Please click here for a printable version of the National Bee Hive Assembly Instructions

Thank you for choosing our National Bee Hive from Old Castle Farm Hives.

Please take a few moments to read through the instructions it will help you assemble beehive correctly.

Your bee hive consists of the following components:

  1. Base (Floor) with summer and winter entrance block (please note we have produced an Alighting Board which is shown on the drawing below, it attaches to the front section of the base for ease of entrance and exit for the bees.)
  2. 1 x Brood box (Not Assembled)
  3. 1 x Queen Excluder
  4. 2 x Super Box (Not Assembled)
  5. 1 x Crown Board
  6. 1 x Roof with metal cover
  7. 1 x Varroa mesh

You will need nails and good waterproof glue and a couple of woodscrews to complete assembly, which are not included.

Please look at the diagram below and follow the numbers

1. Floor Assembly,

This part is already assembled but you will need to drill glue and screw the Alighting Board to the front section of the base. You need to ensure the tray is in place and that the entrance block is correctly positioned.

7.  The Varroa Mesh, please ensure that the mesh is completely flat and no edges are sticking up then insert the mesh into the slots on the base and secure with staples (Not Provided).

  1. Brood Box

This consists of the following parts

2pcs side panels, (2) with slots at each end

2pcs internal panels,(1) which have no cut outs

2pcs bottom rails (4)

2pcs top rails (3)

2 pcs metal runners

Take the two side panels marked “2” and insert rails marked “4” into the slots, ensuring that the angled part of the rail is on the outside and slopes into the box.

Once assembled the bottom of the box should be flat.

Take the two remaining rails marked “3 ”and insert into the top slots on the brood box. The recess on this rail should be on the inside of the box, and again once assembled the rails and the top of the box should be flat.

Once you have this correctly assembled you can take the two remaining flat panels marked “1” and slide them into the recesses on the outside panels.

They should be positioned so that the top of the panel sits flush with the recess on the inside top rail.

You now should have a complete brood box.

Before gluing and nailing together, please ensure that you have all parts in correct position.

Tip: When correctly assembled the top and bottom of the box are flush and flat

Only when you have checked all correct nail parts together.

Once assembled correctly you can nail in position the 2 metal runners

  1. Queen Excluder – this is ready to use and can be placed between boxes as required.
  1. Super Box

This consists of the following parts

2pcs side panels, (6) with slots at each end

2pcs internal panels,(5) which have no cut outs

2pcs bottom rails (4)

2pcs top rails (3)

2 pcs metal runners

Take the two side panels marked “6” and insert bottom rails marked “4” into the slots, ensuring that the angled part of the rail is on the outside and slopes into the box.

Once assembled the bottom of the box should be flat.

Take the two remaining top rails marked “3” and insert into the top slots on the super box. The recess on this rail should be on the inside of the box, and again once assembled the rails and the top of the box should be flat.

Once you have this correctly assembled you can take the two remaining flat panels marked “5” and slide them into the recesses on the outside panels.

They should be positioned so that the top of the panel sits flush with the recess on the inside top rail.

You now should have a complete super box.

Before gluing and nailing together, please ensure that you have all parts in correct position.

Tip: When correctly assembled the top and bottom of the box are flush and flat.

Tip: All numbers should face correct way up when assembled correctly.

E.g. if a number is upside down, there is something wrong.

GLUE EVERY JOINT!!!

Only when you have checked everything, then nail together.

Once assembled correctly you can nail in position the 2 metal runners

  1. Crown Board – this requires no assembly.
  1. Roof  – this comes ready to use and simply place on top of your hive once you have completed assembly.

The Old Castle Farm Hive is made from Western Red Cedar and if correctly assembled it will last for several seasons, if you wish to “coat” your hive it is advisable to use a good waterbased or microporous stain or paint.