Support Group
Equipment
We bought our boxes and frames from Humble Abodes in Windsor, Maine.
Their phone number is (207) 549-5501
Budget Deep Box- 7.60/each
Budget Deep Frames- .52/each (you need 10 per Deep Box)
On the left is Justin with our "pallet-o-gear"...good thing he has a big truck! Ramona is posing with the gear after we get it unloaded to the porch for the night...the next day I brought it all down to the basement...over 1100lbs!
I really struggled over how to deal with the tops and bottoms. I wanted top entrances only, I wanted to be able to close off the hive with short notice (in case of spraying or necessary moving), and I wanted to keep a queen excluder on the entrance at first, as we are starting all of our packages on HSC (see below)...we might even want to confine the bees for a few days. Most of all, I'm cheap. My solution isn't as quick as something like Michael Bush's shim tops, and there may be some durability issues...but I do like how they are coming out. The full prototype is on a hive, and it's too late to run the saw to lap the joints, so fitting and gluing the 3/16" shim will have to wait until tomorow. These are made of 3/4" exterior plywood.
On the left is the underside of the cover...the right is a closeup of one of the entrances, and you can see the groove.
This is what the cover looks like on a hive body. The final version has a lap jointed 3/16" shim all the way around...a shim is shown here in temporary position.
Views from the side...the queen excluder or an entrance reducer/closer (vented or unvented) can be slid into place by even a non beekeeper at night.
One of the entrances with the queen excluder in place.
What we are planning to do with our packages is to install them into 5 frames of Honey Super Cell in a regular 10 frame box (with a "partition" to confine the bees tightly in the 5 frame area...this partition is generally called a "follower board"). This is not foundation, but injection molded "drawn comb". We are not in favor of using plastic foundation or comb in general, but the HSC is small cell drawn comb, and our plan is to use it to shorten the amount of time it takes to "regress" the bees before they start drawing their own comb. This stuff is not cheap (which is why we are going to install them onto 5 frames rather than 10 frames) at $5.50 a frame! Our rational for using this is that it will help us quickly regress our new package bees in size, and we will be able to reuse it in our existing hives and for the future. It's about 10 times as expensive as using foundationless frames, but you also get a head start with 5 frames worth of drawn comb...and get a head start in regressing the bees to small cell. Even though we are doing everything to keep our own costs down, this seems like a worthwhile investment to us. If you don't want to take on this expense (and please remember, it is an experement, we have never done it this way before), you can either order some small cell foundation, or do what we do, which is to use popsicle sticks as comb guides.
Here is a list of necessary equipment. I sat down with the Better Bee, Dadant, and Brushy Mountain catalogs, and did my best to find the best prices and best products. There is an overwhelming number of products and choices, but what is listed below is likely to easily get you through the first year. This list does not include the actual hives.
1. Helmet/Veil
I think Betterbee has the best prices and selection of veils and helmets. I like their Ventilated Helmet (HEL2) for $11.75...the (HEL1) is plastic and only $9.95. Add their Premium Tie-Down Veil (I prefer the square SV1) for $10.50, or save a little cash with the Alexander Veil (AV1) for $10.95, which does not require the helmet.
2. Suit
For bee suits, we use the disposable Tyvek jumpsuits that can be had from Amazon for just a couple of dollars. We are ordering new ones this year, but have used the same ones for 6 years. On hot days they can be hot, but they are more sting proof than others (not completely).
I haven't tried this style of beesuit, but I expect it's worth every penny (just under $200), as it's completely vented, and virtually completely sting proof. You could wear a bathing suit under this on a really hot day...you would cook in the Tyvek suit. I'm hoping to get one before it gets too hot.
3. Gloves
Betterbee's Goatskin Gloves are my current favorite (GS1) for $15.95
4. Smoker
Betterbee Economy Smoker (SMOKEECON1) $22.95....stainless steel, full heat shield.
5. Brush
Betterbee (BB1), $3.75
6. Hive Tool
Betterbee...I'd get both the Standard Hive Tool (HT1) for $4.95, and the Hook-End Hive Tool (HT3) for $12.50
7. Feeder
I've bought 2 gallon feeder pails in the past (Betterbee (FP1), $4.95), and they are useful...but I plan to use glass jars with holes in the lids this year.
8. Frame Grip
...I think the Brushy Mountain Frame Grip (#764) for $13.50 is a little nicer than most of the others, but they are all ok. I bought one and barely use it, it is certainly not necessary for your first year (when there isn't so much built up propolis in the hive).
9. Frame Holder or Perch
These are pretty handy, and I am going to try and use mine more than I have. There are basically 2 styles, one piece and 2 piece....both have their pluses and minuses, but the Betterbee 2 piece is easy to carry, is stainless and is $13.50 (WFH1). Again, this is not necessary, but helpful.
10. Syrup Sprayer
This is a good "Dollar Store" item. Don't use one that has been used for anything else.
