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Date: | Tue, 15 May 2001 12:02:39 -0600 |
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> How does the Imrie Shim compare to a hole drilled or notched into the super?
I've used both shims and drilled holes, never (intentionally at least) notches.
I used tapered shims in two queen colonies 25 years ago before I even heard of
George (although I am sure he was out there). I now have holes in *every* brood
chamber and a few in supers too, although I normally do not like any ventilation
in supers due to summers here being cool sometimes. I almost never use shims
anymore. There are lots of pictures of my brood boxes at my website.
http://www.internode.net/HoneyBee/
It is just a matter of taste. They both work. They each has advantages and
disadvantages and I think we have covered this before here on BEE-L, but here is
a brief recap.
Holes:
* Are not always there when you need them unless you
plan ahead -- or carry a drill. (Hint: use a template
so the holes are all in the same location for wrapping,
etc.).
* Once they are there, they can be taped or plugged (even
with a bit of scraped comb)
* Can result in bees coming out near hand holes. This
bothers some people.
* Can cause ventilation in the centre of the brood area.
* Seem to be what bees are naturally wired to like to orient to.
* Require no extra parts to be carried and lost/found
* Present a small area to defend that can be easily reduced
or blocked with tape or adhesive drywall screen
Shims:
* Require lifting or tipping boxes to install
* require remembering (and not losing or breaking) extra parts
* Ventilate at the top/bottom of a brood box.
* Give a larger area to defend.
My main complaint about beekeeping is that it is an enterprise with too many
moving parts. shims just add a few more. Complexity of a system increases with
the factorial of the number of pieces, I think. Am I right George?
allen
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