Materialliste

Moving bee colonies can significantly increase honey yields by transporting the bees to where they can collect nectar. However, moving the colonies is very labor-intensive and usually requires an assistant to help carry the hives. Since the bees have to be moved in the early morning hours, it is often difficult to find someone to help.

The BeeMobil is therefore the ideal solution for any migratory beekeeper. It can be lifted by one person using an off-road jack and loaded onto a trailer. All colonies remain in the hive. Only the entrances need to be closed and the colonies secured with straps to prevent them from shifting.

Assembly instructions

Substructure:

The two long rectangular shaped tubes are welded to the two shorter ones to form a frame (instructional video on welding a frame). For reinforcement, the third shaped tube is welded to the frame in the middle. A 10 mm diameter hole is drilled in the center of each of the four short square shaped tubes, into which an M10 nut is then welded. These are used to secure the uprights using the M10 x 20 mm hexagon bolts. The short square shaped tubes can now also be welded to the frame.

For each of the four uprights, a round shaped tube is welded to a square shaped tube at a 90° angle. The frame and the four uprights are then galvanized with the stair components.

Stairs:

For the stairs, the short rectangular shaped tubes are welded to the U-profiles and two short square shaped tubes each. A 10 mm hole is drilled into each of the short shaped tubes, and an M10 nut is welded to it. This serves to secure the small uprights. For the small uprights, a short 20 mm diameter tube is welded at a right angle to the center of the 100 mm x 100 mm sheet. The stair components are then galvanized.

Floor:

For the floor, the 2 m long formwork panels are sawn to a length of 1.9 m. The first formwork panel is then fixed flush with the outer edge of the frame using two screw clamps. Two holes with a diameter of 5 mm are then drilled through the formwork panel and the steel frame on both sides and in the middle and then countersunk using a countersunk drill so that the countersunk screws can then be screwed in flush with the floor. First, however, threads must be turned in all holes using an M6 thread cutter. The formwork panel can now be screwed to the frame using 6 M6 countersunk screws. This is how all the formwork panels are screwed to the frame. The last one must of course be sawn to the remaining width.

Side reinforcement:

The 4 m building boards are sawn to a length of 3.2 m. 6.5 cm squares are sawn out of the two bottom corners using a jigsaw. The building board is then fixed to the frame flush at the side edges and at the bottom edge using two screw clamps. A total of seven holes with a diameter of 10 mm are drilled at regular intervals through the center of the steel frame and the building board. To countersink the M10 cylinder head screws, each hole must be drilled about 10 mm deep using a 16 mm wood drill. The M10 cylinder head screws are now pushed through the building board and the steel frame and screwed tight with a washer and nut.

Body construction:

In the next step, 1.99 m high uprights are attached at right angles to the floor at all four corners and in the center using connecting brackets. Two additional uprights are also attached at the front and rear, spaced at the width of the door.

For the roof structure, two planks are sawn to 3 x 1.9 m and cut into an arch using a jigsaw or band saw. This arch is then connected to the uprights using 140 mm screws.

To increase lateral stability, two additional cross braces are inserted into the front and rear walls. (See image of walls.)

To achieve a height of 25 cm for the platform, the two side reinforcements are raised by 10 cm. For this purpose, a construction board is sawn to two 100 mm wide and 3.2 m long. 5 cm squares are sawn out on the top side flush with the edge posts, in the middle, and on both sides flush with the center posts. The cross battens for the platform are then inserted here.

All six posts are now reinforced with a second piece of structural timber so that the wainscoting for the walls can be attached directly.

Podium:

For the platform, we need 12 pieces of 55 cm square timber and 12 pieces of 18.5 cm square timber. These are sawn from the remaining construction timber. The 55 cm long pieces of square timber are sawn out on one side so that a tenon measuring 5 cm x 5 cm remains. These then fit exactly into the notches in the side reinforcement. The other end is connected to the 18.5 cm square timber using a 140 mm screw. This should create a slight slope towards the entrance hole. Now 20 mm boards or 27 mm 3-ply panels can be laid.

Walls:

To ensure the top and bottom of the structure are the same length, a 3.32 m long construction timber is first attached to both sides. 12 3.32 m long wainscoting boards are required on each side. The first wainscoting board is installed flush with the bottom edge of the frame. The entrance hole is cut out at a height of 15 cm on the third and fourth boards. After the tenth, three layers of 15 cm wide wainscoting boards are attached to the sides and in the middle. The eleventh board is cut out to create a window width of 44 cm. The last board then needs to be sawn to the appropriate width.

For the front, 28 wainscoting boards are needed, each 54 cm long, and two 2.03 m long, plus a scrap piece for the arch.

For the back, we saw 10 wainscoting boards to a length of 2.03 m and 12 to a length of 54 cm. For the third, we saw a 50 cm wide and 15 cm high entrance hole in the center, 26 cm from the ground. The hole for the window must be 94 cm x 94 cm and at a height of 1.03 m from the ground.

Door:

The door is inserted and screwed to the controls. It should have some space, as it can expand slightly due to moisture.

Roof:

First, the middle panel is attached with three screws. The front canopy is slightly longer than the rear at 40 cm. Now, another panel can be slid underneath on each side and screwed in place.

Window:

For the windows, 13 mm spacers are first sawn from the round bar and a 5 mm diameter hole is drilled. The windows are mounted with sheet metal screws.

Trim strips and roof reinforcement:

For added beauty, aluminum trim strips can be added to all four corners and the door frame. The side canopy is reinforced with wooden wedges.