Components
and cost of starting beekeeping:
Recommended two hives to start.
Hive components, 1 for each hive.
1 Bottom board Dadant.com C91301 assembled 8 frame solid bottom board $14.45
4Medium suppers Dadant.com C315018 assembled 8 frame 6-5/8 supper (select)
4 @ $18.65 each $74.60
1 Inner cover Dadant.com B15601 assembled 8-frame inner cover $10.45
1 Telescoping cover Dadant.com C11501 assembled 8-frame telescoping cover $25.75
$125.25
2 beehives (without frames) $250.50
Frames for 2 hives. 8 suppers with 8 frames each = 64 frames.
32 all plastic frames with 4.9mm cell size, wax coated.
MannLakeltd.com
One PF-127 case of 30 PF120 frames $61.50
Two PF-120 frames $6.10
32 wood frames, foundationless (narrow frames if you can find them)
KelleyBees.com 17-FZB F-style comb guide foundationless MEDIUM frame $59.20
2 Division board feeders for MEDIUM suppers
KelleyBees.com 158-M (2 @ $6.25 each) $12.50
Frame Total $139.30
Tools and Clothing.
1 Hive Tool KelleyBees.com J hook hive tool Model# 163 $9.00
(I like Model# 152-KWA but it is $19.00)
1 Smoker Dadant.com Domed Smoker M01944 $22.95
1 pair Gloves Dadant.com Economy Ventilated (pick your size) Large M011361 $10.45
1 veil Dadant.com Dadant Folding Veil V01093 $14.65
1 hat Dadant.com Mesh Vent Sun Helmet, White M01087W $17.75
OR
1 Bee Suit Dadant.com Polyester/Cotton Zipper Suit(pick size) Large V011801L $78.50
Tools and clothing Total with hat and veil $74.80
with full bee suit $120.90
Bees.
2 packages USPS shipping is about $100 per package so try to find a local
bee club that is bringing in packages.
Estimated cost of package bees $110.00 each $220.00
OR
2 NUCs Shipping is probably not an option. Try to find a local bee club
That is bringing in NUCs
Estimated cost of NUC $150.00 each $300.00
Lowest Total with hat and veil and package bees $684.60
Highest Total with bee suit and NUCs $810.70
Ways you could save on initial investment:
I put this list together for someone who does not have the time, tools or knowhow to make or assembled hive components. If you have the time and want to save some money, here are some ways you can do it.
Telescoping outer covers
Telescoping outer covers are the easiest piece of the beehive you can make yourself, and the item you can save the most on. I do not put metal on top of mine. I just prime and paint them with at least two coats of paint. (I buy miss-tint paint at Home Depot for about $10 a gallon. Just make sure it is exterior and in a light color.) After a few years if they start to look weather checked I just paint them again. So far this has worked for me.
To make these I cut pieces of ½ inch plywood to size and then glue and nail some 1 by 3 furring strips to it for the lip. I leave some extra room around the hive body so I can use a top entrance in the inner cover and give the bees enough room to get in and out while still using the telescoping cover. So I cut these xx by xx and glue and nail the furring strips underneath.
I do not have exact cost hear, but the furring strips are under $1 per cover and a sheet of plywood, which will make 8 or more covers, is about $23.00. That is about $4 per telescoping cover so 2 would be $8 compared to $51.50
Frames
You can save by assembling the frames yourself. The same frames from Kelley Bees cost $1.20 each unassembled. That is $.65 less per frame. They come in quantities of 10 so you would need to buy 40, or 30 of these and two more of the plastic ones. Forty unassembled frames would cost $48.00 instead of $59.20 for 32 assembled.
If you are committed to beekeeping long term you will have an opportunity to assemble many frames. I would recommend a frame assembly jig from KelleyBees.com, model # 80-S for $30.25. You can get by without it for 40 frames though.
Inner covers
These are a little complicated to make, but not too bad. You need to use a table saw. I use 1 by 2’s. Menards has them in a construction grade with the furring strips and they are around $1.50 for a 1x2x8ft furring strip. I use the table saw to cut a ¼ inch to ½ inch deep kerf on one edge. Leaving just under ½ inch on one side and just under ¼ inch on the other side of the kerf. You usually need to move the fence and cut the kerf twice to make it wide enough to easily insert a piece of ¼ lauan plywood (the saw blade itself is not thick enough). Next I cut a piece of ¼ inch lauan plywood to the correct size so that when I glue it into the kerf on 4 pieces of the furring strips it is the same size as the outside of a hive box. This one takes some trial and error before you glue anything and it requires that you have a hive box assembled to use as a guide.
