Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Position the fence on the table saw 5/16 inch away from the blade. Position the blade 1/8 inch above the table. Run the 19-inch board across the blade with it's 3/4-inch side down. You should have a 1/8-by-1/8-inch groove down the center of the board. This is your top bar. Repeat this process with your 17-inch board. This is your bottom bar. The grooves will eventually face each other and hold your plasticell, which will hold your honey.
Set the fence on the router table ¼ inch from the bit. Position the bit 1/2 inch about the table. Run both ends of the top bar across the bit with it's 1/8-inch groove facing down. This will take a couple passes to remove all of the wood. You should have a 1/2-inch notch that runs 1 inch into the board. The overall length of the top bar is still 19 inches, and the length resulted from the notching on the opposite side, or the side with the 1/8-inch groove is 17 inches.
Draw a line perpendicularly across one of the ends of each 6 ¼-inch board. The line should be 1/2 inch from one of the ends. These are your side bars. Lay the 1 1/4-inch side flat on your router table and make a 3/4-inch notch into the end of each board. The notch should be centered, leaving a ¼ inch on each side. Stop cutting at the line. Use your chisel to remove the rest of the wood. You should have 90-degree corners, not rounded corners. This notch will fit around the top bar, which is why it is 1 inch wide.
Position your side bars against the top bar, so the notches on the side bars fit over the top bar. The 1 1/4-inch sides of the side bars should be against the 1/2-inch lip of the top bar. The 1/8-inch groove on the top bar should be facing the bottom of the side bars, the sides that aren't notched. Nail through the side bars and into the 1/2-inch lip on the top bar. Nail through the top bar, and into the side bars. Use four 1 ¼-inch nails for this task.
Lay the nailed pieces of wood flat, so they're resting on edge. Position the bottom bar perpendicularly between the side bars so both 1/8-inch grooves are facing each other. The corners between the bottom bar and the side bars should be flush. Nail through the side bars, and into the bottom bar. Use two 1-inch nails for this task.
Place the top 17-inch edge of the plasticell into the groove on the top bar. Snap the opposite edge into the groove on the bottom bar. This is your bee frame. The notches on the top bar will rest on the top of your beehive, and can be used to lift the frame out of the hive.