Winter Beekeeping ActivitiesEquipment and Supplies

You CanBuild Yourself

Dan O’Callaghan

Why Build/Make it Yourself?

•Save $$$• Customize – “My Way”• Experiment, what if…• Recycle stuff• Personal Satisfaction

What Can You Make/Build?

• Just about Anything!• Woodenware – boxes, nucs, frames, covers• Jigs to help you make/assemble equipment• Specialized stuff- bee vac, wax melter, pollen

traps, escape boards, queen rearing….• Extraction/Bottling equipment• ???

Where to Find Ideas and Plans?• http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/• http://beehivejournal.blogspot.com/2009/01/build-it-y

ourself.html• http://wasatchwarre.wordpress.com/diy-beehive-plans

/• http://www.tc.umn.edu/~reute001/Plans.html• http://cheapbeekeeping.wordpress.com/• http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/beekeeping/plans/• YouTube, Google, Bing, Yahoo, Dogpile…

Jigs

• Box Joint – Table Saw or Router Table Jig

Jigs

• Box Joint – Router Jig

Jigs

• Hand-Hold Jig (http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/handhold-jig/)

Jigs

• Frame Assembly Jig (http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/10-frame-assembly-jig/)

NOTE: For Kelley slotted top bar frames, reduce length specified in plan by 3/8”

Jigs

• Foundation wiring board(http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/foundation-form-board/)

Woodenware

• Hive Boxes – Brood and Super(http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/10-frame-langstroth-barry-birkey/)

Woodenware• Bottom Boards

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~reute001/Plans.html

(http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/ipm-screened-bottom-board/)

Woodenware• Inner Covers

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~reute001/Plans.html

http://www.honeyrunapiaries.com/beekeeping/plans/

Woodenware• Frames

http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/dadant-type-frames/

LOTS of milling and shaping required. Unless you have lots of time and really like a challenge, more cost effective to buy frames from the bee supply vendors.

Woodenware• Nucleus Hives

Woodenware• Top Bar Hives

http://wasatchwarre.wordpress.com/diy-beehive-plans/

Woodenware• Observation Hives

http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/3-frame-observation-hive-2/

Beekeeping Tools• Solar Wax Melter

http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/solar-wax-melter/

Beekeeping Tools• Bee Vac

http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/bee-vac/

Beekeeping Tools• Extractor

http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/4-frame-honey-extractor-2/

Beekeeping Tools• Uncapping tank

http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/honey-comb-uncapping-tank/

Beekeeping Tools• Bottling Bucket– Food-Grade Bucket/Lid - $3– Honey gate - $8

Beekeeping Tools• Colony extraction frames

• Warming Box

Beekeeping Tools• Honey House

(…but that’s a topic for another day)

…and LOTS More!

The End(really just the beginning!)

Dan O’Callaghan