Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Weatherproof the wood. Mix linseed oil and beeswax in a saucepan over medium heat. Apply to the wood while still warm, making sure to coat the entire outer surface. Allow it to dry overnight.
Construct the top bars. The top bars are where the bees will build their combs. They are individually removable, requiring no heavy lifting or waste. The top bars should measure 1 ¼ wide, 17 inches long and ¾ inch thick. You will need 20 top bars. On the underside of each top bar, cut a 1/8 inch groove. Fill this groove with beeswax and allow hardening.
Build the follower boards. These trapezoid-shaped boards will allow you to control the bees in your hive. The follower board is attached to a top bar and serves as a barrier. Using the 25 by 11 board, measure and mark two places along the top edge, 7 1/2 inches and 15 inches. Draw a line from top to bottom from the 7 1/2 inch mark. Measure and mark 2 1/2 inches out from either side of the line you just drew, but from the bottom edge. Using a straight edge, draw a line that connects the bottom two marks upward at an angle to the 15 inch mark along the top edge and to the board's corner. Construct two and cut them out. Apply glue to the top edge, attach a top bar to each and clamp overnight for drying.
Assemble the legs. The legs should be 3 inches wide and 2 inches thick, but length should be adjusted to a comfortable working height for the main beekeeper. Add 2 inches to the comfortable working height to determine the length of the legs. Cut the timber accordingly, so you have four identical legs.
Prepare the hive body by taking your two follower boards and placing them top bar side down 24 inches apart on a flat working surface. Take the two 12-by-36-inch boards for use as the side panels and lay them on the follower boards so they rest against the top bar and the overhang is equal on both sides. Take the 12-by-18-inch boards and place them on the ends, centering them. Use a heavy object to secure them in place. Draw lines on the end boards, on the side facing the hive, where the ends and side boards meet on the outside and inside. Remove the side boards.
Make three equally spaced marks inside of the lines on each side of the "v." Do this on both end boards so there are six marks on each board. These marks will be where the screws go, so it is not wholly important of their exact location, just vital that they are centered within the lines. Drill holes on these marks. Attach the ends to the sides with screws.
Measure 5 inches in from the top end of the end piece. Draw a line from this mark to the bottom left corner. Retrieve your leg pieces. Place one leg so that its outer edge rests on this line. Drill a hole in the leg centered 3 inches from the top and another at 10 inches. Repeat for all four legs. These holes should be drilled in both the legs and the end pieces at the same time. Cut the tops of the legs so that they are parallel to the top of the edge board.
Cut the mesh to fit the bottom of the hive. Attach it with the flathead pins.
Drill three, 1-inch-diameter holes spaced about 3 inches apart in the lower center of the hive body to serve as entrance holes for the bees.
Bolt the legs in place. Place all the top bars in place and cover with corrugated plastic.