Bee Box's/dove tail joints

[beeeee]

I use all 8 frame medium supers. Can I get by with making them without the dovetails? Or will they not last as long?

[DonShackelford]

Use rabbit joints, glue with Liquid Nails Exterior glue, nail well with 1/4"x 1 1/4" galvanized narrow crown staples.
I've made hundreds of these. They will last as long as any.

[Mr.Beeman]

I second the plan above, except I use Titebond II and finish nails.

[Huntingstoneboy]

1" pine, Titebond III, 2" deck screws. Rabit joints cut on table saw. Finished 12 deeps and 12 mediums yesterday!

[Rader Sidetrack]

> Can I get by with making them without the dovetails?

Commercially made hive bodies are generally made with box joints, not dovetail joints. The difference is that the edges of a dovetail joint are not parallel to any plane of the wood. Box joints are parallel to the wood.


Dovetall joint above


Box joint above

Rabbet joints (or rebate joints in certain parts of the world ) work fine for bee boxes. Just be sure to use both glue and your choice of mechanical fasteners.