Well, it's about time someone decided that there are people that wood work in warm climates and keep bees!! I love your modifications to the Layens type boxes. They will do great here in Arizona!!
Here in Texas we could definitely use this but I add insulation to all my lids since our sun really adds a lot of heat. Make sure to seal that cabinet plywood very well because it does not get along with moisture. But yeah I understand, since I have a half sheet of 3/4" cabinet plywood sitting in the shop and tend to use it for other things not cabinet related! :)
I really enjoy your content. I’m starting into beekeeping this spring and have 14 layers hives built and ready along with a bunch of swarm traps. Can’t wait!
Really Nice Job Gene. And I agree that heat loss is through the top--as we all know heat rises right?! So I believe you or it might have been Michael Bush told me to keep open a large entrance on the bottom during winter but no top entrance. This way any condensation will always say at the bottom where the cool air comes in. But your doing some good stuff her. Excited for Spring and my first go a beekeeping again
I like this idea for plywood Layens hives, and this would work great for my zone. However, 3/4" plywood sheathing is right at $50 a sheet whereas 2x10x12 dimensional lumber is about $11 each (1x10 lumber cost about twice as much or more). So....unless I can run across some salvage plywood, I'll stick with 2x lumber. That is a great design though and thank you for these videos, they are very helpful.
Yes, that is a great way to handle it. I always have to do what I can with what I have and if costs become an issue you just gotta do what makes sense. No harm in that. I just so happened to have some on hand and used it for this project. If you ever get a chance to visit, I've got hives made of all types of lumber. Thanks for watching!
Gene - Another great video . . . It gave me plenty to think about, as I plan my Layens hive build! Can you provide a link to the Amazon site where you purchased the bamboo skewers? Thanks!
Hi Steve - I'll double check, but if you go back a couple videos "Variations of Layens Frames" or something close - I have the link in the description.
Hey Gene, I've watch many of your inspection videos and i see frame after frame of perfect strait comb. How does this happen? My layens hives are full of cross & wavy comb. My hives are level and plumb. Whats your secrete?
Ok nice job, but that plywood as cabinet grade does not like weather much keep a thick coat of paint on that since it will be in the weather. Just FYI, love your channel I'm in north Idaho needing it to be thicker as our winters are below 0-F at the depths of winter. its mid April and we still are getting frost.
I really enjoy watching watching your videos. I have learned alot about layens hives in them.I wish I had the equipment to build the plywood hive like you build. My son in law has 8 langstroth bee hive on our 10 acres in Texas. Layens haves look so much easier to deal with. Do you sell the plywood layens hives? How much?
Hey, I love your videos. I was wondering, does it hurt to have thick walled hives in warmer climates? (I live in Houston Tx and I want to build some laynes hives and frames this year to start next year.) like I mean should I build hives with thick walls?
No, it does not hurt at all! In fact I think there are lots of benefits to insulating against the heat. Last year my insulated Layens hives never bearded when my standard langstroth hives were all bearding. So they spent less time keeping the hive cool and more working for the hive. And yes, I am in Texas about 1.5 hours west of Houston so it gets plenty hot. I insulate the top, bottom, and the sides. I do think this 3/4" thick style hive would work great but I will add insulation in the lid to keep the sun from heating it up.
I too use up-cycled materials in my own Apiary, I work for a company that has 4×6x8 stock on a regular basis. That I rip down and make my frames with. I also just save 21 half sheets of 1/4 in HT (heat treated) ply wood and about
Way to go Michael - I think we need to think about the impact we have on trees. If we cut them down, we can't waste them. It all starts with individuals. Keep up the good work
@@enjoybeekeeping5612 Great point regarding the impact we have on the environment. With that in mind, I visited a local home building site today and collected many useful scraps of 1/2” plywood and 2” dimensional lumber of various widths from 4” to 10”. In the process, I saved some money and kept this material out of our landfill. This lumber will be perfect to make frames and covers for my swarm hives
I'm looking forward to seeing the plans for the plywood layens hive someday, though my climate is likely too cold for me to use it. I thought I saw, in another of your videos, the use of spline joints in the 2x lumber. But I can't seem to find the video (or image) where I saw it. Did I see that correctly? If you did use spline joints at some point, could you give the specs on those, and tell what material you used for the splines? Thanks!
