'm keen to try it out.

[Michael86]

Very interesting Paul,
perhaps you can show me this, if i visit you 

Greatings
Michael

[squidink]

The wax dipper was excellent! A box dipped and 2 coats of paint in under 15 minutes!
Something worth investing in the future.

[prestonpaul]

Very interesting Paul,
perhaps you can show me this, if i visit you 

Greatings
Michael

You are still coming to stay aren't you?
I presume you are talking about the bottom boards. They are a very nice design and very well made. The inventor had me jumping up and down on one and it didn't make a mark on it.
Hopefully I will have a few in use by the time you get here.

[Michael86]

Of course i coming to stay with you.
And yes i was talking about the bottom boards, that would be very great to see.

Greatings Michael