Thread: Native Bee Box Jig

Native bee boxes do not look like that from memory.

Are you sure that you are looking at native bees?

You could do no better than follow William Ng's method ....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NutwD7B6tmE

He has the process and the tolerances just sooooo right.

My Dad always painted his boxes white... dont ask me why ... all I know is that if painting wasnt required he would not have done it

REGARDS



Rob

Originally Posted by cava

Native bee boxes do not look like that from memory.

Are you sure that you are looking at native bees?

Yes I have dozens of Australian Native Bee hives. All of them are in boxes 200x290x95. This is pretty much standard. I have been using cypress but I have a number of 32mm hoop pine which are rotting from the inside out and must be replaces with cypress.

Thank you for your interest.

FishyFill

Originally Posted by Tahlee

You could do no better than follow William Ng's method ....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NutwD7B6tmE

He has the process and the tolerances just sooooo right.

My Dad always painted his boxes white... dont ask me why ... all I know is that if painting wasnt required he would not have done it

REGARDS



Rob

Thank you for that. Very good link.

I also paint my hives if they are going to be exposed to the weather. The ones I intend to carve will be located out of the weather. The tend to rot from the inside out as the inside of the hive is very humid and warm.

Thanks again your comments were both positive and very helpful..Fishy

Originally Posted by CapricornCoast

...200x290x95...

Are those numbers in mm? If so, which dimension is the 95 (or was that a 295 typo?)? I've made about 300 of them and they were 200 wide x 280 deep x around 300 tall.

Sorry, can't help with the box joint jig, but I'm interested to hear more about your dimensions and see how the fancy boxes turn out.

That said, do you not paint your boxes? I thought that was an important part about giving them longevity but maybe that's just a localized method.

Cheers,
Luke

Originally Posted by Luke Maddux

Are those numbers in mm? If so, which dimension is the 95 (or was that a 295 typo?)? I've made about 300 of them and they were 200 wide x 280 deep x around 300 tall.

Sorry, can't help with the box joint jig, but I'm interested to hear more about your dimensions and see how the fancy boxes turn out.

That said, do you not paint your boxes? I thought that was an important part about giving them longevity but maybe that's just a localized method.

Cheers,
Luke

Luke, this is the standard box dimensions for native bees.

Originally Posted by Luke Maddux

Are those numbers in mm? If so, which dimension is the 95 (or was that a 295 typo?)? I've made about 300 of them and they were 200 wide x 280 deep x around 300 tall.

Sorry, can't help with the box joint jig, but I'm interested to hear more about your dimensions and see how the fancy boxes turn out.

That said, do you not paint your boxes? I thought that was an important part about giving them longevity but maybe that's just a localized method.

Cheers,
Luke

300mm is way too tall if you intend to split them. Mine are 950+950+50mm honey super tall. Very standard for native bees. I can send photos if you like. If have tried various heights and found this work perfectly. Only been at it for 15 years. Always to willing to learn more.

I normally paint wit a primer and two or three top coats. I am just trying to make up a few for under cover use.

Thanks for your interest. BTW do you know where I can get some 30mm cypress?

Originally Posted by Kidbee

Luke, this is the standard box dimensions for native bees.

That's them.

The ones I make have three levels, all of which are different heights, so it's a different design, obviously.

I see now that when you said 95mm in the first post you were just talking about one of the individual levels of your box so I understand what you were saying. 300mm is (roughly) the total height of my entire, three level box.

Originally Posted by CapricornCoast

Hi

I need to make 100 native bee boxes before September this year so I can split my hives.
I am looking at going upmarket with my boxes something like the attached photo.

I need to set up a jig of sorts to box joint the corners.
I really do not want to by a $1000 jig if it can be avoided.
Any advice on make an appropriate jig for the task.

Any advice on a decent CNC router for the carving would also be appreciated.

FishyFill

I guess the question that needs to be asked is what machinery do you have available ie., a decent table saw or router table? Maybe you could be better of outsourcing the CNC work.

Originally Posted by Kidbee

I guess the question that needs to be asked is what machinery do you have available ie., a decent table saw or router table? Maybe you could be better of outsourcing the CNC work.

I have a Triton saw and router table. A half decent router and a saw bench and drop saw. Very close to importing a semi commercial cnc router. Also looking at a cnc plasma.

Originally Posted by CapricornCoast

I have a Triton saw and router table. A half decent router and a saw bench and drop saw. Very close to importing a semi commercial cnc router. Also looking at a cnc plasma.

Iam heading down to Brisbane today. Have to take the grandson to the Wesley on Tuesday. Will be staying at the Strawberry farm at Eumundi. That is the wife's family home. Great to see so many helpful people in Qld offering assistance.

Fishy

If you have a table saw, I reckon the best jig for finger joints is this one which was post in this forum a while back.

Here is a couple of pages from an e-book I purchased, where the author makes up a sliding fence and uses a router jig to make box joints. Don't know about copyright laws so only posted two pages.