BEE BUILT Top Bar Hive Instruction Manual
- August 16, 2024
- BEE BUILT
Table of Contents
**BEE BUILT Top Bar Hive Instruction Manual
**
Assembly Instructions
Tools Needed: Drill With Phillips Bit
Parts Included:
A. 1 Base
B. 2 Hive Ends
C. 1 Side Wall
D. 1 Side Wall With Window
E. 2 Roof Sides
F. 2 Roof Ends
G. 1 Ridge Cap
H. 2 Roof Panels
I. 4 Legs
J. 3 Bee Access Covers
K. 28 Top Bars
L. 1 Divider Board
M. 2 Soild Bottom Boards
Hardware Kit:
A. 16 Short (1”) Screws +1 Extra
B. 26 Medium (1-5/8”) Screws +1 Extra
C. 6 Long (1-7/8”) Screws + 1 Extra
D. 4 Carriage Bolts
E. 4 Flat Washers
F. 4 Lock Washers
G. 4 Hex Nuts
H. 2 Louvers
Before you begin:
For each step bellow, it is important to make sure you are screwing into each surface following the pre-drilled holes. This will ensure a strong connection and a clean finish.
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Place the Base (A) slot-side down on a flat surface then start a Medium Screw (B) into the Hive End (B).
Center the Hive End (B) over the Base and finish drilling in the screw. Fig. 1 -
Place the Side Wall (C) on the Base on the side with the slots on the Base (A). Using a Medium Screw (B) and ensuring the top of the wall is aligned with the Hive Ends (B), attach the Hive End (B) to the Side Wall (C). Note: A gap at the bottom is fine, but a gap at the top is not.
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Attach a Medium Screw (B) through the bottom hole of the Hive End (B), making sure the Side Wall (C) is pushed tight against the Hive End (B). Finish by screwing a Medium Screw (B) into the middle hole. Fig. 3
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Place the Side Wall With Window (D) on the other side and repeat the same process but DO NOT screw into the the middle hole on the Hive End (B) or you will not be able to remove the window cover. Fig. 4
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Turn over the hive assembly and drill in 6 Long Screws (C) to connect the Base (A) to the Side Walls (C And D). Be careful when screwing to follow the angle of the pre-drilled holes which is the same angle as the walls. Set the Hive Body Assembly aside.
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Lay out the Roof Sides (E) and the Roof End (F) making sure the slope on the top of the Roof Sides (E) matches the slope on the Roof End (F). Place the Solid Bottom Board (M) at each inside corner temporarily before to attach the parts to ensure the sides and ends are at a 90˚ angle to each other. Using Medium Screws (B) connect the Roof Sides (E) to a Roof End (F). Fig. 6
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Using Medium Screws (B) once again, screw in the other Roof Side (E). Fig. 7
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Looking from above, center the Ridge Cap (G) over the Roof End (F), as seen in Figure 8 on Center Line 1 and Center Line 2. Attach the Ridge Cap (G) to the Roof End (F) with a Medium Screw (B), but do not screw it all the way, leaving it about a quarter of an inch above the Ridge Cap (G) to allow for the next step.
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Center the other side of the Ridge Cap (G) on on Center Line 1 and Center Line 2 to the other Roof End (F). Attach the the Ridge Cap (G) to the other Roof End (F) with a Medium Screw (B), again leaving it about a quarter of an inch above the Ridge Cap (G).
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Insert the Roof Panel (H) on top of the spring steel then slide it up and under the Ridge Cap (G) until it is snug against the top of the Roof End (F) and up under the Ridge Cap (G) (see Figure 10.1). Holding the roof panels (It’s helpful to have one person hold the panel and another person attached the roofs) screw in 4 Short Screws (A) ensuring they go in 90˚ to the Roof Panel (H)
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Repeat the same process for the other Roof Panel (H). Then fully tighten both screws on the Ridge Cap (G)
Set the Roof Assembly aside.
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Attach the Legs (I) by first placing the Hive body on a table at least 3 feet tall. Insert one Leg (I) into the outer slot on the Hive End (A) making sure the angle on the bottom of the leg is parallel with the ground below. Insert a Carriage Bolt (D) from the inside of the Hive End (A) and through the Leg (I). Secure Bolt (D) on the outside by first placing a Flat Washer (E) then a Lock Washer (F) and then a Hex Nut (G) on the bold. Secure it finger-tight. Repeat the same steps for the other three legs.
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To level the Hive, place in the location where you are going to site the hive. Loosen the nuts of any legs not touching the ground one at a time and lower each leg until it touches the ground, and then tighten the nuts with a wrench or a pliers.
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Lock legs in place by drilling Medium Screws (B) through the holes on the inside of the Hive End (A).
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Choose where you want your bees to enter and exit the hive. We recommend openings away from people and in the bees’ flight path. Close off the other openings by drilling in 2 Short Screws (A) leaving them un-screwed about 1/2 inch. Sliding the slots in the Bee Access Cover (J) over the screws and then secure the screw lightly against the Bee Access Cover (J).
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Place the Roof Assembly on Hive Body Assembly by aligning nubins on the underside of the Roof Assembly with the slots on the top of the Hive Ends (B).
The roof should now be able to hinge open in either direction. -
Open the Roof and insert Louvers (H) in the hole on the outside of the the Hive Ends (B). Starting and the end of the hive where you have your bee access open, insert as many Top Bars (L) as you want. Finally, insert the Divider Board (K) snug up against the last Top Bar (L) you insert.
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The bottom of your Top Bar Hive is equiped with stainless steel screened bottoms. Decide whether you want to use the screened bottom or whether you want to insert the Solid Bottom Boards (M) to make a solid bottom hive. The screen bottom is nice for warm weather. When things get cold and drafty, you may want to convert to a Solid Bottom.
Now, JUST ADD BEES! You can find out more about how to keep bees in a top bar hive at beebuilt.com/pages/top-bar-hive-management
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>