> Saskatchewan beekeepers were using a chunk of 3/4" plywood cut to the size
> of a super with no overhang on any side.   It worked,  but I was not 
> satisfied.
>
> In my experience, any lid that does not overhang and have a drip edge will 
> wick water into the hives through the cracks around the edge when it 
> rains.

Soluton for this problem is to keep a PE sheet under the lid. 0.05 mm is 
good.  Sheet is cut 1 -2 '' larger than the box so it hangs little  outside 
the box and directs  rainwater away from the box and does that job as well 
as telescoping top.

I have such sheets in all my hives. Also in the ones with the telescoping 
lids.  Lid is much easier to open as it is no more glued by propolis. Sheet 
is easy to tear open. Sometimes no need to open the sheet as visual check 
can be done through the plastic. Downside is that you need to have a stone 
on top to keep the lid in place in wind.

Interesting dicussion about top entrances. Here in Finland we have a severe 
winter, much longer and colder than any place with bees in the US and that 
goes for the most part oc Canada too. Bees confined inside from 4,5 to 
maximum of 7 months in year. Last winter my bees did not go out between. 
15.10 - 15.4 Here practicly no one has top entrances in winter. But inner 
cover is normally in wooden hives food fiber sheet that allows some air and 
moisture through.  Many use plastic hives with plastic lids. No air movement 
goint up, but then they have screen bottoms. All winter boxes are insulated. 
Wooden hives are with double walls and 1'' insulation between walls. Nice 
for winter but not so nice to carry when full of honey.

Ari Seppälä
Finland 

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned 
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html