> the shim is not quite as unsightly as a whole bored
> through the side of your box.

I suppose aesthetics are personal. but a nice neat hole looks much better to
me than a hive cracked in the middle.

Besides, holes are cheap, durable and lightweight.  You won't forget them at
home, and they won't break in transit.  Moreover, the patent has run out on
most designs, so we can use them without paying royalties.

Also -- for those who care about the amount of light admitted and the area
of added ventilation, mostly those in cooler climes and those drawing
foundation -- a 1" hole gives about .8 of a square inch, and a 3/16" shim
(the thinnest practical) gives 2.8, if I did my math correctly.  A 3/8" shim
would double that to 5.6 square inches.

I have written here before on holes vs. slits, so will not bother going
through it all again.  There seem to be some who favour wide-open
ventilation at all times, and others, such as myself, who prefer to manage
the amount of ventilation to suit the circumstances, and who prefer to
conserve heat much of the year.  Having tested both holes and slits quite
extensively, I settled on 1" holes as being the ideal in my situation.

Many, especially beginners, may be well advised to avoid making large slits
in their hives until they are sure they know what the effects will be, but,
as we have learned, in all these things, YYMV.

allen
A Beekeeper's Diary: http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/
Currently on holidays.

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