Do it Yourself
Welcome to LazyBkprs Workshop.
I will be posting information on everything I make FOR, or FROM my bees in the do it yourself section. If I feel a video is warranted to help explain something I will post it in the appropriate section.
I post my reasons, and arguments FOR what I do. That does not mean what I do is right for you. making your own beehives and frames would be very pointless if you only ever intend to have two beehives.
However, there is also a certain satisfaction to making your own equipment, and watching the bees put it to good use.
If you intend to have five or six, or even a dozen hives, making those hives will save you some money, provided you are handy enough to make them, and have access to equipment.
Do you have a mentor? Will he or she show you how to make the necessary equipment?
If you are not comfortable using saws then purchasing your hives is probably the best way to go. It only takes one slip to end up at the emergency room, and any savings you may have realized get washed down the drain when you pay the bill. Use care!
I sell most hive components. Swarm boxes and feeders. However, the cost of shipping is prohibitive. If you cant come by to pick up your order, you are better off ordering from Brushy Mountain. They ship free on orders over $150.00
If you live close by, coming over to pick up what you need will be more cost effective. I'd like to sell you my products, but nothing will beat building them yourself as far as cost goes.
I would normally recommend Mann Lake here, because they also have free shipping. However, I have Emailed them to request permission for a link, and they are apparently too busy to answer me,
so they also are apparently not in any need of my business..
Instead, I will say to watch the other sites. Brushy Mountain, replied to my inquiry the same day, which is why I recommended them above. Kelly Bee, Dadant is a GOOD one, BetterBee, Western Bee Supply, etc, etc.. They will often have specials that involve free shipping. THAT is the time to order the things you need.
The Hive (left), swarm box (Middle), and Nuc (right), were all built from scrap wood collected from old buildings and barns. The only cost to me was the nails, glue, and electricity. Even the paint I got for free. Half of a five gallon bucket of exterior house paint.
EVEN buying the wood and the paint, a four medium box hive costs me less than fifty dollars to build, including the frames. That's a lot cheaper than the two hundred and fifty dollars most places charge. The trade off is TIME.
If, you don't have much time to spare, then you may be better off purchasing your equipment outright. If your looking for something to do with your spare time, then this hobby will be a lot less expensive for you. Building new equipment, and fixing/painting old equipment is what beekeepers do in the winter when their bees are bedded down waiting for warmth to return.
EVEN buying the wood and the paint, a four medium box hive costs me less than fifty dollars to build, including the frames. That's a lot cheaper than the two hundred and fifty dollars most places charge. The trade off is TIME.
If, you don't have much time to spare, then you may be better off purchasing your equipment outright. If your looking for something to do with your spare time, then this hobby will be a lot less expensive for you. Building new equipment, and fixing/painting old equipment is what beekeepers do in the winter when their bees are bedded down waiting for warmth to return.
You might think frames for your hive are difficult at best to make.
NOT SO! Time consuming, YES!
Once again, if you have no spare time, order frames. If you have the time, and a few woodworking tools, then chances are you can make your own frames.
My instructions are for Foundation-less frames, but the differences to cut the grooves for the foundation are minimal. I have some vids posted in the frames section as well.
I will get more into detail on the frames page, and explain the equipment I use.
NOT SO! Time consuming, YES!
Once again, if you have no spare time, order frames. If you have the time, and a few woodworking tools, then chances are you can make your own frames.
My instructions are for Foundation-less frames, but the differences to cut the grooves for the foundation are minimal. I have some vids posted in the frames section as well.
I will get more into detail on the frames page, and explain the equipment I use.
Swarm boxes! FREE BEES! Well, almost free! Most folks call them swarm traps, but since the bees are not actually trapped, I prefer to call them boxes, I suppose because they are square?
I build mine to take 8 medium frames. I don't trim the boards to 6 5/8, I leave them full width or 7 1/2 inches wide. The extra space cant hurt. Some folks use 5 frame deep boxes, some use full ten frame deep boxes. the 7 1/2" 8 frame box has a bit more space than the five frame deep NUC box, but not as much space as the ten frame deep, or even ten frame medium.
My reasons for this size are not so much based on preference by the bees as they are based on the preference of the beekeeper!! I want a bit more room than the 5 frame box, but I also don't relish carrying a ten frame box through the woods and streams. Add a few pounds of bees to the box, some honey and brood, and it gets worse! I'll go into more detail on these boxes on the Swarm Box page!
I build mine to take 8 medium frames. I don't trim the boards to 6 5/8, I leave them full width or 7 1/2 inches wide. The extra space cant hurt. Some folks use 5 frame deep boxes, some use full ten frame deep boxes. the 7 1/2" 8 frame box has a bit more space than the five frame deep NUC box, but not as much space as the ten frame deep, or even ten frame medium.
My reasons for this size are not so much based on preference by the bees as they are based on the preference of the beekeeper!! I want a bit more room than the 5 frame box, but I also don't relish carrying a ten frame box through the woods and streams. Add a few pounds of bees to the box, some honey and brood, and it gets worse! I'll go into more detail on these boxes on the Swarm Box page!
Bee Vac! More not as free bees!
The Bee vac is used to do cut outs. Hives that have taken up residence where someone doesn't want them to be. It sounds simple enough right? Pull the eve of the house off, suck the bees up, and go dump them into a hive!!! Well, almost, but not quite. Too much suction, or too much heat will kill the bees quickly, so it takes a bit of care to do it right. I will get into those details on the page dedicated to making and using the bee vac!
