Because of your channel, I purchased two Bee Castle complete hives, (two deeps, one super, bottom and top) to add to the other hives in my apiary. I just finished putting them together and I am very impressed with the quality. Lots of wax on the foundation and the boxes are near perfect. Thanks for your channel and thanks for your honest review of products. I am now a full supporter of Bee Castle.
I have used a lot of hives built with finger joints and they were all loose and had gaps when assembling. The BeeCastle hives dovetail joints are cut perfectly and fit together nice ant tight. I am sure they will provide you years of utility. I will always give my best honest opinion on any product I use or review and I am happy this review helped you find a great hive. Than you for stopping in to have a look and for taking the time to comment. Take care.
I bought two of the unwaxed version and was pleased with the box for the price. I did switch out the bottom board with a homemade screened bottom board since all my hives are screened. The rest was actually better than the more expensive boxes I bought locally. They fit tight and smooth just like you show. There were a few blemishes like you showed, but nothing that would stop me from using them for my bees.
They really are very nice hives. I have not tried the unwaxed ones but the assembly is smooth and square. I love them. I plan on a follow up video to the 20 in the bee yard later this season after they have weathered a bit. Thanks for stopping in to have a look and taking the time to comment. Take care.
It’s good to glue the frames as didn’t do it on some full frames . They were stuck and full of honey and fell apart when removing them. Quite a mess. I now glue everything.
@BugFarmerBees I wasn't sure as I'm a first time bee keeper but after receiving them and then seeing your video I ordered more as I only ordered the minimum to start. Thanks for the great review!
The hive I received was very stout. The wood was heavy, highly waxed, and machined wonderfully. The wood was not cheap at all and everything fit tight and right. All holes had pilot holes and were counter sunk. If you are worried about the wood splitting maybe get a small drill bit and refine the pilot holes. I will be using this hive in the upcoming season to test it's durability.
I have zero hammer experience and just put together my first BeeCastle 8 frame 2 layer hive. I used a piece of wood over the screw holes to hammer the wood and line things up. I didn’t hammer directly on the wood except on the frames and the frames did not split, the wood is very solid. Hope that eases your mind.
My bees loved this 8 frame unit! a nuc exploded into 5 deeps in the 8 frame in 2 months! only problem is I had to keep ordering more! ALSO the wax is heavy but I don't think it's 100% beeswaz because they don't like it-I just use a beeswax crayon and it helps.
They are nice hives. They go together easy and are more weatherproof than my hives that I use the spar varnish on. I haven't noticed my bees having any issue with the wax at all. I do have one stubborn colony in the Bee Castle bee yard that refuses to grow though. Hive #8 has become a special project for me. I want to get it right before winter.
You can check square by measuring corner to corner. If both diagonals are the same, it's square. I have a bunch of Bee Castle hives and absolutely love them.
Thanks for the tip. I was trying to make squaring a box easy for the non-tool-aquainted folks out there by referencing something they likely had around the house. :-) They are great hives. I will have a lot more really soon :-) Thanks for stopping in to have a look Chris and also for taking the time to drop a comment.
I have used both and you may be right. I am thinking next year I may try the season without queen excluders. Just to see if the honey bridge I have heard about is true. Next season will be exciting :-)
Bug Farmer, what is your name so I can type that instead of BF? Can you tell me if the wood was treated with wax after the dovetail joints were cut or before the cuts? It does look good. I’ve tried about all finishes on the boxes. I hate painting them! I’m trying out EcoWood finishes now. It looks great and all you do is dip the boxes. They get darker as time passes and so far seem to be water resistant but time will tell. Good video and I hope your bees are doing good along with you!
Hi Don. I can tell you that it isn't Rumpelstiltskin, now you have two more guesses. The wax was done after the dovetails were cut hence the reason I couldn't glue the hive. I generally cover all of my hives in sailboat spar varnish to protect them from the weather but I sure do like the way this wax looks. I will be installing this hive in the spring with a very specific pourpose where we will see if the wax holds up. Thanks for stopping in Don. In the future you can just call me Bug :-)
Amazing product 👌🏻 I can see the quality. And the Amazing part it's Chinese and I thought Western product would have been better. Great watch and u explained how to assemble perfectly 🥰
Mr bug farmer, You better think your heavenly father that you got something good from big castle. If you could see the crap they shipped me you wouldn't go near them. Just grabbing a side panel and I ran a splinter an inch deep in my hand. The dovetailing was a nightmare and a broken off finger on one panel and a hollow in another finger on the dovetailing. The frames look like they were done by an amateur with a saw that was either set improperly or it was worn out. The frame rest is a complete v-groove that can hold water. It is not a flat for the frames to rest on. What an absolute insult to receive this from the Chinese. There will be no more Chinese anything for me because we should be buying American-made products Glad you didn't have to pay for yours .
