Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: bigbearomaha on October 27, 2009, 11:02:35 pm

Title: Top Bar Hive Materials
Post by: bigbearomaha on October 27, 2009, 11:02:35 pm

I have a question for those interested in top bar hives.  BTW, I am not trying to sell hives here.  I do hope to get some input from folks regarding buying them though.

I have an opportunity to 'recycle' wood into hives.  How well do you think they would be received?

I am thinking the people interested in being "green" might be very interested.

I would obviously "pretty them up" with a fresh coat of paint on the outside.

What do you think, is the interest in recycling a big enough motivation?

Big Bear

Title: Re: Top Bar Hive Materials
Post by: Robo on October 28, 2009, 09:55:24 am

I'm sure there would be a market,  you just need to find it and market to it....   Like most things,  it is more about the marketing than the actual product.

Title: Re: Top Bar Hive Materials
Post by: slaphead on November 29, 2009, 09:19:47 pm

It might keep your cost basis down  :-D

Several of our hives are built from discarded old fence boards and they look fine.  In this part of the world (Pacific NW) those are often 3/4" thick cedar!  Usually have to cut off the bottom 18" because of rot but that leaves plenty of wood to build 2 sides of a medium Lang box or the top half of one side of a Top Bar hive (assuming you use 2 planks per side).  I doubt you could charge extra for having used recycled lumber but it may give you a larger profit margin, assuming the lumber is free or cheap and there is enough of it available to meet your needs.

SH

Title: Re: Top Bar Hive Materials
Post by: David LaFerney on November 30, 2009, 06:46:29 pm

I've seen several places were people were inquiring about buying Warre hives.  You might consider that.

Title: Re: Top Bar Hive Materials
Post by: bigbearomaha on November 30, 2009, 08:42:15 pm

Yep , I build Warre hives, KYTB's and Lang boxes.  so far, I have been using scrapwood to build my own use but the new white pine to build for others orders.

 I build to order anyway, so I figure if someone wants to use 'recycled' wood, we can negotiate.

Big Bear

Title: Re: Top Bar Hive Materials
Post by: David LaFerney on November 30, 2009, 09:11:09 pm

Quote from: bigbearomaha on November 30, 2009, 08:42:15 pm

Some people say I have a bad attitude.   I say, screw them.

 X:X Just noticed that.