Hydro Hive : 8 Steps (with Pictures)

I have lived in the woods my entire life and have enjoyed nature all around. I have seen so many bees that have died in buckets, water puddles, and anything that has collected water that they were trying to get to. This is something that I have come up with on my 3D printer to help out some.

Step 1: CAD Design

Create a shape and size that will work for you. In the design have the pillars in the middle stager in height from one another. That way as the water goes down new pillars breaker the waters surface giving the bees islands to land on for the water.

Step 2: Box & Cast

Getting everything together for making a mold box and setting that up. Double back Duct tape is what I put on the base to anchor the part in with. I used some plexiglass and siliconed the seams together. Once that had a good amount of time for the silicone to cure, I used a universal mold release. Letting that set for about 15 minutes. Then casting a 1 by 1 part concrete rubber molding material. I let that set for about 5 hours. Then I pulled the part from the mold.

Step 3: Releasing & Concrete

When the mold is fully cured, I use a universal mold release again for inside the concrete rubber mold. Letting that set for about 5 minutes. Using a concrete patch repair mix is what I use next. Mixing that until it is a puddling like thickness with it. Casting that into the mold then a bit of shacking the mold to level the concrete out for a smooth bottom look, and that will help get any air bubbles out. I would let the mold set for about an hour. Then if the concrete was solid enough, I will tip it up and have a fan on it for the next 2 - 3 hours. After that amount of time it would be ready to pull from the mold.

Step 4: Drying & Sealing

After the part has been pulled from the mold I will tell it dry for 3 - 5 days. Once you can touch it and feel no moister its ready to seal. I feel that 2 coats of a non toxic sealer is the minimum. Apply the first coat and let that set for 24 hours. After that apply the second cost and let that set for the same amount of time, 24 hours.

Step 5: Hardware 1

So while everything with the part is setting, drying, and sealing putting together all of the hardware is something that can be done. I used some "S" clips to connect to the hanging hooks using a pair of needle nose pliers.

Step 6: Hardware 2

I built this jig for cutting the chains, and assembling the rest of the hardware together. I would measure a chain to the length that I needed it to be, and then hook another one beside it to then cut to length. I use 4 chains to 1 Hydro Hive. When I have the chains cut to length I then clip the hooks to the bar. Then I connect the ends of the chains to the "S" clip and then close it down with the needle nose pliers. There should now be 4 loose chains ends hanging. I use a key chain loop to connect the 4 chain ends together. At this point it is completed to place the Hydro Hive inside the chain hanger to place it outside where you want to put it.

Step 7: Done & Done

Have it outside hanging in the garden, filled with water. Good to go.

Step 8:

Runner Up in the
Concrete & Casting Contest

Participated in the
Great Outdoors Contest

Participated in the
Summer #mikehacks Contest

Participated in the
Epilog Challenge VI

1 Person Made This Project!

Dylan Larsen made it!

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41 Comments

jmwells

8 years ago

Want help the bees year round? Add a sugar solution in fall/winter for feeding. Or even a store bought humming bird solution.

Thinkenstein

8 years ago on Introduction

I like the basic idea of hanging it, but I think the weight and cost could be reduced using other materials. It could be mounted on a post, too, like a bird bath. A spiral ramp would probably work as well as islands of different heights.

I am paranoid of breeding mosquitos here in my neck of the woods. I could easily foresee forgetting to dump it frequently. I have a guppy pond and the fish eat any mosquito larvae. Bees sometimes gather around the edge to drink. They seem to prefer an area that has some nylon fishnet draping over it, perhaps because it gives them more secure footing.

jczd

3 years ago

This is a really sweet idea and design. it could be made into some floating device to fit into swimming pools or most artificial ponds ; these are true insect killers because the edges are most often too slippery and steep for et insects (or birds) to climb out of.

if you have actual bees around, they like (and _need_) salt to get around ; just add a few spoons of salt in the water so it reaches some ~1% salt content. the easiest method is to taste it - should feel more or less neutral (in doubt, buy a pouch of 0.9% salted water from the pharmacy and compare). Since even cows need salt, I suppose it applies to most living creatures.

dolsovsky

8 years ago

Are 3D printers extremely expensive? I love your projects results.