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Replacing all my tops and bottoms with plastic

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hydrocynus:
Hello all,
I make my teslescopic tops and bottoms from wood and they do not last very long in South Florida. I generally get 3-4 years out of them. I could go with pressure treated like some commercial beeks do, but I would rather not. I have thus started to replace my tops with beesmart plastic covers but for the bottoms, instead of getting the beesmart, I am getting some anel (apparently from Greece, but likely made in China) bottom boards that are all plastic and could be either solid bottoms or screened (which I favored). What I am trying to understand is why they are so expensive in the US whilst they are just under 10 euros in Europe. Luckily, I have family there and I will be traveling this summer and will bring 20 bottoms back to the US. Anyone has experience with them? I wanted to use the Nicot brand (same price), but they do not fit the Langstroth 10 frames that the US are using.
For 10 euros, it is not worth building some, but do you guys in the US know of a an inexpensive material that could be used to build some? I might then go with this option. I have heard of a material used in the concrete industry that comes in 8 by 4 feet sheets and is 3/4" thick? Sorry to use imperial and not metric.
Cheers to all and thanks.

Ben Framed:
I do not use telescopic type tops. I use flat tops made from Legacy LP gorilla glue type flooring material from the Home Depot. I use to use Advantech from Lowes but I prefer Legacy now days. I wish I could tell you it is inexpensive, and it WAS inexpensive the last I bought. I paid 33 dollars per 4 foot by 8 foot sheet. I hear the price has since gone through the roof.
Just curious, How do you bring in that many bottoms by plane being a passenger. Are the luggage allowances by airlines and Customs now that lenient?

Phillip

hydrocynus:
Interesting. an OSB flooring that is waterproof. Does it really last long? Lowes had one day a sale on their 3.4" 8 by 8 marine plywood (okume) and I have built many medium supers out of that. They are a bit heavier than pine wood but they do not rot and so far, bugs have not eaten them away.
We are three traveling and I have family in France. So, no issues bringing back so many. They are about 1kg each. We are allowed 20kg per passenger.

Ben Framed:

--- Quote from: hydrocynus on March 22, 2022, 02:14:26 pm ---Interesting. an OSB flooring that is waterproof. Does it really last long? Lowes had one day a sale on their 3.4" 8 by 8 marine plywood (okume) and I have built many medium supers out of that. They are a bit heavier than pine wood but they do not rot and so far, bugs have not eaten them away.
We are three traveling and I have family in France. So, no issues bringing back so many. They are about 1kg each. We are allowed 20kg per passenger.

--- End quote ---

I have never had luck with regular outdoor rated plywood. I have not invested in marine as the price was much more than Legacy LP. We have a couple deep discussion about this. Try and search if you can find it. If not let me know and I will try to find it for you. Very interesting topics..

Phillip

rast:
Have not tried them yet but may. Look up "cement boards". I would use 1/2".

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