Up until now I have made my own boxes and frames, with some success but also with some monumental failures. Two things are making me reconsider, one is that the only place to get timber locally is Home Depot, and the only grade they have is firewood grade. I call it that because that's all it's fit for. The other is that I got a catalog from a well known supplier where I can buy pre-cut ready to be assembled boxes for little more than the cost of the firewood, and with free shipping.
So my plan is to have the hives made up of a deep 8 frame brood box, eight frame because I already have queen excluders in that size, and then medium supers for the rest.
I'm also planning on having the brood chamber and the first super foundationless so the bees can choose what's the best cell size for themselves.
Any comments and/or suggestions on my proposed setup ?
You can use 8 frame excluders for 10 frame hives. The queen very seldom goes to the 2 outside frames and it gives the workers extra access.
I have a local bee keeper that has #2/ or cull boxes, not assembled, 5 and 8 $ medium/deep. Don't know what to tell you about the lumber. Lowes does have good grade stuff, never checked Home depot. I would have to do the math, but you get one box per board, "don't recall if it is 8 or 10 ft" These should be less than $10 each.
Either way you still have to trim the boards to size. hope this helps, some. d2
Unfortunately we don't have a Lowes, but the apiary catalog lists a ready to assembly deep box for $15 including shipping. At that price it's not worth filling my lungs with sawdust :wink:
So do you recommend 8 or 10 frame boxes?
It depends on your comfort level. It doesn't take long for your back to start hurting lifting 60lb boxes to check your hives every ten days (recommended ). Therefore deeps,mediums, nucs and shallows are available in 5,8,10 frames for a comfort zone level. It's your choice. Most go with two deep for brood, and mediums for honey supers.
One has to decide what they are willing to handle. I haven't went to any certain size, I am just getting started up again after 3 or 4 slow years. I plan on having some extra boxes in deep and medium, 5 and 8 frames each. I'll just pull full capped frames and shake&brush the bees off, add empty frames, etc. 74 years old with arthritis is how I adjust. :wink: d2
Thanks for the input.
2*8 frame deep boxes for the brood and 8 frame mediums for the supers it is.
Any input on using foundation-less frames in the brood boxed and plastic foundation for the supers, or will it be better to have all foundation-less or all foundation in both boxes?
A lot of bee keeps have found if you use plastic they will draw it out last. Some love it, some rub extra beeswax on it and they take to it quicker, I like wax foundation with wire. As you gain hives try all.
Have even used a starter strip on a frame between two regular frames as a guide. It's all good.
Neil the difference between 8 and 10 is volume and unit cost. Are you planing to continue to be a cop or are you planing to be a commercial beekeeper?
If someone were to invent a 6 frame hive and cut the frames in half it might be 10-12 feet tall. It would mimic a tree, wouldn't it? We put bees in boxes that suit us not them. Hobbyist tend to go for 8 frames and commercial use 10 frames and more. It is a decision you have to make.
Neil,
Do not mix wax and plastic foundation in the same super. Usually they will only use the wax. If you adds super of just waxed plastic foundation when they are ready for a new super, they will take right to it.
Jim