How to Build Bee Hives & Honey Frames

Buy a bee hive kit that will meet your needs and the location you will be placing the hive. Unpack the kit and lay it out in your workspace. Sort out the hive frame pieces by size to make assembly faster.

Assemble the bee hive frame first, following all directions that come with your kit. When attaching joints, apply a small amount of wood glue to the edges and nail them together. Tap them together with a rubber mallet because using a rubber mallet will not damage the wood if hit. The frame should resemble a picture frame. Repeat this process until all the frames are built. There should be about nine or 10 frames.

Sand the frames to remove the rough texture of the wood. Wipe it clean with a damp rag. Paint the frames with a light color -- white or cream -- latex paint. Painting the frame will help protect the wood from exposure to weather and day-to-day use.

Place your bee hive in the installation location. Place the base frame down and stack the rest of the frames up until fully assembled. Place your queen bee and hive-starting bees into the lower section of the hive, following the direction that came with your kit.