Best price for a national?

[Newbeeneil]

I have a client who I manage hives for. They told me at the end of last season that they wanted another hive for this season so I duly purchased a national in the sales and popped a nice calm set of ladies in there in April.
Tonight they have told me they want two more hives..... I can just about supply the bees but where can I get a National for a decent price at this time of year?

 

[GuyNir]

I was wondering the same thing (equipment for a friend who’s just starting).
I know Paynes sales are in Oct & Dec. Not sure when Maisemore and Abelo sales are usually running?
If you’re after wooden you probably have more choice.

 

[Julie in Ash]

I have been digging around this subject ( wooden hives at any rate) as I am in the process of setting up and hopefully will be getting bees soon. If you can bear to make them from kits, Bee Equipment is not bad and their seconds and third ranges in pine are very cheap. Pine is generally cheaper everywhere, but then there’s the painting to take into account. Easipet do a very cheap kit form national, however I have just acquired a second hand one through auction and I would say the quality certainly fits the price. I reckon they will last two or three seasons at most. If you want something the next step up and in Cedar to avoid the painting, I have seen Caddons recommended. Hope that helps.

 

[Ian123]

Look up HiveMaker on this site and check out his site exmoor bees, top quality!!!!

 

[Newbeeneil]

Look up HiveMaker on this site and check out his site exmoor bees, top quality!!!!

I'm very tempted by Exmoor bees but I'm not sure if the client will stretch quite to his prices.
I'll put a price to them and see if they bite.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I have been digging around this subject ( wooden hives at any rate) as I am in the process of setting up and hopefully will be getting bees soon. If you can bear to make them from kits, Bee Equipment is not bad and their seconds and third ranges in pine are very cheap. Pine is generally cheaper everywhere, but then there’s the painting to take into account. Easipet do a very cheap kit form national, however I have just acquired a second hand one through auction and I would say the quality certainly fits the price. I reckon they will last two or three seasons at most. If you want something the next step up and in Cedar to avoid the painting, I have seen Caddons recommended. Hope that helps.

I actually make quite a bit of my own kit from scratch in cedar just for fun but normally buy 2nds in the winter sales for the majority of my kit.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Easipet do a very cheap kit form national, .

Cheap chinese stuff - a few suppliers now sell the same kind of stuff (but 'accidentally' forget to tell you where it comes from) a clue is hive parts made up of loads of narrow pieces of timber glued together - rather than one complete piece.

I actually make quite a bit of my own kit from scratch in cedar just for fun but normally buy 2nds in the winter sales for the majority of my kit.

Try C Wynne Jones - they sometimes have 'second quality' stuff on their website outside of the sales.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I was wondering the same thing (equipment for a friend who’s just starting).
I know Paynes sales are in Oct & Dec. Not sure when Maisemore and Abelo sales are usually running?
If you’re after wooden you probably have more choice.

I think Abelo have a sale sometime soon but I'd suggest phoning Damien to check.
He does floor, brood box, two supers, crownboard and roof packages for reasonable money.

 

[birdsandbees]

Maisemore have their summer sale event on the 29th of June, may be too far away both in terms of time and location but just thought I'd mention it.

 

[Adam Bee]

I bought my roof, crown and floor from Caddon and was very pleased with the quality and the price. Their gabled roof is on sale right now, if you’d like a bit of class.

https://www.-------------.co.uk/National-Gabled-Roof

If I had a table saw and router, I’d seriously consider making the boxes myself from reclaimed wood... but I have time and interest.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Cheap chinese stuff - a few suppliers now sell the same kind of stuff (but 'accidentally' forget to tell you where it comes from) a clue is hive parts made up of loads of narrow pieces of timber glued together - rather than one complete piece.


Try C Wynne Jones - they sometimes have 'second quality' stuff on their website outside of the sales.

Great price from C Wynne Jones for the kit. Quoted my client who gave me the thumbs up .
Looks like I will be getting paid to play with even more bees shortly....... does life get any better?

 

[linoleum bonypart]

That can't be bettered using other people's money lol

 

[Adam Bee]

I should try that. Since I have my bees, I’ve had both neighbors and friends “want some of their own”. There has to be a model in there somewhere. “You buy the kit, bees and incidentals. I look after them. If there’s any excess honey to harvest, we each have shares.”