Plywood beehive: drawings and dimensions, how to do it yourself, instructions

Some bee houses can be made by yourself. Wood is an expensive and heavy material, so beekeepers are trying to test other options. Popular among beekeepers is a beehive made of plywood. The structure is not so heavy, but it also has disadvantages. To make your own hands, you need to study the varieties, a set of necessary tools and materials.

Advantages and disadvantages of plywood hives

Beekeepers are increasingly paying attention to bee houses made from plywood boards. Styrofoam layers are installed as insulation. The main advantage is the increased air exchange inside the building. Other positives:

• small mass of the finished product. Attention! The weight of the structure matters when transporting and moving beehives. Even if a change in the location of the organization of the apiary is not planned, it is important to consider the transfer to wintering or to collect honey;

• formation of the desired temperature level;
• the inside does not exceed the permissible humidity level;
• the structure is strong thanks to the insulation;
• the product is inexpensive, easy to assemble;
• from plywood boards you can assemble different designs - deck chairs, multi-hull bee dwellings, double-walled and others.

The disadvantage is considered significant only for regions with a cold climate. Plywood walls are thin, an additional layer of insulation is a must. The structures are light, but strong enough.

More about the advantages and disadvantages of plywood buildings in the video.

Varieties

Hives from plywood parts can be assembled at home. The beekeeper can choose the design based on the needs of the selected breed of bees, the climate of the insect breeding region, the size of the swarm and some other features.

Sunbed

This variant of bee housing is often recommended for beginners. Advantages and structural features of this hive:

• horizontal convertible hive;

• there are no bulky parts that need to be removed or moved away to perform work with the bee family - access to each of the filled compartments is open;
• hive is easy to clean, collect products;
• it is allowed to set a different number of frames (for example, 16, 20 or 24).

Attention! In some cases, hive-beds can accommodate up to 32 frames with dimensions of 43 cm by 45 cm. Such structures include the "Vladimir" version of the sunbed. Beginner beekeepers with a small swarm of bees will not need such sizes.

Double-walled hive - Dadana

Dadanov's designs are used in apiaries more often than others. Features of such bee houses are as follows:

• suitable for regions where there is a sharp drop in temperature in spring and autumn;
• these options are complemented by a separate plywood wall, the space inside is filled with foam;

• if during the period of operation it is possible to move the house, it is necessary to provide additional handles on the side walls of the building in advance, while the size of the building should remain small.

The outer wall can be made from another material. It is important that the outer skin is thicker than the plywood sheet.

Multiple body

Houses of several buildings are classified as vertical type buildings. Building Features:

• each holds a small number of frames (usually set in 8-12 pieces);
• two or three sections are placed on top of each other, sometimes more - depending on the size of the bee swarm;
• cases can be interchanged if necessary;
• Several combinations of elements are available in a multi-hull design.

Hives are mobile - you can move from place to place. For example, depending on the flowering period of trees or plants.

Required tools and materials

In order to assemble a plywood hive at home, you do not need to purchase expensive materials and equipment. The beekeeper will need the following:

• plywood sheets;
• Styrofoam in blocks (often use leftover material from packing boxes);
• PVA glue (the composition should retain moisture well);

• wood bars;
• screwdriver, with wood screws (3.2 cm, 4.5 cm);
• nails, self-tapping screws, saw, ruler, pencil and other similar auxiliary tools.

Attention! Materials and the workplace are prepared in advance. It is easier to collect the hive on a flat surface so that nothing gets in the way at hand. Power tools are also suitable for cutting.

Drawings

The drawings that are in the public domain are suitable for assembly. On sheets of plywood, dimensions are lined up in accordance with the chosen design of the bee house. When choosing parameters, it is important to consider that most drawings use the thickness of wood boards, so it is worth checking the calculations and adjusting them to the characteristics of plywood sheets.

DIY process

To make 4 sections for a multi-hull hive with your own hands, you need to prepare a plywood sheet (1 cm thick, size 120 cm by 120 cm), a board (length - 6 m, 2.5 cm by 15 cm). An inexperienced beekeeper should start with a simplified version of the design. Assembly order for this option:

• draw the outlines of the parts on the plywood sheets according to the dimensions shown in the figure;
• cut the elements (with a jigsaw or saw, other suitable or more familiar tool);

• First, boards and sheets are sawn, after which the parts are dissolved into three components. Attention! In some cases, a woodworking machine may be needed. The need depends on the type of plywood sheet chosen. Details must be ground and processed - the presence of cracks, chips, notches is unacceptable. Irregularities can damage the legs and wings of insects;
• after manufacturing the elements, it is necessary to check the number of parts and the quality of the cut;

• start assembly according to selected drawings;
• the parts are combined so that there are no gaps (if small irregularities form, they can be glued);
• after combining the elements, fixing with screws (carnations, if this option is more suitable - in accordance with the skills of the beekeeper);

• when assembling, check the shelves for frames - the size must be at least 2 cm (no longer needed to comply with the internal dimensions of the beehive);
• in order to ensure a flat plane, clamps are used - thoroughness is decisive, there should be no bevels (for multi-hull structures, this is a matter of stability and survival of the bee colony).

The sides are assembled according to one principle, then the remaining parts are fitted. If protruding parts of nails or plywood walls are found inside, they need to be cut down or removed (with a thin file, electric jigsaw). The final stage is painting the outside of the hive. The paint further strengthens the structure.

Visual about assembling cases in the video.

Bee buildings made of plywood are lightweight and inexpensive (compared to wooden structures). From the sheets, you can make different options for bee houses - hives-loungers, the structure of the beekeeper Dadan (in Russia it is used more often than others), multi-hull. The dwelling can be assembled independently, taking into account the above recommendations.

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