I'm working on it. I'm going to look up spline joints and see if that's how I'm doing it. I just tried to find an easier way and came up with this for myself.
@@enjoybeekeeping5612 I just posted a similar question on another of your videos. I should have looked at my notifications first. I didn't see you had already responded here.
They aren't too bad. If you don't need the tapered style and just go with the straight 1 inch - check out my "frame variations" video and I show what I'm talking about. Those are pretty easy.
Just got done building my first set. The tapered sides turned out kind of ugly. I took piece about 2x2 and tried to make the shape with a combination of a table saw and a jig saw and then just ripped them down to size. The other pieces were pretty simple. I doubt the bees will care about the ugly frames! I made the jigs from the plans on horizontalhive.com and they helped a ton. In fact wiring them and embedding the wax turned out to be kind of fun and relaxing. To embed the wax on the frame, I just hooked up a couple of wires (With alligator clips) to the battery on my UTV and then touched the other end of the wires to the wired frames with the wax resting on it. They're done in about 5 seconds. In fact, hold them too long and the wax will melt all the way through. Good luck. I'm pretty much a goof in the shop. If I can do it, anyone can.
Hello my friend Gene, I'm in real need of some shop advise from you if you could be so kind. I put together my entire flow hive 2 and messed it up in a couple ways. For one, i stripped out a couple holes and am going to try adding a toothpick to help correct it. Yet I would like to ask help with another mistake I made. I did not use 90* angle corner clamps to make sure they set straight, and now the my base and two brood boxes don't line up with one another. So I have taken them all apart, order the brasses, yet don't know how to correct the screw holes that are already set? I feel like even with the brasses intact, the screws are going to go right back into the same hole pattern and the boxes will again be off centered. Someone told me I could try to slightly bend each screw. Or should I add toothpicks in all the holes then try to re-screw? What would you recommend? It would be so helpful to hear back from you. This is a project that is very important to me, as you well know. Thank you so much. Brad
I saw one of these on youtube but there was not enough information. If you do this I would be interested. Bees will chew styrofoam so would like to see the aircrete!
@@rpeebles I was thinking the same about styrofoam but Aircrete is pest resistant, not saying bees are pests of course but the same rules would apply I think.
This is not the first custom made hive i have seen on you tube but it is the first which i raise this on. No offense ment. With using a *wider top bar to simulate a *roof to eliminate a *top cover board set up. Bees will want to propolise all along each join. That is a whole lot of work created for your bees, only to have to mend it each time you go into the hive. Which raises the act of going into a hive full of sticky propolised frames. No Thanks!!
I use styrofoam since the bees can't access the area above the frames, or a cushion, or old sweater. I just don't let the bees get above the frames or cover boards. I'll try to feature more of that so you can see in an upcoming video
Yes, I think you have a mild enough winter that you can try it. Just insulate the roof with a pillow filled with wool or something over the brood nest when you winterize them.
I'm hoping to catch a 10lb swarm LOL - actually I got the idea from Dr Leo who has a 3/4 Lazutin hive on his site, so I figured why not give it a shot? I live in a warmer climate zone.
If I leave my front door open they will come in the house I have found eggs in my chair they are aggravate sometimes but I had them all my life so it'll be all right
now your talking, now if it could be scaled up to about 5FT. in length and hold 50 frames,, ah i might be just dreaming again,, it was a thought though, no need to have a storage spot for extra equipment this way just move the follower board, before i forget hello from the UPPER PENINSULA of MICHIGAN
Pressure treated wood is fine for hive stands, but it has chemicals that are not healthy to keep food around - honey. So I avoid it for actual hive construction. Keep the hive as chemical free as you possibly can, no paint, no stain or anything that off gasses on the inside of the hive.