That is 180 degrees different than my experience with their product(s). I just finished assembling 20 double stack 10 frame Bee Castle hives. With the exception of a knot on or behind a dovetail on two of the hives they were flawless, went together easily, and were square every time. From My experience they are some of the best hives on the market in that price range and am happy to be using them. I have purchased and assembled hives from Mann Lake, Better Bee, Bee Built, Vevor and others and the only other hives I have used that assembled as right and tight as these Bee Castle hives were the laser cut hives from honeyflow.com and those cost almost 1,000.00 each. In my opinion Bee Castle hives offer great utility and value for the money. I do however want to thank you for reaching out with your experience as I believe more information is always better than less. Thank you Chuck.
@@BugFarmerBees Mr Bug farmer, Of course you know they Cherry picked you a real good combo for you to review. You also need to dig and look at some of the reviews that doesn't get much air time. They shipped me nothing but scrap thrown in a box. Splinters on everything including the frame parts the top bar and bottom bar and the groove for the foundation in the top bar look like it was done with a pocket knife. Everything had to be reworked or replaced actually had to make other frame parts. This kit was going to be used at one of our local schools who asked me to mentor a Bee program there. As a commercial beekeeper I have to be self-reliant and build most everything in our shop. Unfortunately I came down with cancer and shop time is almost nil. My wife suggested we buy this unit as a quick fix which turned out to be a disaster. The infection to my right hand from the splinter off of one of the side panels has cost me time and money and suffering. When you deal with several thousand hives as we do you cannot rely on these kind of people. They got us on this one but it'll be the last. You have a wonderful day and may God bless you your family and your apiary
I use bucket feeders so I would set it on top of the inner cover. If you use a jar feeder you would just place it in the entrance as normal. It is a standard Langhstroth hive.
Thank you for this video. I am in Southeastern Michigan, and I just ordered my first ever package of (Italian) bees, to be deliver in early May next year. I have been looking at the Bee Castle hives for over a year, and was hesitant because you normally "get what you pay for". Your perfectly timed review video may have just sold me on it (great job to the Bee Castle marketing team getting you to review it!). I am excited and nervous because I don't want to let my ladies down when they get here! Thank you, again!
Welcome to the hobby.The Bee Castle is a good hive and your bees will be happy. It is well made and easy to assemble. Thanks for stopping in to have a look and taking the time to comment. Take care.
It would be better made in the USA. But it will take a time to get all products to be made in our factories. Hey question. When should I put the entrance reducer. I only have one hive could they still do robbing. Thanks great video. Mine is the same but from hover hives the joints we real tight. There was so much wax I had to use a hairdryer to actually melt the wax then it would go together nice I think that way made it a lot more weatherproof
Hi Jim. If you colony is strong you can get by with the largest opening on your entrance reducer but If the y are weak I would go with the smallest entrance. The concern is during dearth (which I am in currently, other colonies, even feral ones could come in and fight your bees for their resources. Reducing the entrance give them a smaller area to defend. Personally, my hives run with reducers on them all year. if I notice a hive getting robbed out I will choke off the hive or reduce it to the smallest entrance.
I bought a similar hive and lost the instructions. I am so grateful for this video. After 2 yrs, I was able to assemble my hive while watching this video. Thank you so much!
I was turned off with the made in China aspect at the beginning I have to admit. However, the fact it’s waxed for longevity and has dovetails and pre-drilled and countersunk holes really shows quality. I’d buy it and I’m getting to the point (as a hobbiest mind you) that I love the waxed wood look too. Great review but please let us know how the double waxed foundation is accepted by the bees. TY
Hi Eddy. I have been using double waxed plastic foundation for years and the bees take to it well. Sometimes I have to brush on a bit more wax but overall my experience with them have been good.
I am setting up for next year....and I keep seeing people with super tall hives meaning a couple of more boxes....what is the point of ....and when is it recommmended to add boxes..
The super tall hives mean their bees are filling boxes. The best time to add a new box is when the you honey super is 80% full. Just add a new super, seed it with a couple of almost finished frames from another super and the bees will move up, draw comb, and start filling. There have been a lot of tall hives this year on this channel and others because our flow down here in the south has been fantastic. Lot's of honey :-)
Good Morning! I’m playing catch up as i have been super busy with the larger than planned expansion this year! Nice to see some quality in wood working as it is not hard to do but does take some time and pride in prepping! Dovetail joints not only fit well but are also very strong! I like the waxed boxes as this is what I have chosen to do as well! You should build a frame jig, makes things so much easier! Nate at Duck rive has a good video on one. If this was only $150 i would say this is a very good beginners hive and looks like a great value!
