> When I sell a nuc I want the customer to be able to drop it into a
> regular brood box and go. We don't want them to have to nurse it
> along for a couple more weeks. Time is too valuable.

I wonder if we are talking about the same nucs.  I also can't imagine
why anyone would use the ones I know about just for transport, since
they  are designed for making small splits early in the year to make
increase for the next year, and for wintering, not transport.

> They have other problems too. There is no mechanism to attatch
> lids. Wooden nucs are simply nailed, so no lost covers.  I've not
> seen the screens, so don't know how they would stack on a load.

The ones we have come with strong lids that nest on them.  Screens are
made to sit on top the same way, and then crossbeams or special pallets
are placed on them and another layer is built.  Entire semi-loads are
transported from Alberta to BC and back, routinely.

Stacking is shown clearly in the photo essay I mentioned previously, and
which can be found at
http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/articles/pkgnucs.htm

> These boxes are extremely bulky and a truckload would contain far
> fewer than a load of wooden ones.

That's a fact.  They are not intended as shipping boxes.

> They are not strong, and you
> don't dare cinch down the straps much, or they will break. The
> truckers absolutely do not want spills, so they will go around behind
> you and tighten the straps still more.

The ones we have are strong.  The guys around here cinch them down well,
but use beams or pallets to distribute the stress.

This is a very interesting discussion.  Goes to show how a system that
works well one place gets all bolluxed up when taken somewhere else.
If, indeed, we are talking about the same item..

allen
http://www.honeybeeworld.com

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