The parts above and below the boxes, drawn from the BC Ministry of Agriculture's hive plan. Only the figures the plan prints are dimensioned; where it leaves something out, the drawing says so.
Bottom board
24 × 16 1/2 in overall, rails 1 7/8 in tall along both sides and the back, a 1/2 in plywood floor, the front open; the rim is what the brood boxes sit on, and the landing board stays solid (BC p. 4 and Fig. 3, p. 6). BC does not give the rail thickness (the rails are drawn schematically), and a 7/8 in measure on its drawing is unclear, so it is left out.
Entrance block
One block, two entrances: a 4 in notch for summer (shown) and a 2 in notch for winter, both 3/8 in deep, on different edges of the block (BC Fig. 6). BC does not give where the notches sit along the 15 in; they are drawn centred.
Inner cover
1/4 in plywood with rims on both sides: one 5/16 in thick, which is the bee space, and one about 1/2 in. About 2 in of the thicker rim is left open at the front as a summer top entrance. The hole is about 2 × 3 in, about a third of the way down the length, in the centre (BC p. 4). BC does not say which way round the hole goes or how wide the rims are; the section is schematic.
Telescoping cover
A rim 3/4 in thick and 2 in deep around a 1/2 in plywood top, with a metal sheet (galvanized iron, aluminum or similar) over the top and down the rim. Inside it is 20 1/2 × 17 in, so it slips over a 20 × 16 1/2 in box with 1/4 in to spare each side (worked out). BC does not give the corner joint. Metal top: BC p. 2 and Fig. 2 (p. 5). BC also describes an insulated version with 2 in of styrofoam between thin plywood (p. 4).
Migratory cover
A flat cover with lips only at the front and back, 3/4 in thick and 2 in deep, so hives can stand side by side; together the lips overhang the box by 1 1/2 in (BC Fig. 12 and p. 12). The matching migratory bottom board in the same figure is not drawn here.
Building notes
- Flat, dry wood: BC says pine or cedar, with plywood for the cover top and the bottom board floor (p. 1). BC's later Factsheet 106 says supers are generally pine or fir, calls cedar too soft and plywood unsuitable for them, so keep plywood to these parts.
- For the boxes BC says to paint the outside only, with a latex or alkyd primer and exterior latex, or an exterior stain (p. 4).
- BC p. 2 gives box nails as "50 mm or 1 1/8 in.", two figures that do not match; ask your supplier.
Sources
- BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Beehive Construction (2006): Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 12, pp. 1–6 and 12.
- BC Ministry of Agriculture, Apiculture Factsheet 106, Beekeeping Equipment: wood for supers.