How long does it take to build a flat-pack national?

[saaarawr]

How long did it take you to build a flat-pack national hive??

- the roof
- the frames
- the stand
- the brood body/super

I need to know much time to dedicate to build each bit! Thorne said use a whole afternoon, accurate?

 

[enrico]

How long is a piece of string. It is dependant on so much, good tools, your ability, everything being done right the first time, reading the instructions, knowing how things fit together.
Why the rush? Take your time, do it properly first time and allow a day!
E

 

[domino]

Judging by my shed about two years.

 

[Brian Bush]

I would allow a whole day the first time. I would estimate about 30 mins for 10 frames, times 2 for the super frames as well. 1/2 hour for the roof and an hour for the brood box and super. But I have been doing it for years.
Do yourself a favour, it may take a little longer, glue and screw, not nail the brood and supers when you put them together, probably the roof as well. Use exterior, waterproof, expanding wood glue. This will ensure there are no gaps between the wood. The hive should then last you a lifetime.
Good luck

 

[drex]

Make sure the bench is flat, and check that the boxes etc are all square. A QE is good for checking the boxes are square. Take your time and enjoy.

By all means make up the frames but keep one bottom bar out, and do not fit the foundation until just before using the frames.

I usually build my boxes, then have a day later on making up frames

 

[Davelin]

The first one takes the longest!!

Throw away the nails and get screws. I use evo stick exterior glue, an extra pair of hands is helpful on the brood box until you get the hang of them.

Considerably longer than one afternoon for a whole hive if your not practised.

 

[itma]

Make sure the bench is flat, and check that the boxes etc are all square. A QE is good for checking the boxes are square. Take your time and enjoy.

Yes !!!

And make very very sure you get the beespace right - that is as important as it being flat and square.
You should aim for an inaccuracy of less than a millimetre!
It does NEED to be done accurately. Not fast.

Before I switched to Paynes poly (total assembly is seconds per box to fit the rails - if they've remembered to pack them! - and unless you've decided to go TBS like Erica … ), I had discovered that it was easier to assemble National boxes* using the Maisemore instructions than the Thorne ones. Just doing things in a different sequence.
Both sets of instructions can be found on the companies' websites - useful to see what you are letting yourself in for!
* Whether DN, shallow or 14x12, all national boxes go together the same way. Only difference is the height of the walls, and how many fasteners you can be bothered to hammer/screw into those sides.
I used frame topbars in place, and 'drifting' their supporting sidewalls up and down to get the beespace right. But I know I'm rubbish at carpentry, so I'm slow and careful.


Shouldn't be any rush whatsoever to get building. Not least because they take up much more space after being assembled!
Most folks would be waiting for the New Year Sale, and a few bargain 'primes' plus the near-certainty of lots of flatpacks in 'second' grade cedar (which is generally plenty good enough). And frames in bargain 50-packs (not too many really, even for a beginner) again in highly usable second timber.


Last point. Don't forget that you need some spare kit for swarm control. Sales are useful, but (perfectly understandably) don't happen at the time that people discover that they REALLY NEED more kit. So forethought and planning ahead can save you lots of money.

 

[Hivemaker.]

How long did it take you to build a flat-pack national hive??
I need to know much time to dedicate to build each bit!

Around an hour, using waterproof glue and nails.

Brood or super = six minutes.
Roof = 15 minutes.
Stand - five minutes.
Frames = slightly under 1 minute per frame assembled and fitted with wax foundation.

 

[alldigging]

Around an hour, using waterproof glue and nails.

Brood or super = six minutes.
Roof = 15 minutes.
Stand - five minutes.
Frames = slightly under 1 minute per frame assembled and fitted with wax foundation.

Video yourself doing it!

Us slowcoaches can slow it down and watch at a more sensible speed.

I can do frames in about 2-3 minutes.


Or watch Thorne's video.

 

[MikeT]

Took me about 11/2hrs to make up the floor, BB 2 supers and the roof. Make sure it is square and replace the nails with zinc plated or brass screws. Use a good quality exterior waterproof glue.

The frames are a bit fiddly make them all up except for one bottom bar and insert the foundation just before you need it.

Once the hive is made its a good time to treat. I used 3 coats of linseed oil but I am sure others have used other materials.

 

[wessexmario]

It always feels logical to make the boxes first, but don't.
Make up some frames before constructing the boxes.
That will make it so much easier to check the bee space.

 

[bontbee]

.. and when you have made up your frames, hang them in the made up boxes, so that they don't warp - which they can do if they are stored in a pile, or propped up, leaning against each other...

 

[REDWOOD]

Around an hour, using waterproof glue and nails.

Brood or super = six minutes.
Roof = 15 minutes.
Stand - five minutes.
Frames = slightly under 1 minute per frame assembled and fitted with wax foundation.

Would that be a nail gun or hammer

 

[Hivemaker.]

Would that be a nail gun or hammer

What is a hammer?

 

[madasafish]

What is a hammer?

A misguided supporter of a London Premier League Football Club.

 

[REDWOOD]

This

 

[Amari]

Do yourself a favour, it may take a little longer, glue and screw, not nail the brood and supers when you put them together, probably the roof as well. Use exterior, waterproof, expanding wood glue. This will ensure there are no gaps between the wood. The hive should then last you a lifetime.
Good luck

A recent 'Woodworking Tips' in BBKA News recommended waterproof glue and 6mm dowels. I am currently trying this with pleasing results.
Another of their tips is to make a jig to ensure your boxes are square = 4 thin battens glued/pinned to a base board, the internal dimensions being 1mm wider than the box.
Wooden frames: difficult to clean, difficult to insert foundation the second and subsequent times etc. Plastic frames are much better - open like a book and insert the foundation.

 

[Hivemaker.]

This

Seen one of those of those on the antiques roadshow, i heard that they sometimes dig up fossilized ones on the south coast, from the Jurassic age i believe.

 

[MuswellMetro]

Video yourself doing it!

Us slowcoaches can slow it down and watch at a more sensible speed.

I can do frames in about 2-3 minutes.


Or watch Thorne's video.

it would Just be a LITTLE blur !!

i have a 462mm square jig with frame top bars nailed on for correct bee space, i use Gator glue and use hidden nailing similar to maisymores download pdf instructions rather than £hornes, takes me 10 minutes and then 15minutes to find the elastoplasters , 10 frame about 15mins, Not as fast as Mr Little

 

[drex]

I enjoy the ritual of frame making and even hammering. Bit like the Japanese tea ceremony. Very therapeutic, although I doubt I deal in the quantities like HM. However assembling the boxes and frames can be very enjoyable if you take your time, especially on wet cold day when you cannot get outside.