Please help me build beehives :)

[fillycate]

So, my husband works with wood and is willing to build me some hives (yay!)  I had talked with y'all awhile ago about what kind of hive would work best for me.  The suggestion was made that 8-frame hives would be nice for easier lifting, and that using only medium hives would make for better interchangeability.  I was given a link to a website that had plans for building:  http://www.beesource.com/plans/index.htm but it doesn't have plans for an 8-frame. 

Now, I could probably find the proper dimensions without too much trouble.  But am I seeing this right?  Is a medium hive only a little more than 6 inches deep?  I am a complete beginner and I want to make sure I have the dimensions right before I go commisioning the work from my hubby.  :)  Will I be OK if all the hive boxes I make have these dimensions?  Advice welcome!  :)

[JP]

I hope this helps you and the hubby. http://www.gobeekeeping.com/lesson%20three.htm  Scroll down a little for dimensions.


Sincerely, JP

[Michael Bush]

http://www.beesource.com/plans/index.htm

>Is a medium hive only a little more than 6 inches deep?

6 5/8" is the depth of a medium box.

[Scadsobees]

Yup, that little box that is roughly 20" x 6 5/8" x 16" will hold 30-40 lbs of honey, a little less if you go with an 8 frame super.  Honey is heavy stuff!

BTW, the dimensions for 8 frames is all the same as for the 10 frame, except the width, you can use (width / 10) * 8, or about 11.8 inches wide instead of 14.75".  If building your own just make sure to pick a width and make sure that they are all the same.

Rick

[Kev]

There's a forum here on building hives.

It might be worth the money to buy one medium 8-frame super for your husband to use as a pattern. They come broken down and would be nice to have sitting next to the table saw. Spacing is pretty important to bees.


Kev

[jimmyo]

buy one of every thing you need so you can have a good pattern to go by.  Don't forget to make them exactly the same every time, that way your parts will always work together. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy the parts than it is to buy the wood to make the parts. If I get free wood I get free parts.
Jim

[Kathyp]

i priced the wood and the pre-cut, lower quality wood supers.  it was cheaper to buy the precut and put them together myself.  i don't mind knots and stuff in my wood.  it all gets painted anyway.  you are not to far from Glory bee and there is another place down there that does wooden ware.  http://www.shastinamillwork.com/about.asp  you might want to price both places and see if it's worth it to make your own.

[BGhoney]

Not sure If ruhl bee has 8 frame or not, they are on 82nd ave in Portland.   Good place to look at all the kewl bee keeping stuff.. good luck

[Kathyp]

ruhl is where i go.  they are great.  she is south, so i thought the other places might be easier for her. here is the ruhl site.

http://www.ruhlbeesupply.com/

[Paul Andersen]

Fillycate,

Check out the Oregon State Beekeepers Assn. Website.
http://www.orsba.org/

There are local branches up and down the Willamette that have meetings monthly. The Willamette's a big valley what city are you near?

Try hooking into one of the branches you can get a lost of information that way and you can probably get out to someones apiary and maybe a mentor.

Also, there is a "Bee Day" offered in early April at a large commercial apiary between Portland and Salem.  and a bee school offered in salem. info below-

********
The Willamette Valley Beekeepers Association will hold its annual 3 day BeeSchool on February 19 th , 21 st and 25 th at Chemeketa Community College , 4000 Lancaster Dr. Salem Oregon , in building 34, room “A” at 7: pm sharp.
Sessions include, Beekeeping History, Lifecycle of Honey Bees, Beekeeping Equipment, Safety, Working With Bees, Products of the Hive, Getting Started in Bees, Pest & Diseases, and Nutrition.
The cost for the entire course is $25.00 which includes all materials and membership in the W.V.B.A. for one year.
For further information, or to download a registration form go to WVBA , or call 503-399-3675. or,503-364-3275
E-mail: [email protected]
***********

There are a lot of advantages to getting linked up ti your local Beekeepers assn.
And you are alway welcome to attend several meetings without joining if you are trying to determine your interest.

[Kev]

i priced the wood and the pre-cut, lower quality wood supers.  it was cheaper to buy the precut and put them together myself. 

I did the same. I could only beat the price if I bought green rough-cut lumber.

Kev