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

Beekeeping equipment is expensive, but it's easy to make your own. Tony Pisano's step-by-step illustrated instructions show you how to build everything you need, including hive bodies, supers, covers,

Tony Pisano runs his own business producing and selling honey, as well as soap, candles, lip balm, and hand salves from his own beeswax. He lives in North Adams, Massachusetts. 

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

Medium and Shallow Supers

Chapter Four: Putting a Lid on It

Basic Inner Cover

Insulated Inner Cover for Winter

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 Hives 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 Hive

Resources

Index