peak-hives.co.uk » Flat Pack

Hoffman Frames

admin — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:30:05 +0000

Finally got round to making all the jigs and workarounds to make the production of Hoffman Frames viable. They’re now added to the frames section in the left hand column. We’re offering our frames in flat packs of 10 or 50 and the Hoffmans are available in standard National Hive Brood Box size and 14×12. All our frame packs come supplied with frame nails.

Hoffman Frames

As is the case with all our National Hive products every stage from raw material to completed frame is done in our workshop in Tideswell.

Custom made National Nucleus Hives

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:51:06 +0000

These four flat pack cedar national nucleus hives were custom made to the client’s preferred dimensions. Took a little longer than usual as I had to order special meshes for the varroa floors but they’ll be packaged and sent today and I’m sure the customer will be satisfied as will their bees…

custom made nucleus hives

National Nucleus Hive Options.

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:41:25 +0000

Here’s a couple of National Nucleus Hives I’ve finished today. On the left a flat pack National Nuc in Red Deal with a standard floor. On the right a fully assembled Cedar National Nuc with Varroa Floor (with slide out tray). Both take 5 Hoffman DN4 frames with an extra 8mm manipulation space.

National Nucleus Hive Options

Flat Pack National Hives picked up from the Workshop

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:54:03 +0000

Hi. Rich came up on Wednesday to the Peak Hives workshop and picked up his flat packed national hives. Was good to see him again and Steve who came along too. Rich is an experienced beekeeper so by agreement (and the fact that they wouldn’t fit into his car otherwise) I didn’t seperate them out into individual units.

Here’s the kit he took…

Rich's Hives

I’m getting plenty of enquiries about making up batches of frames and will endeavour to have a go this weekend (I do have to make a special meal for the oldies though on Saturday as it’s their golden wedding anniversary). The other thing that I need to respond to is enquiries about ‘top bee space’ national hives. It’s technically sorted but I want to have a go at machining some up before offering it as an option. Coming soon, probably tomorrow.

Allotment news is that I made some space this afternoon for another fruit tree in the garden…it’s getting tight on space and I’ve another two trees to plant. I wonder if the farmer who owns the field across the road would mind.

All the best and as usual, happy beekeeping 2010!

Peak Hives recommended kit for new beekeepers.

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:24:07 +0000

For new beekeepers (and there’s plenty, including me) I thought it might be worth while suggesting what I would think of buying as a first apiary set up.

If you’re good with a hammer, nails, glue, flat surface and *JOINERS SQUARE* then:

2 x Flat Pack of the default national hive configuration you see when you load up this page. Add on a crown board and choose which type of metalwork you require for the brood box and supers (I’d recommend metal runners throughout and then use frame spacers to start off with – this can be changed over later to castellated spacers for the super easily enough should you wish)

And then choose which floor you want. Most go for the Varroa Floor with slide out tray but many experienced beekeepers go for a standard floor.

Then timber. Cedar is good for two reasons…1. it’s light. A national super full of honey is already heavy enough. 2. Cedar is naturally resistant to rot. Red Deal on the other hand is notably cheaper and will make a robust hive (provided you take care of it, which is easily done. There’s plenty of houses round here built in the victorian era with original Red Deal doors because they’ve been well maintained).

That recommendation is to go with 1 nucleus colony. The nucleus goes into hive number 1 and then when (possibly) a month later it swarms you have hive number 2 in which to put the swarm. It’s said that it’s easier to manage two hives than 1. And safer too. 1 Hive + 1 Disaster = No Bees!

Of course if you’re not entirely confident about your assembly skills then perhaps choose the same set up but pre-assembled here at Peak Hives. Assembling a hive when you’ve done it lots of times is one thing but doing it for the first time can be a bit daunting.

Happy beekeeping 2010!

Nick

national hive production line…

admin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:54:09 +0000

Paul (from Oxfordshire Beekeepers) came up today to pick up 11 Flat Pack Western Red Cedar National Hives comprising standard floor with entrance block, standard brood box, 2 supers in red deal and a 4″ roof with galvanised metal cover. It’s turning into a production line…

flat pack national hives lined up for collection