Bee Hives - Help!

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Bee Hives - Help!
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scarecrow

Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
Location: Manchester, Up North

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 10:37 am Post subject: Bee Hives - Help!
I am interested in keeping bees, but the extortionate price of hives is putting me off. Does anyone know how to build one yourself?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 11:13 am Post subject:
I remember seeing a site on building your own hive, If I get a chance I'll have a search for you.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 11:33 am Post subject:
I would also like to know what wood you would use and if/how it would be treated. Your normal wood preservative kills most insects so that cannot be used. Water based paint on the outside only seems the best bet.

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 12:02 pm Post subject:
I did hear of somebody wanting a new home for some hives, but I guess we are too far away, being up here and you being down there! I pride myself on the technical geographical terms I use! Dx

scarecrow

Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
Location: Manchester, Up North

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 3:26 pm Post subject:
I'd be willing to travel (within reason). Where exactly is 'up here'?

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 3:28 pm Post subject:
North Yorkshire, near Whitby.

scarecrow

Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
Location: Manchester, Up North

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 3:31 pm Post subject:
I work in Leeds, would I be right in estimating about 40 miles away?

Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 4:40 pm Post subject:
Yep. Will make some enquires and ask around. Will get back to you asap. OK? Denise

McLay455

Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 89
Location: West of Scotland

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 04 11:18 am Post subject:
If you go to https://www.scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/techdata.htm You will get dimensions of all hives I made mine from pine floorboarding and use half lap joints with stainless screws Water base paint on the outside and felt for the roof etc

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 04 11:20 am Post subject:
Going to do a Tahir on this one: Any pics of your home made ones? (And has he already asked you for an article? )

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 04 11:26 am Post subject:
Drat, beat me to it. Come on McLay lets have an article

McLay455

Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 89
Location: West of Scotland

Posted: Sat Dec 18, 04 7:14 am Post subject:

I can let you have an article, but no pictures -- since the hives were burnt due to infection, and it put me off the hobby. Three years hard work for 20 lbs of honey.
Sadly, the bees had to be killed too -- I had built two hives and established them from one brood and a swarm.
I took three years an a lot of feeding to build the hives up to productive size,since the season is fairly short here.
I built Smith hives with top beeways,and the only tools you need are a circular saw with rise and a fence.
A right angle jig and cramps to hold the wood in place whilst you screw it up, and a flat surface big enough to accomodate the
brood and super sections one or two at a time.
The important thing is to have the top and bottom edges of the hive sections flat and reasonably draught proof.
You can seal the half lap joints with silicone sealer, and tongue and groove floor boards can be built and glued for the correct heights

My feeder was a Rowse Miller built with exterior grade ply and floorboard and made liquid tight by running beads of silicone around the inside -- if you are going for several hives make the same number of feeders, so you don't get robbing and fighting.

Though it is out of date a bit, I recommend 'A guide to Bees and Honey' by Ted Hooper ISBN 0 7137 1382 8

I recommend that you print out the plans from the Scottish Beekeeper website and work from them, as I did. Just remember to make your beeways top beeways.
Their article is much better than any I could write -- and you get
all the experience of beekeeping in Scotland there.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Sat Dec 18, 04 6:02 pm Post subject:
Thanks McLay, I'll have a look

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Dec 18, 04 9:12 pm Post subject:
That's very sad. What did they catch? I've got all the tools to make a hive and I'll look at the plans. Did you just paint the outside of the hives and leave the inside untreated wood? If we get round to keeping bees I'll try and remember to put a few jars in the post if were both still using this site.

McLay455

Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 89
Location: West of Scotland

Posted: Sun Dec 19, 04 8:04 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl
see my PM -- I have used acrylic latex paint on hives- inside bare.
Ronsonol do a bee friendly preservative but it is expensive.
If you are lucky, and can get cedar, you don'y need to worry about preservative.
I got two deep brood boxes to start,and made everything else myself(and I am no sort of a joiner)
I am a precision engineer, which is why I went the lap-joint and right angle jig way.Stainless screws from Screwfix(and brass pins)
My jig was a piece of 3x3 angle iron cut accurately at right angles and a flat plywood base big enough to accomodate two hive sections.
That way you can clamp up and ensure flatness.
Don't be tempted to put locating strips on the outside,because once the bees seal the gaps with propolis, you will not free it without damaging the hive. The little bu**ers stick everything down.

I have had offers from other beekeepers to start me up again,but I have no-one to hand on to -- you will find beekeepers a friendly bunch (often ready to share their equipment)

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