Uh oh...there arent handles on my hive!

stella · May 24, 2011, 05:29:28 PM

My hive is an aquired older model. It has no cut out handles.
Now I need to put on the second box with frames as my new colony has nearly filled the bottom box.
What can I do? Screw handles on from the inside out?

Kathyp · May 24, 2011, 05:57:06 PM

sure. i have some old hives like that. you can buy some from the hardware store or make some. the bees don't care.

stella · May 24, 2011, 06:09:50 PM

Whew! Thanks Kathy!
I was sweatin it here thinking, OMGosh, I gotta deal with this fast! The bees need a second story tomorrow.

Once again this forum saves the day.

AllenF · May 24, 2011, 07:57:25 PM

I have a few very old deep bodies with no handles. Ya, they suck to move around, but I just bear with it.

bens · May 24, 2011, 08:10:19 PM

my hive is without handles too, all deeps. I just screw on some wooden blocks from the outside, sure makes lifting a full deep easier.

AliciaH · May 24, 2011, 08:55:45 PM

Quote from: bens on May 24, 2011, 08:10:19 PM
my hive is without handles too, all deeps. I just screw on some wooden blocks from the outside, sure makes lifting a full deep easier.

Doesn't hurt to add a strip of glue to the handle with you screw it on, too.

Bee-Bop · May 24, 2011, 10:40:16 PM

Look on the inside, a lot of hive box's boards are assembled backward. course no one wants to admit they did this !!

Bee-Bop

AllenF · May 24, 2011, 11:20:46 PM

Quote from: Bee-Bop on May 24, 2011, 10:40:16 PM
Look on the inside, a lot of hive box's boards are assembled backward. course no one wants to admit they did this !!

Bee-Bop

You have to first pull out the 1st and the 10th frame to tote those boxes.

stella · May 25, 2011, 12:02:09 AM

Oh good grief!... I could of just done what bens said and screwed wooden blocks on. Duh!, but noooooo, I ran to the hardware store and spent 11 bucks on handles and screws. And their not going to blend in like wood. Sometimes I try to think so fast that Im slow.

These are your relic type of hive bodies. Some sides have more than one piece of wood... Like back in the ole days when there was a shortage of lumber on "that there prairie" due to havin to keep the home fires burnin during the long cold winters. (ever wonder where great, great, granny's rocker went?)

I own a piece of history folks. Antiques Road Show. This Old House. Neander-hive.

preston39 · May 25, 2011, 01:12:08 AM

LOL
Thats what yard sales are for. I have a 3 gal lard can full of handles I paid $1.00 for from a retired cabinet maker/worker.

How does it go...send me the old tired and needy units with no handles. :-D