Anybody with a 14x12 National Hive plan?

[Beedee]

I’ve been a beekeeper for a few years now & fancy building my own hives. I’m Hobby carpenter so I'm use to working in metric or imperial but I am struggling to find plans for the hives on either! I currently use ‘Jumbo 14x12 National Hives’.

Can anyone please tell me where I can get plans / cutting dimensions for a 14 x 12 National Hive using Hoffman frames? The ones I plan to build will built out of Cedar hopefully

Thanks

 

[Ian123]

If you already have hives why not simply use an existing box as a template or pick up a seconds box for the job, worst case you still have a new box.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Have a look on Dave Cushman's site

 

[Murox]

National Beehive Metric Dimensions
External dimension - 18 1/8" square - 460mm
14” x 12” brood body depth - 12 ½" - 318mm
Super depth - 5 7/8" - 150mm
Bottom Bee Space

 

[Newbeeneil]

Have a look on Dave Cushman's site

Although he doesn't have the dimensions for 14x12 so you just add 89mm to the depth of the nation.

 

[charlievictorbravo]

One advantage that I found when I made my hives some years ago was that I could build them as top beespace which I find a lot easier to work with - less bees get squashed when closing up..

If you're in any doubt about any dimensions, make up a 14x12 frame and build your new box with a beespace all around the frame. From memory, I used 8mm as the beespace dimension. The only dimension that I struggled with was what gap to leave between the end of the frame's lug and the side of the hive - I think I plumped for 1mm but maybe 1.5 mm might have been better. This dimension affects the size of the rebate in the top rails. Here's a link to Dave Cushman's site - http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/natbrood.html

Whatever timber you're using , you should end up with external dimensions of 460 x 460mm.

Of course, if you want to be really avant garde, you could make the hives out of 40mm PIC (rigid urethane insulation). One of these days, Derek Mitchell will publish a book on building hives out PIC. As you would be using thicker material, the external dimensions are greater, but I worked my dimensions for this back ensuring a standard 14x12 frame with top beespace fitted into the square box.

CVB

 

[Beedee]

Thanks to all! Much appreciated!

It does seem that actual 14x12 hive "blueprints" are a little thin on the ground, which is odd considering that most the demensions are similar to that of a normal BS national hive?

I was going to just break apart & measure an old tired 14x12 brood box / hive that I have but I thought before I go down that option I would see if anyone had an drawings - no point trying to re-invent the wheel now.

Nice to hear that someone had the same idea as me, yes CVB, I was toying with the idea of adjusting it to be a top space for my girls as they do like their room.

I had a look a [Saint] Cushman's site a few years back & totally forgot how much information is on it. Truly Amazing!

Beedee

 

[charlievictorbravo]

Under Floor Entrance

If you're in the mood for making stuff, look up plans for under floor entrances. They're really good - no need for mouse guards and a natural protection against wasps.

Here's a link to JMB's version - https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=46002

CVB

 

[For want of a better word]

Anybody with a 14x12 National Hive plan?

Yes... my plan is not to use them !

Chons da

 

[thebhoy]

Years ago there used to be quite a few posts with plans on this forum...perhaps using the search function will bring them up.
Here is one from a search I done... National 14 x 12 Hive plans etc
best regards,
John