For 2 inner covers you need 2 furring strips, at a total of $3. A sheet of lauan plywood runs about $13.50 and will make at least 8 inner covers. So these run about $3.20 each. That is $6.40 compared to $20.90.
Bottom board
These are not too hard to make but you need a table saw and a dado blade for it. I use the 1 by 3 furring strips for these also. I cut a ¾ inch dado, just over ¼ inch deep. I cut it ¾ of an inch from one edge of the furring strip. Then I cut the furring strip in 3 pieces, one the width of the hive box and 2 the length (minus the ¾ width of the furring strip). I then cut 1 by 4’s the correct length so that when inserted into the dado the furring strips end up the exact width of the hive box. I glue these all in and then the front and the back ones I reinforce with some screws. Again these take some trial and error before you glue and requires an assembled hive box as a guide. The furring strips for one bottom board will cost about $1 and the 1 by 4’s about $3.50. So $4.50 each, that is $9.00 for two compared to $28.90
Medium suppers
Suppers are not very hard to assemble. I use two long wood clamps to help press the finger joints together after applying glue, then I check them with a framing square and put 4 screws in each corner (2 per side = 4 per corner = 16 per box) and remove the clamps.
Unassembled 8 frame medium suppers (commercial grade) cost $12.85 each. That is $102.80 compared to $149.20. Dadant also reduces price to 11.80 each if you order 11 or more. These are Commercial grade and the assembled are select grade. They do not offer commercial grade assembled or I would have recommended them.
Building suppers
I have not tried this yet but I may. After compiling this list I see there is a good potential to save on suppers. If you have a table saw and a dado blade you can cut the rabbit for the frames to rest on. I would also use the dado blade to cut a ¾ rabbit for the sides to glue to the ends. This should make a strong enough joint for a hive full of honey frames. I would not go to the trouble of cutting finger joints. I think it would take too long and not be that much stronger than a rabbit joint. I would have concerns about using just an end to end butt joint.
Recommended two hives to start.
Hive components, 1 for each hive.
1 Bottom board Dadant.com C91301 assembled 8 frame solid bottom board $14.45
4Medium suppers Dadant.com C315018 assembled 8 frame 6-5/8 supper (select)
4 @ $18.65 each $74.60
1 Inner cover Dadant.com B15601 assembled 8-frame inner cover $10.45
1 Telescoping cover Dadant.com C11501 assembled 8-frame telescoping cover $25.75
$125.25
2 beehives (without frames) $250.50
Frames for 2 hives. 8 suppers with 8 frames each = 64 frames.
32 all plastic frames with 4.9mm cell size, wax coated.
MannLakeltd.com
One PF-127 case of 30 PF120 frames $61.50
Two PF-120 frames $6.10
32 wood frames, foundationless (narrow frames if you can find them)
KelleyBees.com 17-FZB F-style comb guide foundationless MEDIUM frame $59.20
2 Division board feeders for MEDIUM suppers
KelleyBees.com 158-M (2 @ $6.25 each) $12.50
Frame Total $139.30
Tools and Clothing.
1 Hive Tool KelleyBees.com J hook hive tool Model# 163 $9.00
(I like Model# 152-KWA but it is $19.00)
1 Smoker Dadant.com Domed Smoker M01944 $22.95
1 pair Gloves Dadant.com Economy Ventilated (pick your size) Large M011361 $10.45
1 veil Dadant.com Dadant Folding Veil V01093 $14.65
1 hat Dadant.com Mesh Vent Sun Helmet, White M01087W $17.75
OR
1 Bee Suit Dadant.com Polyester/Cotton Zipper Suit(pick size) Large V011801L $78.50
Tools and clothing Total with hat and veil $74.80
with full bee suit $120.90
Bees.
2 packages USPS shipping is about $100 per package so try to find a local
bee club that is bringing in packages.
Estimated cost of package bees $110.00 each $220.00
OR
2 NUCs Shipping is probably not an option. Try to find a local bee club
That is bringing in NUCs
Estimated cost of NUC $150.00 each $300.00
Lowest Total with hat and veil and package bees $684.60
Highest Total with bee suit and NUCs $810.70
Ways you could save on initial investment:
I put this list together for someone who does not have the time, tools or knowhow to make or assembled hive components. If you have the time and want to save some money, here are some ways you can do it.
