Should I build or buy?

[Yanks26]

I was thinking about buying some "supers" (what are these anyways? I hear of so many different types) or possibly building my own. One of my main questions is: Do the trays come with those 6-sided combs where honey is inserted or do the bees make that off a flat piece of wood?

Anyone got a good source on how to make these? I would rather save myself $100 lol

[standman]

The answer depends on several factors:
1)Do you have access to woodworking equipment and are you handy with it?
2)Do you have more time than money?
3)Do you have a source of cheap lumber?
4)Are you willing to risk an injury from using power equipment?

If you can answer "yes" to all of the above, then go for it. If there is even one "no", then you would probably be better off to order your equipment. Most of the supply houses offer "commercial" grade equipment if your funds are really tight. If you live close to a supplier and can pick up your order, you may find you can get a precut super for about what you would pay for top grade lumber at the big box store.

That being said, I have built every part of a hive (screened and solid bottom boards, entrance reducers, deep hive bodies, medium and shallow supers, inner covers, telescoping covers, and nucs) except for frames (that is the name for those "trays" you asked about). There are pretty good plans on the Home page here at beesource. Just click on "build it".
Speaking of frames--they come in two main types (wood and plastic). The "wood" that the bees build their comb on is called foundation. Some people don't use any, allowing the bees to build their own. Some people use sheets of wax--whole sheets or starter strips. Plastic foundation is also available, and can be purchased as a sheet with imprints of comb on it, or even as completely drawn comb.
That may be more info than you were asking for, but I hope it helps. Good info can be found on here, and I highly recommend you read a basic text like "Beekeeping for Dummies". Best of luck and God bless.

[peletier]

For a total newcomer, I reccommend buying a "starter kit" from one of the equipment suppliers. Shop around for the best price. This kit will give you pieces you can duplicate if you want to make your own stuff later. Sounds like you need to do a lot more reading to get familiar with the equipment/terminology. At least get a woodenware catalog and study what is offered.

The "trays", (frames) are usually fitted (by you) with wax sheets imprinted with the outlines of cell bases (hexagons). The bees extend these ridges into nice neat uniform cells. On this forum you will read about the pros and cons of using this "foundation".

[justgojumpit]

I build most of my own equipment. It's a lot of work, but I enjoy the job, and it saves me the cost of shipping. The lumber costs me almost as much as just buying the supers, but the shipping is where I see my savings. If you're looking to save on woodenware, you can pick some up when you come to see my hives. The only thing I don't like to build is the side bars for the frames. I make my own bottom bars becasue they're easy and the top bars because I want a custom foundationless top bar that I cannot buy in. They're a pain to make, though!

justgojumpit

[Ed_C]

Standman said it all. I just built a few and will never go through that again.

[Carl F]

I have "a friend" who learned something about woodenware the hard way. He did not make his own but he had boxes from different manufacturers. One manufacturer cut the frame rests deeper into the box than the other manufacturer. When he put a box with the deeper frame rests (bottom bars almost flush with bottom of box) onto a box with the shallower frame rests (top bars almost flush with top of box) he was smashing all of the bees that were on the top bars of the lower box. The obvious lesson is whether you make woodenware or buy woodenware, make sure they are compatible in all of their dimensions.

[Brenda]

My brother does his own woodworking (built cabinets, etc) and wanted to get into bees this year. I loaned him one of my supers, sbb, and top with inner cover, so he could get the dimensions, and he made me some supers too. :)

My supers were from dadant so he just went and picked us some frames from dadant, so we know they'll fit.

Now he says he'll just make us some hives every year.

He's all set up to do it and had most of the material sitting around already, so it was a plus for both of us.

[MapMan]

Building brood boxes and supers is very easy, and will help improve your woodworking skills if you are new to woodworking. That said, manufactured boxes are cheaper initially if you have to buy machinery to produce the boxes... Not counting your time. If you have the skills, can get cheap local materials, have access to machinery, and the time, go for it.

MM

[mattimeo]

I get a contractor discount at the big box home stores, so I just built some bottom boards and inner and outer covers for the hives I want to get started, and saved a boatload, even versus driving over to Dadant and buying them unassembled.

I won't be trying to do frames myself, too much time and skill involved. And I can buy Dadant hive bodies and supers for less than I can purchase the wood needed to make them, even with my discount, to say nothing of the dado blade that I don't have.

[Michael Bush]

The plans are in the plans section from the beesource home page.

Unless you have a very cheap source of lumber or free scrap lumber it's usually cheaper to buy them.

[Eyeshooter]

I agree with Standman–especially about reading a basic beginner's book like Beekeeping for Dummies or Kim Flottum's book The Backyard Beekeeper. Short of reading a book, try contacting your local beek club and take the beginner's class. They may also have a lending library.

The only reason to build your own equipment is a love of both woodworking and raising bees. You will not save money unless you get an incredible deal on the wood.

Good luck!

[Bizzybee]

Do you enjoy working with your hands?
Do you have the equipment?
Do you have the time?
Do you like saving a few bucks?

Just a few other questions to ask yourself. You can build your supers for about 4 bucks each, not having an outlet for cheap lumber. I haven't seen them offered for that anywhere? If you enjoy working with wood, you will come out with some great satisfaction from building your own equipment and you can get it just the way you want it.

If you're going to be doing a lot of it, shop till you drop for wood. You'll find it eventually. I'm building supers for $.25 each at the moment. Not including my time, saw and power of course. But I think I'm coming out ok. What do you think?

If it's something you think you will enjoy? BE SAFE and have some fun!

[WGB]

As a new guy, I built the boxes, tops, bottom boards, and bought the frames.
I have the wood working stuff, and sheet metal stuff.
I saved half the wood cost on sale, and a ton of freight.
Takes lot of time but I wanted to do it.
I will continue to make everything I can.

[GRIMBEE]

If you have some carpentry skills and a table saw it is worth building your own supers, to save on shipping costs. You will want to buy frames thou because its easier and cheaper to order them than to make em.
I say it depends how many your gonna make and how much spare time you have, most of us work and don't have time. If its just a couple then buy everything from a good dealer.

[Eyeshooter]

BizzyBee wrote: "You can build your supers for about 4 bucks each, not having an outlet for cheap lumber...I'm building supers for $.25 each at the moment."

That is incredible! In my town, at Home Depot a 1x8x10 costs $8 and change (premium quality was over $20 each). That's enough board feet for about 1 1/2 mediums (counting the warps). The decent lumber yard charges even more. As I do have all of the toys and evening time needed to make supers, I choose to. But when I add the 52 galvanized nails and TightBond II glue needed to build the mediums with box joints as described in the instructions under "Build It", I come in over $6.00 per super. I guess it depends on where you live and how many lumber options are available to you.

Of course, with box joints, 52 nails, glue and fresh paint, these babies will last a very long time. ;)

[bigbore]

I work in a lumber yard, and scrounge all the usable scrap I can get. right now I have lumber for 23 deep brood boxes and 35 med's setting in my building. I have a few SBB, inner and outer covers setting around too...

(I write this looking over my shoulder for my DW, if she knew, I wouldn't need any of it anymore....:D)

I enjoy the work, and save a few $ in the process, I have make some frames to hold cutouts, and I am trying my hand at a few real frames. If you are only going to do a few, have at it; but if you need to do a bunch (100+) please for the love of your sanity BUY!!!!!

I don't know who I am quoting, but I know it is true...."It ain't easy, but it sure is fun...":lpf: