[brianw13a]

Can I make beehives from 1x4 lumber with the same structural integrity as the normal 1x12 or close? The reason for this is to save money. At my local Menards a 6ft 1x12 cost $15.36 while 6ft 1x4 cost 1.99, this means I could purchase the necessary lumber for 1 deep box for $6. I was thinking I could stagger the joints on the sides and ends so everything is well attached. Has anyone ever done this before?

I made twenty hives a few years ago. It was a headache finding lumber that reasonably straight. Even then, they need to be run through the miter saw twice, the jointer, and the table saw. Then there's the dado stack and building a jig for the box joints. In the end it's cheaper/easier to just buy them unassembled.

To use 1x4's you'd have those problems and the added issue of aligning and gluing them to get a 1x11. If you like the satisfaction of DIY, go for it. There's no reason it wouldn't work.

 

[brianw13a]

For many people their time is of no value.

If they spend it commenting in online forums or watching reruns of Gilligan's Island or watching the talking hair in their favorite news tunnel, it accomplishes nothing.

So for those people it make sense to do something constructive and useful, even if the value of that useful thing is small.

Not that all leisure is pointless, but leisure is like food. Most Americans have access to too much.

So now I need to apply my own medicine!

I agree with everything you said. I laser engrave all my hive boxes. It's takes a lot of time and doesn't provide any functional value (maybe theft prevention). I like it though and it gets attention from potential customers.

The OP stated it was to save money. If that's the point of the exercise, then it doesn't hurt to see what the process looks like and consider whether it's worth the effort. Even for a leisure activity, it's costly to build hive boxes unless one already has the necessary equipment to do it right.

I've done it the easy way (few tools) and the right way (right tools). I'll never do either again Inner covers, telescopic covers, and bottom boards are a different story.

Anyone interested in saving a buck on beekeeping equipment should find a local beekeeping conference to attend. The vendors are motivated to get the prices down. Last year a vendor at MSU was selling deep hive bodies for less than I could buy the lumber. They are very high quality too.