Telescoping outer covers
Telescoping outer covers are the easiest piece of the beehive you can make yourself, and the item you can save the most on. I do not put metal on top of mine. I just prime and paint them with at least two coats of paint. (I buy miss-tint paint at Home Depot for about $10 a gallon. Just make sure it is exterior and in a light color.) After a few years if they start to look weather checked I just paint them again. So far this has worked for me.
To make these I cut pieces of ½ inch plywood to size and then glue and nail some 1 by 3 furring strips to it for the lip. I leave some extra room around the hive body so I can use a top entrance in the inner cover and give the bees enough room to get in and out while still using the telescoping cover. So I cut these xx by xx and glue and nail the furring strips underneath.
I do not have exact cost hear, but the furring strips are under $1 per cover and a sheet of plywood, which will make 8 or more covers, is about $23.00. That is about $4 per telescoping cover so 2 would be $8 compared to $51.50
Frames
You can save by assembling the frames yourself. The same frames from Kelley Bees cost $1.20 each unassembled. That is $.65 less per frame. They come in quantities of 10 so you would need to buy 40, or 30 of these and two more of the plastic ones. Forty unassembled frames would cost $48.00 instead of $59.20 for 32 assembled.
If you are committed to beekeeping long term you will have an opportunity to assemble many frames. I would recommend a frame assembly jig from KelleyBees.com, model # 80-S for $30.25. You can get by without it for 40 frames though.
Inner covers
These are a little complicated to make, but not too bad. You need to use a table saw. I use 1 by 2’s. Menards has them in a construction grade with the furring strips and they are around $1.50 for a 1x2x8ft furring strip. I use the table saw to cut a ¼ inch to ½ inch deep kerf on one edge. Leaving just under ½ inch on one side and just under ¼ inch on the other side of the kerf. You usually need to move the fence and cut the kerf twice to make it wide enough to easily insert a piece of ¼ lauan plywood (the saw blade itself is not thick enough). Next I cut a piece of ¼ inch lauan plywood to the correct size so that when I glue it into the kerf on 4 pieces of the furring strips it is the same size as the outside of a hive box. This one takes some trial and error before you glue anything and it requires that you have a hive box assembled to use as a guide.
For 2 inner covers you need 2 furring strips, at a total of $3. A sheet of lauan plywood runs about $13.50 and will make at least 8 inner covers. So these run about $3.20 each. That is $6.40 compared to $20.90.
Bottom board
These are not too hard to make but you need a table saw and a dado blade for it. I use the 1 by 3 furring strips for these also. I cut a ¾ inch dado, just over ¼ inch deep. I cut it ¾ of an inch from one edge of the furring strip. Then I cut the furring strip in 3 pieces, one the width of the hive box and 2 the length (minus the ¾ width of the furring strip). I then cut 1 by 4’s the correct length so that when inserted into the dado the furring strips end up the exact width of the hive box. I glue these all in and then the front and the back ones I reinforce with some screws. Again these take some trial and error before you glue and requires an assembled hive box as a guide. The furring strips for one bottom board will cost about $1 and the 1 by 4’s about $3.50. So $4.50 each, that is $9.00 for two compared to $28.90
Medium suppers
Suppers are not very hard to assemble. I use two long wood clamps to help press the finger joints together after applying glue, then I check them with a framing square and put 4 screws in each corner (2 per side = 4 per corner = 16 per box) and remove the clamps.
Unassembled 8 frame medium suppers (commercial grade) cost $12.85 each. That is $102.80 compared to $149.20. Dadant also reduces price to 11.80 each if you order 11 or more. These are Commercial grade and the assembled are select grade. They do not offer commercial grade assembled or I would have recommended them.
Building suppers
I have not tried this yet but I may. After compiling this list I see there is a good potential to save on suppers. If you have a table saw and a dado blade you can cut the rabbit for the frames to rest on. I would also use the dado blade to cut a ¾ rabbit for the sides to glue to the ends. This should make a strong enough joint for a hive full of honey frames. I would not go to the trouble of cutting finger joints. I think it would take too long and not be that much stronger than a rabbit joint. I would have concerns about using just an end to end butt joint.