What did you do in the 'workshop' today

[wightbees]

I can't decide whether to make loads of boxes or buy them. On one hand it's cheaper to make but on the other hand I could do extra work for couple days and buy them!
I have plenty of wood, which is kind of saying, make me lol

 

[Apiarisnt]

I have built my own beehive…

… which for someone with only two terms of woodworking in class One T over half a century ago is remarkable. Last month I went on the Axminster two day beehive making course. There were only three of us on the course which was taught by a craftsman who is also a beekeeper. They all tolerated my lack of knowledge of both bees and woodworking. It was a revelation to use some decent kit – so I will not be buying anymore rubbish from the DIY sheds. At the end I came away with a complete 14 x 12 hive which would have cost more than half the price of the course.

On the other hand, this could be the start of something expensive...

 

[nantmoel]

… which for someone with only two terms of woodworking in class One T over half a century ago is remarkable. Last month I went on the Axminster two day beehive making course. There were only three of us on the course which was taught by a craftsman who is also a beekeeper. They all tolerated my lack of knowledge of both bees and woodworking. It was a revelation to use some decent kit – so I will not be buying anymore rubbish from the DIY sheds. At the end I came away with a complete 14 x 12 hive which would have cost more than half the price of the course.

On the other hand, this could be the start of something expensive...

Wish my garage was that tidy!

 

[wightbees]

Hmm what is the bandsaw in the corner i see

 

[victor meldrew]

Hmm what is the bandsaw in the corner i see

Axminster I guess [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Apiarisnt]

Hmm what is the bandsaw in the corner i see

...and the advice from the tutor was that a bandsaw should be the very last thing on our list of machinery to buy. Having said that we did use it quite a bit. Without doubt the table saw (in the middle) was of more use, but the router table (at the back) was the most indispensable bit of kit over the two days.

 

[user 6228]

… which for someone with only two terms of woodworking in class One T over half a century ago is remarkable. Last month I went on the Axminster two day beehive making course. There were only three of us on the course which was taught by a craftsman who is also a beekeeper. They all tolerated my lack of knowledge of both bees and woodworking. It was a revelation to use some decent kit – so I will not be buying anymore rubbish from the DIY sheds. At the end I came away with a complete 14 x 12 hive which would have cost more than half the price of the course.

On the other hand, this could be the start of something expensive...

It wasn't first year woodwork but 6 weeks in a foundry pattern shop that gave me the insight was possible with wood working machinery. That said I did use a manual plane today

 

[Fusion_power]

I assembled 9 square Dadant depth hives over the last 2 days. One more hive left to assemble to finish them off. I have frames made to fill up the boxes. 8 of these will be shipped to other beekeepers to get them started with Dadant equipment.

The bees are building up rapidly. Most colonies have at least 6 frames of brood. It is time to get supers ready to go on.

I saw swarm scouts around a bait hive earlier today.

 

[Noddy]

Cut this logo into my hives (before I assemble them) using my CNC router, as a theft prevention method - does it work? Well, I've not had any stolen



Made this lot - three hives and three nucs

 

[Parsonage Bees]

I thought this brood box was spare but now I've turned it into 2 nucs it looks like I'm going to need to buy another!
It would have been easier to make a couple of seperate nucs. . . . Ben

 

[Millet]

Cut this logo into my hives (before I assemble them) using my CNC router, as a theft prevention method - does it work? Well, I've not had any stolen



Made this lot - three hives and three nucs

You have put the hive together all wrong.. , just messing however you might want to make your Photo Bucket account private,

 

[Noddy]

You have put the hive together all wrong.. , just messing however you might want to make your Photo Bucket account private,

I wondered why there seemed to be a bit missing in the middle lol - they still all need sanding and painting, and the 'tin' fitted to the roofs.

 

[Little John]

I thought this brood box was spare but now I've turned it into 2 nucs it looks like I'm going to need to buy another!
It would have been easier to make a couple of seperate nucs. . . . Ben

If you were to make the bottom of the divider bee-tight (i.e. run a batten underneath it, if you're running an OMF) and ensure that the divider top is also bee-tight, then you will have the perfect base for a 'Mike Palmer' nuc tower.

Then complete it by placing a couple of pairs of 230mm-wide 5-frame nuc boxes on top ... and you'll then have a very clever method of increasing bee-numbers, getting frames drawn etc.

I have a few divided brood boxes - dedicated to the above - and really must get around to making one or two more.
LJ

 

[user 6228]

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Thanks LJ,
The two sides should be bee-tight. I'll need to find a position where the seperate colonies can exit, one front and the other at the 'back'.
I remember seeing a Michael Palmer video of his nucs. I'll have to check them again. And in the mean time make some seperate nucs.

Thanks for your website. I beginning to understand the advantages of top bee space Nationals. Makes the construction simpler with flat crownboards and only one rebated moulding for the ends. Problem is any nucs I make will have to fit on this standard box so a bit more complex.

. . .. Ben

 

[alldigging]

Cut this logo into my hives (before I assemble them) using my CNC router, as a theft prevention method - does it work? Well, I've not had any stolen

That's very lovely.
I don't think my OH has a CNC router though.. how much is that going to cost me? :-D

 

[bjosephd]

YES, derek, YES!

Long tall hives!

Are you going to celotex clad them?

Love them.

We should be spreading those through woodland to be inhabited all around the country!

BJD

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ive already run this past Stan after seeing it on FB
I don't think he is particularly happy with me

 

[user 6228]

YES, derek, YES!

Long tall hives!

Are you going to celotex clad them?

Love them.

We should be spreading those through woodland to be inhabited all around the country!

BJD

20mm Recticel cover and if going permanently
up a tree 0.5mm Ally sheet on top of that

 

[Swarm]

Two old cedar nationals salvaged and converted to TBS. Internals reduced to take 10 frames and a dummy to match the swientys.