I've got the initial pieces cut for the observation hive. With these measurements I was able to get an exact size for the glass I need: 19 5/8" x 27 1/2".
I ended up going with pine and not oak like I had originally planned because I didn't want to make any expensive mistakes as I was putting it together. This is a first attempt, once I learn what there is to learn I'll make another out of oak and the tricks I learned along the way on this one.
True Value is awesome, I walked in and said I wanted some glass and they cut it right there! I was expecting to have to come back later to pick it up. A better option would be safety glass but I'll just be really careful with this. Plexiglass also works well but it can be harder to clean when the bees put wax on it.
A trip to Menards and I've got some hardboard to cover the glass with when it's not being observed (The bees prefer darkness). I've got a lot more to do but it's nice to be able to see it come together.
The True Value in our neighborhood (27th and Hwy 2) is pretty cool. I love that walking and biking both are as quick, if not quicker, than the circuitous driving route. 5 minutes there, 5 minutes back! They're also dog-friendly, offering multiple Milk Bones to canine visitors. Generally they seem more excited about dogs than kids, but when I was there with our toddler who was simply inspecting a doo-dad at checkout, one employee offered her a free freezy-pop from their ice cream freezer to try to distract her from "stealing" the doo-dad. Nice people. The prices are a little higher than big-box stores, and the selection clearly smaller, but this is exactly the type of place I like to patronize for smaller, occasional purchases.
ReplyDeleteRecently I paid, like, $1-something out-of-pocket for a whole bag of stuff, because I had a Groupon-type discount and a $5 coupon from being a club card holder.