Build Your Own Beekeeping Equipment: How to Construct 8- & 10-Frame Hives; Top Bar, Nuc & Demo Hives; Feeders, Swarm Catchers & More

357 Pages·2013·21.73 MB·English

by  Tony Pisano

I dedicate this book to my wonderful wife, Leila, a creative and
kindred spirit who loves to make things with her own hands.
To my son, Joshua, who spent many hot summer days helping put
up electric fences, chasing bears away, and lifting equipment as
we checked the hives, and who hand-cranked literally hundreds
and hundreds of pounds of honey through the extractor before
we put a motor on it.
To my daughter, Mackenzie, my biggest cheerleader, who has
always had faith in my abilities and has encouraged me all the
way, even though she is terribly afraid of bees.
Finally, to all people young and old who want to feel a direct
connection to the land and the joy of making something with
their own two hands.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Chapter One: Before We Begin
Safety First and Always
The Tools
Materials
Special Techniques
Planning Your Project
Chapter Two: Starting at the Bottom
Solid Bottom Board
Screened Bottom Board
Slatted Rack
Chapter Three: Hive Bodies and Supers
Hive Body with Butt Joints
Hive Body with Rabbet Joints
Chapter Four: Put a Lid on It
Basic Inner Cover
Insulated Inner Cover
Screened Inner Cover
Telescoping Outer Cover
Chapter Five: Building Hive Stands
A Very Basic Hive Stand
Hive Stand with Landing Boards
Doone’s Double-Hive Stand
Chapter Six: It’s All in the Details
Hive Spacer
Entrance Reducer
Paint Can Feeder
Bucket Feeder with Screened Plug Insert
Traditional Boardman-Style Entrance Feeder
Escape Boards
Chapter Seven: Let’s Do a Little Jig
Simple Bending Jig
Frame Assembly Jig
The Best-Ever Jig for Installing Foundation
Chapter Eight: Make a Swarm Catching Kit
Simple Bucket Swarm Catcher
Variation: Swiveling-Bucket Swarm Catcher
Wire-Frame Swarm Catcher
Chapter Nine: Building 8-Frame Hive and Nucs
8-Frame Deep Hive Body
8-Frame Solid Bottom Board
8-Frame Screened Bottom Board
8-Frame Slatted Rack
8-Frame Inner Cover
8-Frame Telescoping Outer Cover
Nuc Hive Body
5-Frame Nuc Bottom Board
Chapter Ten: Specialty Hives
Top-Bar Hive
Demonstration Hives
Appendix: Finished Projects
Resources
Other Storey Titles
Copyright
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book would never have been possible without the help of
many people, and I’d like to give them thanks.
First of all, to my dear friend Paul Dugal, Sr., who sparked my
interest and got me started in this crazy business of keeping honey
bees. When I was just observing from a safe distance, he gave me
his extra veil and got me up close. We’ve spent many hours
sipping coffee, planning strategies, smoking the hives, and taking
trips to Betterbee.
Thanks to my beekeeping buddies Lloyd Vosburgh and Jeff
Burdick. They enthusiastically share their years of knowledge and
experience. Lloyd and Jeff are everyone’s “go-to” beekeepers when
they have a question or a problem or need a queen or frame or
brood. Thanks to Tom Stefanik, who has a great love for bees and
people and has done a lot to help promote our club, the Northern
Berkshire Beekeepers Association, and beekeeping in general.
Thanks to Doone Mackay, my musical partner, who shared her
plan for the double hive stand.
I’d also like to thank Deb Burns, Alethea Morrison, and Becca
Bradburd, who all convinced me that I could write this book in the
first place, and everyone who works behind the scenes at Storey
Publishing to organize a pile of papers, sketches, and pictures into
something presentable.
I should also mention Anne Frey and the members of the
Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association, Dan Conlon and
members of the Massachusetts Beekeepers, and the crew at
Betterbee in Greenwich, New York, who all put on annual
conferences or field days for beginners and experienced
beekeepers. I also have to acknowledge Mike Palmer, Dewey
Caron, Ross Conrad, and countless others who are willing to speak
to the many beekeeping clubs, large and small, around the country.