Hello Sir. I don't know if you construct Layens hives to sale, but I'm going to ask anyway. I'm a first year beekeeper, after deciding I could handle the Layens design due to not being able to lift very much weight. I just turned 75 am looking for someone to build me a hive that I can afford. I can't quite handle Dr. Leo's price of 499 plus $100 shipping. Please let me know if this is something that you do if you have a special request which this is certainly one. Thank you so much. God Bless
Well, it's about time someone decided that there are people that wood work in warm climates and keep bees!! I love your modifications to the Layens type boxes. They will do great here in Arizona!!
Here in Texas we could definitely use this but I add insulation to all my lids since our sun really adds a lot of heat. Make sure to seal that cabinet plywood very well because it does not get along with moisture. But yeah I understand, since I have a half sheet of 3/4" cabinet plywood sitting in the shop and tend to use it for other things not cabinet related! :)
Excellent video! Thanks.
I really enjoy your content. I’m starting into beekeeping this spring and have 14 layers hives built and ready along with a bunch of swarm traps. Can’t wait!
Sounds like a countdown for a big launch! You're gonna have a blast. Keep in touch
I love this guy. So wholesome.
Really Nice Job Gene. And I agree that heat loss is through the top--as we all know heat rises right?! So I believe you or it might have been Michael Bush told me to keep open a large entrance on the bottom during winter but no top entrance. This way any condensation will always say at the bottom where the cool air comes in. But your doing some good stuff her. Excited for Spring and my first go a beekeeping again
Michael is one of my favorite mentors - probably a legend in our time
Nice one, you could use your sawdust for 'sawdust rocket stoves'. Thanks for the video
I like this idea for plywood Layens hives, and this would work great for my zone. However, 3/4" plywood sheathing is right at $50 a sheet whereas 2x10x12 dimensional lumber is about $11 each (1x10 lumber cost about twice as much or more). So....unless I can run across some salvage plywood, I'll stick with 2x lumber. That is a great design though and thank you for these videos, they are very helpful.
Yes, that is a great way to handle it. I always have to do what I can with what I have and if costs become an issue you just gotta do what makes sense. No harm in that. I just so happened to have some on hand and used it for this project. If you ever get a chance to visit, I've got hives made of all types of lumber. Thanks for watching!
Thanks gene. Get some thin leather scrap and staple it along the side edges .now it's a compression fit!!
Right on
I'm in zone 5b with some cold winters so insulating the box would be very important to winter bee survival.
Maybe stick with the thick walled version, or the double wall. This is for people with wimpy winters LOL
Thanks
The 3/4 Layens Hive works great in Texas.
Where in Texas are you?
Love the channel. If I’m in south Florida what kind of materials should I be using? It’s always hot here and bees forage year round.
I was not going to make a non insulated one until this week reminded me I was not thinking about polar vortexes.
Be careful with those vortexes - I used to deal with them all the time and finally moved
Gene - Another great video . . . It gave me plenty to think about, as I plan my Layens hive build! Can you provide a link to the Amazon site where you purchased the bamboo skewers? Thanks!
Hi Steve - I'll double check, but if you go back a couple videos "Variations of Layens Frames" or something close - I have the link in the description.
@@enjoybeekeeping5612 Thanks Gene! I'll take a look.
Hey Gene, I've watch many of your inspection videos and i see frame after frame of perfect strait comb. How does this happen? My layens hives are full of cross & wavy comb. My hives are level and plumb. Whats your secrete?
I use starter strips, preferably wax or plastic with the cells stamped.
Ok nice job, but that plywood as cabinet grade does not like weather much keep a thick coat of paint on that since it will be in the weather. Just FYI, love your channel I'm in north Idaho needing it to be thicker as our winters are below 0-F at the depths of winter. its mid April and we still are getting frost.
Thanks for the tips! I will paint these babies good before setting them outdoors.
