Building your own "stuff"

[Tucker1]

It seems like quite a few of the more experienced beeks build their own supers, brood boxes, frames, bottom boards, etc.  I had the chance to watch someone build frames using a assembly fixture/jig.  It looked pretty simple. I'm guessing that assembling supers, brood boxes and the rest of the basic hive isn't too difficult.

Assuming that you have the time, ..... is it worth the effort in building your own hives, using purchased parts?

By doing so, can you build a better hive ?   (i.e. better workmanship, screws & glue vs. just nails, etc.)

What have been your experiences?

Thanks in advance for answering my questions.

Regards,
Tucker

[Bee Happy]

I'm not a  more experienced beek. but I have built a couple bodies from "scratch"
for the bodies - a 1"x12"x8' shelving grade (locally)is about $8.50  (a 'commercial' hive body is $12 something? $9 something for "economy" type) from the $8.50 there is a piece left from which another side can be built - so at the cheaper price of just lumber you get a 'freebie' for every four bodies or supers you build (I did 10 frame) (1x8x8 for supers - these cost more because there's no shelving grade 1x8)
but of course you can make significantly better quality - depending on the wood grade and materials you choose - (I painted with elastomeric latex - one coat lazy painting.) I don't know the tolerances for building for bee-space vs. allowing too much for burr comb - so I was excruciatingly precise in my copies of existing measurements.
I could possibly make frames from scratch - but there is no way I'm going to try something that meticulous when I'll want 20 or 30 at a time.
You also don't have to do finger joints or dovetail (unless you have a very good, lasting wood and can put the touch on it.) - I did what I think is called a rabbet (the frame rest board is trimmed to lap the side) then I dadoed the handles - I don't have a dado blade so I had to make a long series of careful plunge cuts. - really - I'm being gabby - as long as you stick to the interior spaces for the style hive you want to do - the cosmetics are pretty much up to structural integrity and your imagination
I did it for the price - cheaper + bonus materials + no freight/ waiting/ travel (the nearest bee supply agent is about 60 miles away)

[asprince]

Tough questions to answer. Depends..............

If you have the time, tools, knowledge, and a cheap source for materials I would say that building your own equipment offers great satisfaction. Well it does for me.

If you can visit one of the suppliers, you can get some good deals. If wooden ware has to be shipped, it can be very expensive.

I generally build my boxes, bottom boards, and tops. I buy frames, foundation, and specialty items.

I built my own bee vac.

Good luck, Steve

 

[doak]

I haven't tried frames.
You cannot buy finished boards that doesn't have to be cut down.
I use the trim off for my rails on the bottom board, cut reducers from some, spacers for vents,etc.
I use simple butt joints'
I drill holes half the dia of the nail in use.
Enter a good stream of this,(LOCTITE WOOD WORX) wood glue. Available at any builder supply store.
The supers and deeps that I do buy, un assembled, $5 $6 & $8 each. seconds.
May be a split, knot hole, or broken dove tail, etc. I get by. :)doak

P.S.
LOCTITE WOOD WORX, wood glue, does not come loose. the wood will split else where first.

[Hethen57]

Tucker:
I have built everything (except frames) and am probably following the same method as Bee Happy (with Lowes 1X12X8 pine shelving boards at $8).  I've got is down to a pretty efficient process and the trimmings can make frames, or parts for tops, bottoms, or inner covers.  I don't know if its purely monetary, but I know I can make them much cheaper than shipped product and I enjoy the project as well, there is some pride in building your own stuff.  Everything is glued and screwed and really durable.  Painting is the biggest pain for me, but I would have to paint the purchase stuff as well.  Also, with the ability to construct the stuff, I don't need to wait a week for someone to ship product to me if I was in a pinch.
-Mike

[doak]

Most of the stuff I buy is from my Mentor, which is local. :)doak

[SgtMaj]

I build all my own hive components except frames.  I enjoy it because I enjoy woodworking.  I've built some really nice ones, and I've also built some crappy ones, it all depends on how much time and effort I want to put into what I'm making.  There aren't any substantial savings from making it yourself though... the lumber costs about the same from the hardware store as pre-cut boxes would cost from a supplier, so if you're going to make your own stuff, do it for higher quality and to have pride in your stuff.

[irekkin]

hey tucker. i build what i can from scratch. i usually don't get fancy either. i have a couple of sources of free wood, so that helps . i don't finger joint my boxes, just square cuts, wood srews, glue and a coat of paint. it's not ideal but i have'nt had any problems with my "home made" stuff. i'm not against store bought, i own some of that too. the thing is i have'nt been in beekeeping long enough to have much spare equipment, so when i catch a swarm or need to split a hive i need to come up with something fairly quick. that's one of the main reasons i started building my own stuff. it's not rocket science either, you can build tops, bottoms, hive bodies and supers with a skill saw and a drill. i do have a table saw and use a dado blade, which is nice but not a nesessity. give it a try. good luck

[lotsobees]

Would be fun to see pics of boxes y'all have made.

