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KISOMF Floor (Keep
It Simple OMF) |
Open Mesh Floors (OMF's) were originally developed as a tool for the
monitoring and diagnosing of Varroa infestation levels within a colony.
Since then, beekeepers who have used them have enjoyed other benefits in addition
to their original purpose. I am one of these beekeepers and built my own
OMF several years ago, the version I detail here has evolved from my original
design to a point that I am satisfied with. In particular I have avoided
using a close fitting drawer arrangement which is prone to jamming particularly
after or during the winter season. These bees just love to propolise up
these gaps and in this design there are no gaps to assist wax moth grubs to breed.
I use a simple spring arrangement that allows you to break the
propolised seal by pressing down on a rear protrusion, and as the floor is at
slight angle the line of propolis does not interfere with the withdrawal.
As a spin off, this construction lends itself to ease of securing and moving the
hive and also isolates the colony from ground born damp.
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As an OMF keeps the hive very dry and ventilated the over wintering
performance of the colony is improved and entrances can be kept reduced the
whole year around. Bees can defend a smaller entrance better and are less
likely to get bad tempered due to robbing. There is also much debate and
research indicating that Varroa mites that naturally fall from the bees are
permanently removed from their host by falling through the mesh. Some
research indicates that the better ventilation also increase the brood cycle
timing and making the drone brood cells less optimal for raising Varroa.
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Features of the KISOMF design:
 | Simple:
 | Easy to manufacture, with no fiddly joint |
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| Reliable:
| Resistant to jamming by the bees gumming up sliding surfaces |
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| Security:
| Allows easy strapping of hives for security or migration |
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| Plus:
| Excellent under hive ventilation, and isolation from damp ground |
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An example of well secured hives
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This is a sad sight but demonstrates how
useful it can be to have a ratchet tie-down strap around your colonies in apiaries
prone to vandalism. These hives are still together and came to to no
harm despite this treatment. As you can see the floors are actually
an earlier version
with round mesh vents . |
| Straps can be thread under the stand without
lifting or disturbing the hive. |
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Although this article is
about the OMF's, you may be interested in one detail of the roof
design. The roof has two pieces of timber about 40mm thick as part
of the internal roof construction. This allows good ventilation and the roof to sit
square and level with the ratchet strap mechanism fitting into the gap.
Note that this design allows bees (or wasps) free access under the roof
therefore the feeder hole cannot be left open, however with an OMF this
form of additional ventilation is unnecessary. |
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| To break the any propolis seal that the bees
might have built, press the rear extension of the OMF. This compress
the springs a further couple of millimeters to their full extent breaking
any sticky binding. |
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The floor can then be easily withdrawn for maintenance or exchanged
for a solid floor at the users preference. |
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| The construction is basically 4 pieces of timber glued
and screwed together, with two aluminum runner strips being glued into a
grove formed by a circular saw and using Bostic's 'No More Nails' or similar product.
IMHO 'No
More Nails' is an excellent compliant adhesive with a very junky name.
I have never yet had a strip come out.
Note that the uncompressed springs hold the OMF insert
slightly higher than the stand until the brood box is placed on top.
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Shown without the inspection board installed |
| Springs and things
Two special but simple springs need to be made. This
is very easy, I located a small local spring manufacture from our phone
book, and bought from them sufficient spring wire for ten stands for
about £3 ($5). Simply bend the wire into the desired form and
heat in a hot domestic oven for 20 minutes to harden. Mesh
A mesh from 2-3 mm hole size will be fine, plastic coated metal is best as
plastic options tend to sag. Bee suppliers will sell it for
about £5/hive which is a bit greedy, shop around.
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| OMF:
The mesh floor is constructed from one piece of 10mm five-ply,
and the mesh is stapled to the underside. The inspection board is a loose fit and also
made from 10mm
ply. The timber batons
on both boards is actually door architrave (moulding around a
door opening). This gives the run off slope for rain on the rear
overhang. The inspection board needs the baton to prevent bees from
flying under the floor and onto the mesh underside.
A little Vaseline on the edges of the boards will ensure easy sliding
removal after a long winter.
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The following file is in Adobe Acrobat PDF format so Adobe's (free) Acrobat
viewer must be installed on your computer before this will work. The plans
have no dimensions as this would only be of use for one style of hive, in
my case the British National. The actual dimensions are less critical than the
principles of construction. Good luck and let me know how you get on.
Click here for the PDF format plans: KISOMF2.pdf
If you require the free Acrobat viewer click here: GET
ACROBAT VIEWER
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020509
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