The Bee vac is used to do cut outs. Hives that have taken up residence where someone doesn't want them to be. It sounds simple enough right? Pull the eve of the house off, suck the bees up, and go dump them into a hive!!! Well, almost, but not quite. Too much suction, or too much heat will kill the bees quickly, so it takes a bit of care to do it right. I will get into those details on the page dedicated to making and using the bee vac!
TOOLS;
The tools I use are "mostly" inexpensive. My table saw was an 89.95 table saw from Menards. The routers are 69.99 Performax Routers, and the router table is a 39 dollar table.
Starting out, I had no routers. I had a radial arm saw made in 1969, and an OLD cast iron table saw that wouldn't rip 2x material even with a brand new blade.. but I made it work, and slowly upgraded.
The DeWalt DW733 Planer worked wonderfully but the blades were very badly dulled and nicked, so I ordered new ones.. thankfully you can still GET new blades for it.
My Radial Arm saw Died.. So I looked at new ones.... Oh.. My word what a bunch of garbage!! Plastic and pot aluminum.. Not ONE saw I looked at was even 1/4 the quality of my OLD craftsman RAS... There is NO possible way any of those saws will last anywhere near the 40 years the craftsman was approaching... So I ordered a sliding Miter saw to replace it with.. What I ordered was the Rage III.. Apparently it was damaged in shipping and my order was cancelled.. I drove into town a little ticked and bought a DeWalt for about twice as much money as I needed to spend..
The tools I use are "mostly" inexpensive. My table saw was an 89.95 table saw from Menards. The routers are 69.99 Performax Routers, and the router table is a 39 dollar table.
Starting out, I had no routers. I had a radial arm saw made in 1969, and an OLD cast iron table saw that wouldn't rip 2x material even with a brand new blade.. but I made it work, and slowly upgraded.
The DeWalt DW733 Planer worked wonderfully but the blades were very badly dulled and nicked, so I ordered new ones.. thankfully you can still GET new blades for it.
My Radial Arm saw Died.. So I looked at new ones.... Oh.. My word what a bunch of garbage!! Plastic and pot aluminum.. Not ONE saw I looked at was even 1/4 the quality of my OLD craftsman RAS... There is NO possible way any of those saws will last anywhere near the 40 years the craftsman was approaching... So I ordered a sliding Miter saw to replace it with.. What I ordered was the Rage III.. Apparently it was damaged in shipping and my order was cancelled.. I drove into town a little ticked and bought a DeWalt for about twice as much money as I needed to spend..
The DeWalt is a ten inch just like my table saw. 12 inch blades are too expensive, and I like having all the tools the same size blade. Menards had the tool shop carbide blades on sale for 5 dollars.. AND they were buy one get one free.. so I picked up a few of them... even if poor quality you cant BEAT that price! I can burn through 4 or 5 of them at the price one of the expensive blades sells for.
The DeWalt took a bit of fussing to get it set to true 0, but was easy to adjust. The table was modified, and STILL needs modifications.. but those will come as Necessary. For now, it allows me to set up for multiple cuts quickly and easily. It is the most expensive piece I own at just over $550.00 The soft start is really Nice. The blade brake is really nice. The slide is pretty smooth (NOW) it was a little rough when I got it but has mellowed well with use. It does not come with a Laser, but that is not something I miss, having never used or even owned a saw with a laser guide. The handle/housing IS plastic, but feels good and solid. I believe that since this thing is not being tossed about in a trailer or the back of a truck it should last a while.. 30/40 years?? I doubt it, even with the easy use I will put it through, and besides, I haven't got that many years left.
The DeWalt took a bit of fussing to get it set to true 0, but was easy to adjust. The table was modified, and STILL needs modifications.. but those will come as Necessary. For now, it allows me to set up for multiple cuts quickly and easily. It is the most expensive piece I own at just over $550.00 The soft start is really Nice. The blade brake is really nice. The slide is pretty smooth (NOW) it was a little rough when I got it but has mellowed well with use. It does not come with a Laser, but that is not something I miss, having never used or even owned a saw with a laser guide. The handle/housing IS plastic, but feels good and solid. I believe that since this thing is not being tossed about in a trailer or the back of a truck it should last a while.. 30/40 years?? I doubt it, even with the easy use I will put it through, and besides, I haven't got that many years left.
SO..
Table saw. Sliding Miter saw, router, router and table, DeWalt Planer.
I have less money invested in everything besides the miter saw than I do in the Miter saw itself. A little scrounging and I am sure I could have found something good/used and had less than three hundred dollars in everything.
EVEN if I had bought all good equipment the price would still be less than what I would have paid for hives...
24 Hives at 250 dollars each = $6000.00 Dollars !!!!
24 Hives at $46.00 Each = $1104.00
So I could have spent upwards of $4000.00 on my tools and STILL come out ahead.
With plans of adding to my Apiary every year the money saved will continue to add up. Thus, allowing me to buy GOOD quality VSH or Hygienic queens.
A few pictures below before we get into the details.
Table saw. Sliding Miter saw, router, router and table, DeWalt Planer.
I have less money invested in everything besides the miter saw than I do in the Miter saw itself. A little scrounging and I am sure I could have found something good/used and had less than three hundred dollars in everything.
EVEN if I had bought all good equipment the price would still be less than what I would have paid for hives...
24 Hives at 250 dollars each = $6000.00 Dollars !!!!
24 Hives at $46.00 Each = $1104.00
So I could have spent upwards of $4000.00 on my tools and STILL come out ahead.
With plans of adding to my Apiary every year the money saved will continue to add up. Thus, allowing me to buy GOOD quality VSH or Hygienic queens.
A few pictures below before we get into the details.