I really enjoy watching watching your videos. I have learned alot about layens hives in them.I wish I had the equipment to build the plywood hive like you build. My son in law has 8 langstroth bee hive on our 10 acres in Texas. Layens haves look so much easier to deal with. Do you sell the plywood layens hives? How much?
Yes, please visit my web site enjoybeekeeping.com and download the free catalog and you'll see the plywood hive listed. Thanks
Hey, I love your videos. I was wondering, does it hurt to have thick walled hives in warmer climates? (I live in Houston Tx and I want to build some laynes hives and frames this year to start next year.) like I mean should I build hives with thick walls?
No, it does not hurt at all! In fact I think there are lots of benefits to insulating against the heat. Last year my insulated Layens hives never bearded when my standard langstroth hives were all bearding. So they spent less time keeping the hive cool and more working for the hive. And yes, I am in Texas about 1.5 hours west of Houston so it gets plenty hot. I insulate the top, bottom, and the sides. I do think this 3/4" thick style hive would work great but I will add insulation in the lid to keep the sun from heating it up.
Robert nailed it - insulation has benefits for both hot and cold extremes.
How do you deal with dead bees and debris building up at the bottom? Do you have to pull all the frames and turn the hive upside down?
I too use up-cycled materials in my own Apiary, I work for a company that has 4×6x8 stock on a regular basis. That I rip down and make my frames with. I also just save 21 half sheets of 1/4 in HT (heat treated) ply wood and about
Sorry, I will use this for the roofs.
Way to go Michael - I think we need to think about the impact we have on trees. If we cut them down, we can't waste them. It all starts with individuals. Keep up the good work
@@enjoybeekeeping5612 FYI I put up my first swarm traps today and three more tomarrow.
@@enjoybeekeeping5612 Great point regarding the impact we have on the environment. With that in mind, I visited a local home building site today and collected many useful scraps of 1/2” plywood and 2” dimensional lumber of various widths from 4” to 10”. In the process, I saved some money and kept this material out of our landfill. This lumber will be perfect to make frames and covers for my swarm hives
I'm looking forward to seeing the plans for the plywood layens hive someday, though my climate is likely too cold for me to use it. I thought I saw, in another of your videos, the use of spline joints in the 2x lumber. But I can't seem to find the video (or image) where I saw it. Did I see that correctly? If you did use spline joints at some point, could you give the specs on those, and tell what material you used for the splines? Thanks!
I'm working on it. I'm going to look up spline joints and see if that's how I'm doing it. I just tried to find an easier way and came up with this for myself.
@@enjoybeekeeping5612 I just posted a similar question on another of your videos. I should have looked at my notifications first. I didn't see you had already responded here.
@@enjoybeekeeping5612 I realise this was over a year ago but did you end up finishing the plans for this?
I really want to build a couple Layens hives and swarm traps to start beekeeping next year. Only thing that looks tricky would be to build the frames?
They aren't too bad. If you don't need the tapered style and just go with the straight 1 inch - check out my "frame variations" video and I show what I'm talking about. Those are pretty easy.
Just got done building my first set. The tapered sides turned out kind of ugly. I took piece about 2x2 and tried to make the shape with a combination of a table saw and a jig saw and then just ripped them down to size. The other pieces were pretty simple. I doubt the bees will care about the ugly frames! I made the jigs from the plans on horizontalhive.com and they helped a ton. In fact wiring them and embedding the wax turned out to be kind of fun and relaxing. To embed the wax on the frame, I just hooked up a couple of wires (With alligator clips) to the battery on my UTV and then touched the other end of the wires to the wired frames with the wax resting on it. They're done in about 5 seconds. In fact, hold them too long and the wax will melt all the way through. Good luck. I'm pretty much a goof in the shop. If I can do it, anyone can.
