How to Build a Hive Body

Place the carpenter square on one end of the 8-foot plank. Some lumber isn't square when it comes from the lumberyard. Check the cut angle of your lumber by placing the long end of the square against the 8-foot side of the board. Slide the square to the edge and draw a line across the cut end of the board. This will be a 90-degree angle. Use this end to cut and measure every other board.

Measure and cut two 15-inch and two 20-inch lengths of board. Trim all four boards to a 9 ¾-inch width.

Move the guide on the saw to 5/8 inch from the blade. Move the blade depth to ¾ inch. Cut a ¾-inch deep by 3/8-inch wide lip in one side of both 15-inch ends of your super. The top bar of each frame sits on this lip in the finished super.

Spread wood glue on the cut ends of the 15-inch ends. Line up the 15-inch ends between the 20-inch sides. Use three nails on each side to form a box. The exterior measurements of the box are 20-by-16 ½ inches. The inside measurements are 18 ¾-by-15 inches.

Cut two pieces of the 1-by-2 inch pine 20 inches long. Nail this strip to the 20-inch side of the top to cleat, or support, the top of the super. Measure the total length of the 15-inch side and both cleats. Because 1-inch lumber is usually less than 1-inch wide, the measure should be slightly less than 17 inches. Cut two more strips of 1-by-2 to your measurement and nail them to the top of the 15-inch ends and to the end of the side cleats.

Cut a 20-by-16 ½ inch rectangle of plywood for the cover. Cut two 16 ½- inch strips of 1-by 2. Nail the strips to either end of the cover.

Cut two pieces of 3/8-inch firring 20 inches long. Cut one 15 inches long and cut the final piece 10 inches long. Nail all four pieces to the bottom of the super, leaving a 5-inch strip free on one end. This end becomes the front of the hive and gives access to the hive.

Paint the hive body and cover inside and out with white latex paint.