[Scadsobees]

Would be fun to see pics of boxes y'all have made.

I might, but they look pretty much like all the other bee boxes out there  .  Now some people have interesting paint jobs on theirs....

[doak]

Go down about 3 or 4 spaces on the thread and click the (division board feeder topic)
all the boxes in that pic that don't have cut hand holds are me made.
doak

[SgtMaj]

Would be fun to see pics of boxes y'all have made.

[lotsobees]

Would be fun to see pics of boxes y'all have made.

Very nice, Sarg.

[Hethen57]

I just figured out what you can do with all that scrap 1X from building shallow supers....I whipped up 10 top bars and 10 bottom bars very easily.  So now, from an $8 piece of wood, you can make 1.25 shallow supers and 10 top bars and 10 bottom bars.  Also, nice attention to detail Sgt Maj, that is craftsmanship....here are my homemade hives:

[1reb]

I build my own hive, Soon I going to try to build my frame
Johnny

[Robo]

It seems like quite a few of the more experienced beeks build their own supers, brood boxes, frames, bottom boards, etc.  I had the chance to watch someone build frames using a assembly fixture/jig.

Did you catch my videos -> http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/frames-and-frame-assembly/

  It looked pretty simple. I'm guessing that assembling supers, brood boxes and the rest of the basic hive isn't too difficult.

Assuming that you have the time, ..... is it worth the effort in building your own hives, using purchased parts?

By doing so, can you build a better hive ?   (i.e. better workmanship, screws & glue vs. just nails, etc.)

What have been your experiences?

It is pretty easy and you can build at whatever your skill level is.  Simple butt joints are fine and the bees don't care.   If you enjoy woodworking you can take it to whatever level you want.   If you mean buying un assembled hive parts from a supplier,  usually shipping alone makes it worth while,  and if you buy from a reputable dealer, the stuff usually fits together easily and if they they will exchange.   The only real thing you need to be careful of is that you line the hand holds up correctly, or you can end up with hand holds upside down, or on the inside if you don't pay attention.  Don't ask me how I know

The biggest benefit I find is that you aren't limited in using the commercially available designs.   For instance,  I prefer the C.C. Miller influence bottom boards and slatted racks used by Eugene Killion.  You can't buy them commercially,  but they are simple to build.  Or you can use designs of your own that fit your style or needs.

It is not so much about savings,  especially if you have to buy dimensional lumber from a box store.  If you have a local mill, you can do better.

There is also the pride of knowing you built your own equipment.

I build everything from scratch except frames, those I buy pre-cut and assemble them myself.  I suppose I could build them from scratch, but for the price of the pre-cut frames it is not worth it.  I buy my polystyrene deeps too

I enjoy woodworking, a lot of the equipment I prefer is not commercially available,  and  I have a local rough cut mill that I buy my lumber from.

Would be fun to see pics of boxes y'all have made.

Some of the things I've built (and have pictures of )

Ross Rounds Supers


Double Deep Frames -> http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/double-deep-frames/


Medium Supers -> http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/building-honey-supers/


Bottom board and Slatted Rack


Integrated Bottom Board w/ Slatted Rack - with Sonatube swarm trap next to one of my Warré hives (built these too)


Sugar Boards -> http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/emergency-feeding/


Inner covers


Stack of my $2 Swarm Traps

[Wes Sapp]

Robo, Do you remember the thread that was up some time ago that showed how to cut hand holes, well it didn't actually show you how, the pictures weren't their? I noticed in the picture of your med. supers they have those type of cuts. Can you post or do you have instructions with pictures posted somewhere? The dumb kid needs a visual! I try to build all my stuff except frames...I enjoy it and get better quality than I could buy.

[Robo]

Robo, Do you remember the thread that was up some time ago that showed how to cut hand holes, well it didn't actually show you how, the pictures weren't their?

Yes,  I believe his method involved rotating the angle of the tablesaw blade as you slowly raise it into the wood.  I believe that member has quietly disappeared and his links to the photos no longer work.

I noticed in the picture of your med. supers they have those type of cuts. Can you post or do you have instructions with pictures posted somewhere?

I use a molding cutter head and do it in one pass.  I have a jig that holds the boards.  Someday when I have time I'll try to put together a how-to.  But in the mean time, you can see the jig and set-up here -> http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/building-honey-supers/

[jimmy]

Robo ,I have watched a few of you vidieos and now you post all these inavaited idea's  of building things like double deeps,sugar boards ,sugar frames not to mention Ross Rounds  . If I had the energy to walk with you a day or two and pick your brian (and could absorb all that info) I beleive I would be a smart bee keeper.

Other crafters  here are sharp also.


Thanks for sharing.

[1reb]

Robo, I have enjoy watching your vidieos too, It take 3-4 hour to download them but it was well worth it ..

Johnny