(An attempt to build a) Top Bar Bee Hive Patrick Sturgill And Mary Haynes
Top Bar Hive
Materials List (sort of…) (5) 1” x 12” x 4 ft. boards (8) 1” x 4” x 4 ft. boards (1) box 1 5/8” (gold) screws (1) box 1 ¼” (gold) screws (1) box 2 ½” (gold) screws (1) box #17 x ¾” brads (1) roll wire or plastic screen
FOLLOWER BOARDS LAID OUT
FOLLOWER BOARDS CUT IN TWO
FOLLOWER BOARD CLAMPED TO BENCH PRIOR TO PAT MESSING IT UP
PAT MESSING IT UP…
MESSED UP FOLLOWER BOARD
SECOND ATTEMPT TO CUT FOLLOWER BOARD (USING COMPOUND MITER SAW…
THIRD ATTEMPT USING BAND SAW. MUCH BETTER, BUT NOT PERFECT.
ADDING BAR THAT WILL ACT AS THE LOCATER FOR THE HIVE SIDES.
SCREWING ASSEMBLY TOGETHER.
MORE SCREWING…
TEMPLATE SLED (2 X 4) WITH FOLLOWER AND 12 X 18 HIVE END.
ANOTHER VIEW OF HIVE END AND FOLLOWER.
ONE HIVE SIDE USING FOLLOWER TO INDICATE LOCATION. NOTE: THE HIVE IS BUILT UPSIDE DOWN.
ANOTHER VIEW OF HIVE SIDE.
OTHER SIDE OF HIVE ADDED TO FOLLOWER TEMPLATE.
HIVE WITH BOTH ENDS AND BOTH SIDES.
OUR 4 FT. HIVE (WE CALL IT THE TAJ MAHAL…) SHOWING BARS, LEGS, AND THE BEGINNING OF THE ROOF FRAME.
THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE TAJ MAHAL SHOWING ADJUSTABLE OPENING AND LANDING PAD FOR BEES JUST BEGINNING TO LEARN HOW TO FLY…
LEFT TO DO: ADD LEGS FINISH ROOF INSTALL LOWER VENT CONTROL INSTALL (2) END AND (1) CENTER ENTRANCES? SEAL ENTIRE HIVE OUTSIDE WITH LINSEED OIL CUT APP. (24) ¾” BY 1 ½” TOP BARS CUT 1/8 ” CURF THE LENGTH OF EACH BAR FILL EACH CURF WITH COTTON STRING COVER STRING WITH MELTED BEES WAX
Our Main Source of Information: Phil Chandler, aka The Barefoot Beekeeper