This post explores the specs and characteristics of a 38mm thick OATH style hive box.
There are many reports or concerns from beekeepers living in areas that experience extreme cold and heat and prefer thicker hive boxes. Could a 38mm hoop pine box satisfy the requirements?
Photo shows 38mm top, 33mm middle, 25mm bottom
Staying with the OATH dimensions of 200mm x 280mm with a frame height of 98mm and using 38mm hoop pine the volume of each frame will be roughly 2.5 litres. Two frames make up the standard OATH having a volume of 5 litres plus a honey super at 70mm high will give the total hive box volume at 6.7 litres which still sounds reasonable for a hive box.
I have ongoing temperature testing on this site where we compare different thicknesses and materials so we’ll add this one to the mix. A lighter hoop pine should give us better insulation properties than thick hardwood. In the testing the best insulation is a foam cover but it’s a complicated dance between good insulation and too much insulation that can actually keep the colony cold in Winter.
First box made with 38mm – more updates to come…
