How do the hives stay stacked

[mjdtexan]

Well, after a brief hiccup I am back. I've put together a nice woodshop and would like to build my own Langstroth hives. I find plans online but for the life of me I cant find what type of joinery yall are using to keep the supers on top of the brood chamber. Did my question make sense? They dont just stay on top like that without some sort of groove right?

[AllenF]

Gravity hold it down on the brood box for the first day or two.  Then the bees will have it glued down.  Tight.

[mjdtexan]

Gravity hold it down on the brood box for the first day or two.  Then the bees will have it glued down.  Tight.

Wow, I thought there was some sort of mechanism holding it together. I guess that just makes it simpler to build. I've noticed that the pine at the box stores is fairly knotty. Are knots bad and iffin they are, how come?

AllenF thank you for taking the time to read my post and answering it. Much appreciated.

[Kathyp]

knots are fine.  i buy the cheaper supers with made with lower grade/knotty wood.  no problem.  try not to knock them out and make big holes  :-)

[AllenF]

I caulk the loose knot holes to start with as I paint them.   Bees will take care of them from there.

[mjdtexan]

knots are fine.  i buy the cheaper supers with made with lower grade/knotty wood.  no problem.  try not to knock them out and make big holes  :-)

Thank You Kathy. If you wouldnt mind could you tell me where you buy yours and how much they are? I want to make sure I cant buy them cheaper than I could build them.

Also, thank you for the time you have taken to help me.

I caulk the loose knot holes to start with as I paint them.   Bees will take care of them from there.

Allen, is there a special caulk or will any outdoor caulk work? Thank you too Allen for helping me

[Kathyp]

i usually buy from mann lake.  they ship from CA to me and the shipping is usually less even if the price per item might be more.  maybe some of the down south folks can point you in the right direction.  also, a couple of places are doing free shipping right now.

[AllenF]

On caulk, the cheaper, the better.   

[L Daxon]

I bought my 8 frame mediums from Mann Lake last spring.  I ordered a couple more from Better Bee last month and they were a full 1/4 inch wider than the Mann Lake ones.  Is that kind of variation common from supplier to supplier. Or even within the same company.  I thought this stuff was so standardized their wouldn't bee that noticeable a variation.

[mjdtexan]

On caulk, the cheaper, the better.  

Thank You. Is there a dado or rabbit cut into where the frames are held? I need to search for me a used or damaged hive body to examine I suppose. Thank You again.

Edited to add: I may have framed that question wrong. I am trying to figure out what the frames rest on (or in) in a hive body to keep them from just resting on the bottom of the hive body.

[Tommyt]

Thank You. Is there a dado or rabbit cut into where the frames are held? I need to search for me a used or damaged hive body to examine I suppose. Thank You again.

Thats the 100,000 dollar question
100 Bee Box makers and each one does it his or her own way
Some swear Butt them Glue and screw
others say/use dado and No glue just nail
Others Screw no glue and it goes on

I started making mine with Dado, Glue and Brad nail
I also made the first ones with a Lap joint "L"

Enjoy
Tom

[mjdtexan]

Thank You. Is there a dado or rabbit cut into where the frames are held? I need to search for me a used or damaged hive body to examine I suppose. Thank You again.

Thats the 100,000 dollar question
100 Bee Box makers and each one does it his or her own way
Some swear Butt them Glue and screw
others say/use dado and No glue just nail
Others Screw no glue and it goes on

I started making mine with Dado, Glue and Brad nail
I also made the first ones with a Lap joint "L"

Enjoy
Tom

Thanks Tom.

Tom, how do the frames sit in the box? Is there a recess for them to fit into?

[VolunteerK9]

At the top of the hive body, the frame rest is cut out. Like a rabbet joint. The cut out is 3/8 wide (half the thickness of the 3/4 inch board that you are using) by 5/8 deep.

[mjdtexan]

At the top of the hive body, the frame rest is cut out. Like a rabbet joint. The cut out is 3/8 wide (half the thickness of the 3/4 inch board that you are using) by 5/8 deep.

Awesome. That is what I am looking for. I am going to drive to the sawmill this weekend and get me some pine. I can get it for about a dollar a bd foot for 1x12s which is really ¾" by 11½ inches. Thank You. Much appreciated.  :mrgreen:

[hardwood]

Check out beesource.com for plans.

Scott

[mjdtexan]

Check out beesource.com for plans.

Scott

Thank You. I will do that. I think I am a member over there too. I approve (not that you need my approval) of your signature line by golly

[AliciaH]

mjdtexan:  Sorry to cut in on your question, but I have one of my own and it sort of applies.

My husband and I found that when we buy lumber from the hardware store, it warps over the course of the first year of use, even though it's been painted.  The results included some gapping in the jointed areas and the need to plane a few of the boxes to get them to sit flush with each other again.

We've had better luck with boxes made from used lumber that's had a chance to dry more.

How have the rest of you gotten around that issue?  If you acquire new lumber, do you store it for awhile first to let it finish?

[mjdtexan]

mjdtexan:  Sorry to cut in on your question, but I have one of my own and it sort of applies.

My husband and I found that when we buy lumber from the hardware store, it warps over the course of the first year of use, even though it's been painted.  The results included some gapping in the jointed areas and the need to plane a few of the boxes to get them to sit flush with each other again.

We've had better luck with boxes made from used lumber that's had a chance to dry more.

How have the rest of you gotten around that issue?  If you acquire new lumber, do you store it for awhile first to let it finish?

"Cut ins" never ever bother me. I usually learn something from them. I would not have thought of that issue myself. Thanks for bringing it up

[buzzbee]

I bought my 8 frame mediums from Mann Lake last spring.  I ordered a couple more from Better Bee last month and they were a full 1/4 inch wider than the Mann Lake ones.  Is that kind of variation common from supplier to supplier. Or even within the same company.  I thought this stuff was so standardized their wouldn't bee that noticeable a variation.

I think betterbee uses a 7/8ths thick board instead of 3/4. I have some of these mixed in and encounter no problems, The inside dimensions are okay.the thicker wood is slightly better insukation and they seeem a bit sturdier,though heavier.

[Ben Framed]

Bump