Emlock Beehive Banding Strap – Galvanized Hive Lock with 13 ft Steel Strap
Emlock Beehive Banding Strap – Galvanized Hive Lock with 13 ft Steel Strap
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An Emlock is a galvanized steel beehive banding strap: a base plate, a strapping winder and a length of steel band that wraps around the hive and winds tight, clamping the bottom board, boxes and lid into one solid unit. This kit includes 13 ft (4 m) of galvanized banding, enough for a double-deep Langstroth hive with lid, and because every part is galvanized it can stay on the hive year round without rusting, stretching or loosening.
Why do beekeepers use the Emlock beehive strap?
To secure hives for transport to pollination contracts or a new yard, to keep lids on through storm season, and to stop raccoons, skunks and bears from knocking boxes apart. Nylon and polyester hive straps stretch and fray after a season in the weather; the steel Emlock does not. There is no ratchet or buckle to lose and no stretch to re-tension.
How do you fit an Emlock hive strap?
Wrap the steel band around the hive from bottom board to lid, thread the free end through the base plate, then turn the winder to take up the slack until the boxes are locked tight. To open the hive, back the winder off a few turns and lift the band clear; re-tension when you close up. The band can be unwound, repositioned and re-tensioned as often as needed.
What is in the box?
- 1 x Emlock galvanized base plate
- 1 x strapping winder
- 13 ft (4 m) of galvanized steel banding
Specifications
| Material | Galvanized steel throughout (base, winder and band) |
|---|---|
| Band length | 13 ft / 4 m |
| Fits | Standard 8-frame and 10-frame Langstroth hives, nucs and top-bar hives |
| Reusable | Yes, unwind and re-tension as often as needed |
Frequently asked questions
Is 13 ft of strap enough for a two-deep hive?
Yes. A 10-frame hive with bottom board, two deeps and a telescoping lid measures about 9 ft around, so 13 ft leaves plenty for the winder. For three boxes or more, join a second band.
Can I leave the Emlock on the hive all year?
Yes. That is the point of the galvanized finish. It will not rust, and unlike nylon it does not stretch in heat or go brittle in cold, so the hive stays tight through every season.
Will it stop a bear?
It stops a hive being knocked apart and the lid pulled off, which defeats raccoons, skunks and dogs and slows a bear down. A determined bear will still roll the whole hive; for bear country pair the strap with an electric fence.
Emlock or a ratchet strap?
A ratchet strap is quick for a one-off move. The Emlock is for hives that stay strapped: no webbing to degrade in the sun, no ratchet to seize, and it sits flat so it does not snag on the truck. The Emlock with poly nylon strapping is the softer-band version of this kit.
The Yarra Bee Co Emlock beehive banding strap is stocked in Texas and ships within the US.
