Building Beehives For Dummies
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When building an elevated hive stand for your bee, it's easiest to break it down into its individual components — the following tables show you how and provide instructions on how to cut those components. (Note: This design calls for a rabbet cut.)

Lumber in a store is identified by its nominal size, which is its rough dimension before it's trimmed and sanded to its finished size at the lumber mill. The actual finished dimensions are always slightly different from the nominal dimensions. For example, what a lumberyard calls 1 inch x 6 inch lumber is in fact 3/4 inch x 5-1/2 inch.

The Material column in the following table lists nominal dimensions and the Dimensions column lists the actual, final measurements.

You can adjust the stand's height to suit your needs by adjusting the length of the 4-inch-x-4-inch cedar posts. Longer legs result in less bending over during inspections. But keep in mind that the higher the stand, the higher your honey supers will be, potentially making it more difficult to lift the heavy, honey-laden supers off the hive.

Quantity Material Dimensions Notes
4 4" x 4" cedar posts 12-1/4" x 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" These are the leg posts of the stand. Rabbet 5-1/2" wide by 3/4" deep along one end of the post (this rabbet accommodates the narrow sides of the stand).
4 1" x 6" of cedar or knotty pine 24" x 5-1/2" x ¾" These are the long sides of the stand and wide struts for the top.
2 1" x 6" of cedar or knotty pine 24" x 2" x 3/4" These are the narrow struts for the top.
2 1" x 6" of cedar or knotty pine 22-1/2" x 5-1/2" x 3/4" These are the short sides of the stand.

[Credit: Illustration by Felix Freudzon, Freudzon Design]
Credit: Illustration by Felix Freudzon, Freudzon Design

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

C. Marina Marchese is an author, beekeeper, and honey sensory expert. She is also the founder of the American Honey Tasting Society and the Red Bee ® brand.

Howland Blackiston is the bestselling author of Beekeeping For Dummies and Building Beehives For Dummies, and founding board member and past president of Con­necticut’s Back Yard Beekeepers Association.

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