Colorado Top Bar Version 3.0

#1 By: Tristan Copley Smith, October 28th, 2013 23:20

Version 3 of our Colorado Top Bar Hive is ready for review - please share any observations on the design. If you know anyone with expertise in the areas of woodworking, beekeeping or CNC fabrication, please invite them to participate in this design review.

Improvements include:

• Stabilised leg structure to accommodate the up to 200 pounds of added weight in honey (yes, bees can make that much in a single season!).

• Locking nuts changed to wedged mortise and tenon joints (peg in hole joints) for simple fabrication.

• Top Bar frames included.

You can see the 3D model here.

Please share any observations or potential improvements. So far, user @Boort has suggested an improvement to the roof of the design, outlined here

#2 By: Aaron Makaruk, November 11th, 2013 16:29

#3 By: Aaron Chapman, January 8th, 2014 09:09

I love this design, but how would a fella go about cutting it out without a CNC Router? Could you use a jig saw? I don't imagine it would be as neat or clean.

I would like to build one, but I lack a CNC Router

#4 By: Aaron Makaruk, January 8th, 2014 12:03

@redneckchappy you can definitely use a jigsaw - if you go for it, please take photographs and show us how it goes!

#6 By: Aaron Chapman, January 16th, 2014 00:50

I will give it a try when the weather warms up in a couple weeks. Do you happen to have a line drawing I can take measurements off of?

#7 By: Colten Jackson, January 20th, 2014 01:18

@redneckchappy Would it be helpful to you to just have a pdf of this design with measurements penned in? (As in, if you're not too adept at using the 3D software to take measurements, I could draw up a pdf for you.)

#9 By: Arthurlutz, February 4th, 2014 10:37

+1 on having a PDF of the design so one can print it out and cut out some cardboard to try it out and then print it out on multiple A4 sheets and do some manual cutting.

What thickness of wood do you use ? I think in the video you also mention spraying some product on the wood (and a particular type of wood), it would be nice to detail that t

#10 By: Ralf Baumann, March 26th, 2014 09:09

Hi guys,
I am new to this project and I really like what you guys do. There is a doubt on the design of the roof I would like to bring up. The connecting parts sticking out on top of the roof could stop water/snow from rinsing fast from the roof. In areas with not only sunny weather this will reduce life time of the roof and connecting peaces. Maybe the roof can somehow be placed on top and connected on the bottwon side to the sides.
Cheers,
Ralf