Gap between hivebodies

bxmas13 · March 20, 2008, 04:08:04 PM

First off Hi everyone! New-bee here trying to gain knowledge. So THANKS in advance for any and all help/criticism.

I just put together my hives and noticed that there is a gap(1/4" at the biggest) on the ends of the hivebodies and supers. In other words; when i stack the hivebody and supers on the other one there is a gap on 2 ends, while the sides are perfect(no gaps).

Apparently I am not a carpenter! :-\

What would you suggest I do to fill in the gaps?

beesbeesbees · March 20, 2008, 05:10:38 PM

Are these boxes you made or bought? If you made them, cut the ends off, fix your jig and remanufacture the boxes as nucs.

Not to ask something obvious but is it possible that you have one side assembled upside-down?

If these boxes are well made but simply not well assembled you should probably pull your nails, grab a square and put them together again on a level surface. I usually place one nail at each corner then check for flatness, check square and continue.

Whatever you do, have fun with it. Try not to get frustrated.

bxmas13 · March 20, 2008, 05:17:44 PM

They were purchased unassembled and then I put them together. I am usually not that bad at woodworking...so I am going to blame it on the wood and not my "craftsmanship". ;)

dlmarti · March 20, 2008, 06:34:55 PM

Put a heavy weight on the hive, and force it down.

You won't have to do it long, the hive body will take on the new shape.

johnnybigfish · March 20, 2008, 07:10:06 PM

hey dlmarti!
That sure is a cute little dog in your avatar!
your friend,
john

CapeCod · March 21, 2008, 07:24:01 AM

When I put my hives together I did what DLMARTI Suggested,,, but I stood on mine on a flat surface to flatten them out then nailed them.
Came out great with no gaps!

Michael Bush · March 21, 2008, 08:44:44 AM

I'd stack them up on something good and flat and put weight on them as already mentioned. It may take a few concrete blocks to get it to set flat, but usually they will. When there are bees in it they will propolize it (glue it) together and it should stay after a while of that.

bxmas13 · March 21, 2008, 03:31:19 PM

Great thanks for the excellent feedback. I was starting to worry as I get my first set of bees April 19th.

Thanks again!

dlmarti · March 21, 2008, 05:17:14 PM

Quote from: johnnybigfish on March 20, 2008, 07:10:06 PM
hey dlmarti!
That sure is a cute little dog in your avatar!
your friend,
john

Yeah, she is insanely cute.

and an unbelievable athlete with a ball.

Bigeddie · March 21, 2008, 08:13:48 PM

Quote from: bxmas13 on March 20, 2008, 05:17:44 PM
They were purchased unassembled and then I put them together. I am usually not that bad at woodworking...so I am going to blame it on the wood and not my "craftsmanship". ;)

Sounds to me the ends were cut 1/4 inch to narrow if the sides are both good and both ends have a gap. Measure the sides and compare to end measurement.

qa33010 · March 22, 2008, 01:51:43 AM

Duck tape 'em together? :evil:

Is the gap an over hang as in one box is longer than the other or is it a bow/warp where you can look through? If the second what dlmarti and Michael said.

If it is an overhang and there is no opening I wouldn't worry too much about it. I have two deeps that hang over about that far and it has not hurt a thing. I just make sure the longer ones are on the bottom most of the time or used as honey supers. Then I wised up and I married those two together as a double brood box and with shorter ones as supers. No worries.

Moonshae · March 22, 2008, 09:28:56 PM

I'm going to take a stab and say you bought medium supers from Betterbee. If that's the case, I had the same issue, I called and said that they were miscut but that I could trim them, and they gave me some gift certificates for the trouble.

bxmas13 · March 24, 2008, 06:45:20 PM

I actually purchased them from a local beekeeper that i met from the local beekeeping assc. He can't get a replacement for another 2 months, but by that time I will have already had my bees delivered. :(

The gap is not from overhang. When stacked on top of each other they all line up great other than a 1/4" gap on both ends.

I decided to build up the wood with some wood putty and then sand it down. It's taking a little time but it works really great. Once i sand it and get a coat of paint on it you won't be able to tell.