Build a Langstroth Bee Hive (beekeeping the Simple Way)

This is a simple made Langstroth bee hive. You can use any wood you like. I find some of the parts i used in the trash. Make sure its mass wood and burn it with a flamepistol to kill any fungus or microbes before using it to build the hive.

I used 28mm screws and woodglue to assembly the parts. I include a 3d Rhino file with all the parts i cutted. I adjusted the dimensions according to the breadth of the frames available in the local market (Tirol). If your frames have different breadth, adjust the hive plans keeping in mind the the bees need internaly ~8mm space between the frames and the surrounding surfaces (interior walls, top cover, top or bottom frames, etc).

Step 1: Bottom Board Α - Open Mesh Floor for the Varroa Mite Control

The Bottom board is open and a mesh with ~3mm holes is attached so as to control the Varroa mite. The mites are falling from the bees while they clean each other. Under the metal mesh there will be hanging a plastic tray that will collect the mites. The tray will be sitting on six screws, providing the less possible space that would act as a 'bridge' between the tray and the rest of the hive, therefore preventing the mites from climbing back, up on the hive.

Step 2: Bottom Board Β - Entrance

The opening to the back helps with cleaning the metal mesh without disturbing the rest of the floors

There is one front entrance for the winter (short) and one for the summer. The openings prevent bigger insects to enter the hive.

Step 3: Deep Super

Step 4: Shallow Super

Step 5: Inner Cover - Feeder

The board is 5mm MDF. There will be cutted a round hole in the middle so the bees can access the feeder

Step 6: Outer Cover

The black board of the top cover will be covered with corrugated metal

The wood stripes on the third picture, are placed there when there is no feeder inside, to help the ventilation of the top space. The inclination of the top help also the rain water to run quicker away from the hive

Step 7: The Traditional Plans

Here are some pdf i used before start building

any suggestions from the experienced beekeepers about upgrades for my hive, will be welcome!

Special THANKS to Claudia for providing as the space to work and place the hives :)

Christos and Carmen

Comments

[LavRadis]

great instructable! I've just finished the beekeeping school and going to start my own apiary. did you cut it on a cnc? i would really like to get Langstroth plans for cnc but can not find them anywhere. Best regards from Croatia

[gantsa]

no, i cutted the parts on a carpenters professional saw table. There is no so much detail to need a cnc. Its important to have perfect vertical cuttings. otherwise the 'floors' will not fit-seal the gap, when they will sit on each other.

If you want to cut the parts on cnc, i have attached the rhinoceros 3d file of my design. There is the 3d as well as the 2d plans that you can use in cnc

[justooney]

Where?

[Kuffar]

I started keeping bees, about 4 years ago. I've built all of my hive bodies. I buy the frames, even though I did build a few. I can buy them, and assemble them myself, for about $1.25 ea., not including foundation. I have been drifting toward foundationless, but make sure you provide a good starter strip. Once your bees go the wrong way, it's a pain to fix it.
I like the slanted top. I normally face my hives South, and slant my top to the North. But, any tilt is useful for water runoff.
Also, since I'm approaching 65, I've noticed that my bees have gained weight. So, I'm now building mine to 8 frame boxes. It reduces the weight about 20%. They seem to winter, just fine with the smaller box.

[ST NZ]

Great, I've always wanted bees!