bee hive prices,is this a good deal??

[biglongdarren]

i can get three national hives each with brood box, open mesh floor,varroa tray,landing board,one super and 4inch roof,they are whitewood and brand new.(no frames included) From the pictures look to be very well made,they are made about one hours drive from me and the three can be delievered for £180. does this sound good to anyone??
Darren.

 

[Browntea]

Sounds good to me but I'm no expert!

 

[drstitson]

sounds good - not cedar but not ply. will need treating first but should be fine.

 

[huntsman666]

When you say 'whitewood' do you mean deal or similar 'soft' wood?

If so, make sure you protect every outside surface and bottom with multiple coats of a wood preservative such as 'Ronseal wood stain.'

 

[biglongdarren]

this is the hive in question fokes.
Darren.

 

[busybee53]

Looks pretty good to me. I would be there like a shot.

 

[Ed Woods]

Loks good - would ask for a removable entrance block though

 

[drstitson]

agree - looks well made. fne with a few coats of preservative. i would also request a standard entrance block (or for that money prise off the 2 bits of wood and make one myself).

 

[chickendave]

If you add up the cost of the materials to make each hive, soft wood, plywood for the tray, mesh for the floor and the what looks like a alli roof covering
Then the cost of the tools you would need to manufacture your own to the same standard plus the persons time to make each one, at £60 per hive delivered, I would say the person is only just covering his costs
If its the soft wood your worried about why not ask how much for the hives in cedar
Also you don't mention if they are flat pack or already put together, if its the latter there a real bargain

 

[oliver90owner]

Softwood, nailed construction with no proper joints (all butt joints?), other than the rebate for locating the side walls and can't see if the sidebars are bevelled. So I, for one, would not be there like a shot at all.

RAB

 

[jezd]

Softwood, nailed construction with no proper joints (all butt joints?), other than the rebate for locating the side walls and can't see if the sidebars are bevelled. So I, for one, would not be there like a shot at all.

RAB

ditto, false economy imho

I have no issues buying cheap or cutting corners, just dont winge when it falls apart

JD

 

[Busybee123]

Looks pretty good for the money Darren - would certainly warrant a closer look IMHO.

You don't mention if a crown board is included, but that's not a big issue as thay are easy enough to make.

I take it this is someone new to the market?

If the hour's drive you mention is in my general direction, then I'd certainly be keen to have a closer look.

 

[biglongdarren]

they are already built up,there is a crown broad and this fellas from the Dungannon area busybee,if i did buy them Rab and added a few screws to really hold them together,would that help matters?
Darren

 

[mbc]

I think its a good deal so long as the bee spaces are correct - take a frame and ruler with you and make sure the spaces are correct before buying

 

[chickendave]

they are already built up,there is a crown broad and this fellas from the Dungannon area busybee,if i did buy them Rab and added a few screws to really hold them together,would that help matters?
Darren

Hi Darren
With the types of wood glue on the market the but joints should be more than adequate and drilling and screwing the joints would mean they should never part, I would also fit metal frame runners which cost around £1.20 a pair
You know what your budget is and how many hives you want to be running so your decision has to be made on that, either three soft wood hives or one cedar or you could go down the second hand route

 

[sandysman]

Darren,

IMHO experience shows that at the end of the day you get what you pay for. This is true whatever you buy in life.

Regards

Andy

 

[biglongdarren]

And if I got them now,added a few screws and coated them with a top class preserver so that they had all winter to sit and air the smell away,why wouldn't they last for years and years?
Darren.

 

[oliver90owner]

if i did buy them Rab

All I said was I would not be there 'like a shot'. Just a little more consideration than what I might call an 'impulse purchase'. Some seem to read far more into my posts than there actually is.

I would be considering the overall life-time costs before opening my wallet. I am just not that impulsive, these days.

Extra fixings would help, I am sure. We don't actually know what type of glue has been used, do we? (to whoever mentioned that).

RAB

 

[JohnRoss]

Well when you take the cost of the frames out the th***es budget hives come in at less than £60, and they come in cedar with two supers.

 

[Finno]

Darren....

Some local knowledge - is the guy selling them making the hives as there are hives being made locally in a Health Service (R.o.I) funded workshop for individuals with special needs. If so, nothing wrong with them for that money.