Budget Deep Box- 7.60/each
Budget Deep Frames- .52/each (you need 10 per Deep Box)
On the left is Justin with our "pallet-o-gear"...good thing he has a big truck! Ramona is posing with the gear after we get it unloaded to the porch for the night...the next day I brought it all down to the basement...over 1100lbs!
I really struggled over how to deal with the tops and bottoms. I wanted top entrances only, I wanted to be able to close off the hive with short notice (in case of spraying or necessary moving), and I wanted to keep a queen excluder on the entrance at first, as we are starting all of our packages on HSC (see below)...we might even want to confine the bees for a few days. Most of all, I'm cheap. My solution isn't as quick as something like Michael Bush's shim tops, and there may be some durability issues...but I do like how they are coming out. The full prototype is on a hive, and it's too late to run the saw to lap the joints, so fitting and gluing the 3/16" shim will have to wait until tomorow. These are made of 3/4" exterior plywood.
On the left is the underside of the cover...the right is a closeup of one of the entrances, and you can see the groove.
This is what the cover looks like on a hive body. The final version has a lap jointed 3/16" shim all the way around...a shim is shown here in temporary position.
Views from the side...the queen excluder or an entrance reducer/closer (vented or unvented) can be slid into place by even a non beekeeper at night.
One of the entrances with the queen excluder in place.
What we are planning to do with our packages is to install them into 5 frames of Honey Super Cell in a regular 10 frame box (with a "partition" to confine the bees tightly in the 5 frame area...this partition is generally called a "follower board"). This is not foundation, but injection molded "drawn comb". We are not in favor of using plastic foundation or comb in general, but the HSC is small cell drawn comb, and our plan is to use it to shorten the amount of time it takes to "regress" the bees before they start drawing their own comb. This stuff is not cheap (which is why we are going to install them onto 5 frames rather than 10 frames) at $5.50 a frame! Our rational for using this is that it will help us quickly regress our new package bees in size, and we will be able to reuse it in our existing hives and for the future. It's about 10 times as expensive as using foundationless frames, but you also get a head start with 5 frames worth of drawn comb...and get a head start in regressing the bees to small cell. Even though we are doing everything to keep our own costs down, this seems like a worthwhile investment to us. If you don't want to take on this expense (and please remember, it is an experement, we have never done it this way before), you can either order some small cell foundation, or do what we do, which is to use popsicle sticks as comb guides.
Here is a list of necessary equipment. I sat down with the Better Bee, Dadant, and Brushy Mountain catalogs, and did my best to find the best prices and best products. There is an overwhelming number of products and choices, but what is listed below is likely to easily get you through the first year. This list does not include the actual hives.
1. Helmet/Veil
I think Betterbee has the best prices and selection of veils and helmets. I like their Ventilated Helmet (HEL2) for $11.75...the (HEL1) is plastic and only $9.95. Add their Premium Tie-Down Veil (I prefer the square SV1) for $10.50, or save a little cash with the Alexander Veil (AV1) for $10.95, which does not require the helmet.
2. Suit
For bee suits, we use the disposable Tyvek jumpsuits that can be had from Amazon for just a couple of dollars. We are ordering new ones this year, but have used the same ones for 6 years. On hot days they can be hot, but they are more sting proof than others (not completely).
I haven't tried this style of beesuit, but I expect it's worth every penny (just under $200), as it's completely vented, and virtually completely sting proof. You could wear a bathing suit under this on a really hot day...you would cook in the Tyvek suit. I'm hoping to get one before it gets too hot.
3. Gloves
Betterbee's Goatskin Gloves are my current favorite (GS1) for $15.95
4. Smoker
Betterbee Economy Smoker (SMOKEECON1) $22.95....stainless steel, full heat shield.
5. Brush
Betterbee (BB1), $3.75
6. Hive Tool
Betterbee...I'd get both the Standard Hive Tool (HT1) for $4.95, and the Hook-End Hive Tool (HT3) for $12.50
7. Feeder
I've bought 2 gallon feeder pails in the past (Betterbee (FP1), $4.95), and they are useful...but I plan to use glass jars with holes in the lids this year.
8. Frame Grip
...I think the Brushy Mountain Frame Grip (#764) for $13.50 is a little nicer than most of the others, but they are all ok. I bought one and barely use it, it is certainly not necessary for your first year (when there isn't so much built up propolis in the hive).
9. Frame Holder or Perch
These are pretty handy, and I am going to try and use mine more than I have. There are basically 2 styles, one piece and 2 piece....both have their pluses and minuses, but the Betterbee 2 piece is easy to carry, is stainless and is $13.50 (WFH1). Again, this is not necessary, but helpful.
10. Syrup Sprayer
This is a good "Dollar Store" item. Don't use one that has been used for anything else.
Golden Rule Apiary
Leominster, Massachusetts
www.BeeUntoOthers.com