Building hive boxes

If I was going to have bees they were going to have to live somewhere. Some of the parts are easier to buy than build. The boxes are expensive to have shipped and they build them with finger joints. After looking into it Adam and I decided to build our own boxes. We got the specs we needed and knew that I was going to have to buy a finger/dovetail joint jig. I have always wanted one and this was the reason I needed. I went out to my favourite tool store in Livermore Tool Tech. I bought a Porter Cable 4212 jig to do the work. I had a couple of routers and bits and I figured that I was good to go. We decided to use dovetail joints rather than finger joints for the extra strength. It also allowed us to use one 6 foot piece of 1x12 to build the deep hive bodies.

Once we got the jig out of the box is when we realized that the bits included were all for a 1/2 inch collet routers. Both of us have 1/4 inch collet routers so we could not use the bits that came with the jig. I also figured out that my larger router had the wrong base for the dovetail jig guide. This meant that I had to use my smaller router that is designed for trimming formica/laminates. It is fine, but a little puny for this work. Thankfully I had a bit that we could use in a set I own. It took us a while to get the bit depth right so that the joints would be tight but we eventually got it. Once we got all of the adjustments dialed (5 hours of dorking) we had it down. We had made enough for 4 hive bodies and were just starting the 5th. Right at the end of the cuts I tilted the router, got the bit caught in the jig, and it almost sprung out of my hand. Needless to say I toasted the bit, marred the jig, and now had to decide what to do.  We went to Home Depot and bought another dove tail bit.  We brought it back and could not get the joints to come out right.  We decided to get a better router and do more with it later.

At this point I was happy that at least we had four boxes ready to build. We used the top quality waterproof wood glue and then used my brad nailer with 2 inch nails once they were square. They are some strong, good looking boxes. Adam took them home to let them dry and to get some paint on them. He put about 6 coats of a white deck/outdoor paint/stain. This should help the hives weather well. Interestingly enough you only paint the outside. The paint could be bad for the bees so they do not recommend you putting it where they live. And the fit does not have to be perfect because the bees will seal up any leaks in the hive so that they can keep the temperature constant.  Now we were waiting to pick up the bees April 3rd.