Most Popular Complete National Hive

All the hive woodwork I sell is cedar which comes in 2 qualities –

1st, Western Red cedar, a dense slow growing tree, the machining of joints is precise and there won't  be any knots.

2nd quality or Budget, English cedar, a faster growing, less dense tree which will have some knots and the joints can be less precise and therefore need a bit more patience to assemble sometimes.

All boxes are sold with nail packs for assembly and metal runners or castellations. It is useful if a customer specifies which they would like and if castellations, how many spacing slots – 8, 9, 10, 11.

You can get kit in pine, marine ply. I think this is fine for kit needed for a short time e.g. housing a swarm but will need more maintenance than cedar if it is to last a winter outside. 

1st is the most expensive and so it goes down the line.

British Standard frames fit a National or WBC hive.

DN stands for Deep National. (11 frames in a national box with a dummy board.). For Brood boxes.

SN stands for Shallow National. For Supers.

DN1, DN2, SN1 and SN2 have straight side bars so these frames will have to be spaced by frame-ends or castellations.

DN4, DN5, SN4 and SN5 have Hoffman side bars so are self spacing.

DN2, DN5, SN2 and SN5 have slightly wider top bars.

Hoffman self-spacing side bars

SN4 – Super National Hoffman frames, can be used with runners or castellations in a super; if runners, then add a dummy board.

SN1 – Super National straight side bars, need to be used with castellations or frame ends for the spacing, if frame ends then may need a dummy board.

14x12 – Hoffman side bars with a wider top bar.

There are other options but these are the most commonly used in my experience. I am happy to discuss other variations.

National boxes can usually fit 12 frames! But, this is jammed in tight, you lose the bee-space on the outside faces of the end frames so you will never get these drawn out as the bees cannot get in there. In my opinion, 12 frames is too tight and you will roll, crush and kill bees especially once there is any hint of propolis.

I recommend 11 Hoffman frames with runners in the brood box with a dummy board.

If using runners in a super box, then add a dummy. I prefer castellations in the super as they hold the frames firmly when I have removed them from the bees and am transporting them whether from the garden or out apiaries. I prefer SN4 frames in the super so if I need to give a brood box a boost of food, they line up with my Hoffman brood frames.

There are many variations and beekeeper preferences, so please call to discuss your requirements!

Foundation

Comes in Premier or Standard quality:

Premier is sourced from the UK and Ireland.

Standard is from other various sources.

This is of importance as the UK and Ireland are much stricter than elsewhere about what chemicals are authorised for countrywide use. Wax can retain chemical residues even after cleaning which could impact colony health.

Priced in packs of 10 but I am happy to supply any exact number you require.