Hello my friend Gene, I'm in real need of some shop advise from you if you could be so kind. I put together my entire flow hive 2 and messed it up in a couple ways. For one, i stripped out a couple holes and am going to try adding a toothpick to help correct it. Yet I would like to ask help with another mistake I made. I did not use 90* angle corner clamps to make sure they set straight, and now the my base and two brood boxes don't line up with one another. So I have taken them all apart, order the brasses, yet don't know how to correct the screw holes that are already set? I feel like even with the brasses intact, the screws are going to go right back into the same hole pattern and the boxes will again be off centered. Someone told me I could try to slightly bend each screw. Or should I add toothpicks in all the holes then try to re-screw? What would you recommend? It would be so helpful to hear back from you. This is a project that is very important to me, as you well know. Thank you so much. Brad
Toothpicks or match sticks help with re screwing holes in my own personal experience
I think I could make the entire box out of Aircrete and have wood corner pieces to be able to hinge the top!
I saw one of these on youtube but there was not enough information. If you do this I would be interested. Bees will chew styrofoam so would like to see the aircrete!
@@rpeebles I was thinking the same about styrofoam but Aircrete is pest resistant, not saying bees are pests of course but the same rules would apply I think.
@@rpeebles I would love to see your aircrete Layens style hive please post when you make it .
Another wonderful video and very informative thank you so mich
Can I use two Langstroth frames on top of each other tied tightly longitudinally in one cell and dispense with the roles
отличный улей
8k subscribers later the plans arent out there yet like you said. just a picture of some cuts. you ask for 10 bucks or a membership
This is not the first custom made hive i have seen on you tube but it is the first which i raise this on. No offense ment. With using a *wider top bar to simulate a *roof to eliminate a *top cover board set up.
Bees will want to propolise all along each join. That is a whole lot of work created for your bees, only to have to mend it each time you go into the hive.
Which raises the act of going into a hive full of sticky propolised frames. No Thanks!!
I wonder if you could use aerated concrete to insulate the top? I think bees would destroy styrofoam in short order.
I use styrofoam since the bees can't access the area above the frames, or a cushion, or old sweater. I just don't let the bees get above the frames or cover boards. I'll try to feature more of that so you can see in an upcoming video
Hey do you think this hive would work in NC near Greensboro
Yes, I think you have a mild enough winter that you can try it. Just insulate the roof with a pillow filled with wool or something over the brood nest when you winterize them.
How bout glueing styrofoam 2” on bottom and sides?
What state do you live in
First 3/4" Layens? LoL. It's an oversized swarm trap.
I'm hoping to catch a 10lb swarm LOL - actually I got the idea from Dr Leo who has a 3/4 Lazutin hive on his site, so I figured why not give it a shot? I live in a warmer climate zone.
If I leave my front door open they will come in the house I have found eggs in my chair they are aggravate sometimes but I had them all my life so it'll be all right
hi can you write the measurement of hives and frame in centimeter
now your talking, now if it could be scaled up to about 5FT. in length and hold 50 frames,, ah i might be just dreaming again,, it was a thought though, no need to have a storage spot for extra equipment this way just move the follower board, before i forget hello from the UPPER PENINSULA of MICHIGAN
Hello up there in the great white north! Brrrrr! You guys are tough with those winters - I had to move where it's warm.
Why not use pressure treated wood?
Pressure treated wood is fine for hive stands, but it has chemicals that are not healthy to keep food around - honey. So I avoid it for actual hive construction. Keep the hive as chemical free as you possibly can, no paint, no stain or anything that off gasses on the inside of the hive.
Hello Sir. I don't know if you construct Layens hives to sale, but I'm going to ask anyway. I'm a first year beekeeper, after deciding I could handle the Layens design due to not being able to lift very much weight. I just turned 75 am looking for someone to build me a hive that I can afford. I can't quite handle Dr. Leo's price of 499 plus $100 shipping. Please let me know if this is something that you do if you have a special request which this is certainly one. Thank you so much. God Bless
Hi Richard, send me an email to enjoybeekeeping@gmail.com and I'll send you some info on the hives.
That's not sawdust it's man glitter!