It is much better of a hive than I expected it to be when they reached out to me for a review. I am impressed and it will definitely make a great hive for a beginner.
Don't know. I do know that the bees are happy and healthy in the hives and the hives are still water tight. Personally I am very happy with the quality of these boxes and I expect years of service from them. Thank you for stopping in to have a look and for taking the time to ask a question. Take care.
Awesome. The Bee Castle hives are fantastic. For the longest time I was using woodware from the big bee supply houses and the box joints were always loose. Bee Castle have nice and tight dovetail joints that insure the box goes together square. The 20 I. installed in the spring have spent the season in the weather and are holding up well outside of the stain fading a bit.
I’ve bought 6 of these boxes all were perfect so far have stood up and look like the day I bought them. Admittedly I bought the other Amazon one by accident that was cheaper, that looks the same. It literally is exactly the same minus the laser logo
These are great boxes. I was thoroughly surprised by the quality. I was expecting boxes like I get from Mann lake or Better Beer but they were soooo much better. I am happy to have the one I have and hopefully will be getting more of them. Thanks for stopping in TJ. Take care.
@@BugFarmerBees also the bees draw out the heavy wax extremely well. It’s all I buy now for the money can’t beat it. After one year through snow cold rain sun heat they still look brand new
I have never seen one but may review it in the future if they reach out to me. Thanks for stopping in Jack and thanks for taking the time to drop a comment. Take care.
Aren't they great. It is impossible to build them out of square. No glue, no clamps.... Just awesome. I am a huge fan of the Bee Castle hive. They just work. Thanks for stopping in and taking the time to comment.
Wow that went together much easier than my Hoover hives that I love. The boxes required a lot of mallet work and cause minor damage. Might need to look at bee castle if I expand!
No. The Bee Castle hive is an extremely well built hive and heavily waxed inside and out. That said, It was the first waxed hive I have ever owned but recently had the opportunity to compare it to the Vevor hive and it seemed like the Bee Castle had a thicker coat. It is a very nice hive. My buddy Brady purchased one and his bees ore doing well in it. I hope this helps. Thanks for stopping in to have a look and for taking the time to reach out. Take care.
Hey Bug Farmer, I had already bought my BeeCastle hive when I saw your vid. Never built a hive. Have zero experience with tools. Ditto that with bees. However, was so glad to hear you say that the bees were going to love that hive. They were what I had in mind when I bought it. I want my bees to be happy and healthy and that hive said that to me. Some of my nails were crooked, some stuck out the side and some were ok but the wood didn’t split. It’s great quality and for that reason, I agree, I think that hive is going to be a tough one against the elements. We don’t really get tough elements except too much sun (Santa Barbara, CA) and this hive is going under a lovely pomegranate tree. No worries. Great video. Thanks.
Outstanding. You will find the hive will hold up to the weather well. I have had them in the Hot Georgia sun all last season, in the cold wet winter, and in the hot sun again this season and thus far the hives are holding up well. Yes, the wax will melt and the finish fade but the wax melts into the wood and keep the hive waterproof. I have been happy with all 23 of my Bee Castle hives and they are still in great shape. Thanks for stopping in to have a look at my video and I hope to see you in future comments. Take care.
The Bee Castle hives are fantastic in my opinion. Easy to build and great value and utility for the money. I have been sponsored by them all season and am running 20 of them in my other bee yard and they have been baking in the sun and soaking in the rain all season. I will be doing an official follow-up video on their status at the end of the season but as a little sneak peak, they are holding up wonderfully. Thanks for stopping in to have a look and for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it. Take care.
I only have one horizontal hive currently. My design allows for supers on each end. I’ve purchased 2 deep unassembled boxes from Amazon for $30 each. I do not expect anything near the quality of your Bee Castle hive, but I may do a video of the assembly anyway. My plan is to mod one of then for flow frames. Thanks for showing us that quality products are out there, and for a reasonable price.
Sounds like a winning Idea. I have a video out there that shows how to modify for flow frames. have a look at this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tPdLojvoeYs.html
I purchased one of those. It is good quality. However, I don't know what kind of wax they are using because bees do not seem to like it at all and actually avoid it. I tried using it as a swarm trap and bees would not even enter it. Then I tried it as a regular hive. I transfered a medium swarm I caught and the bees took off. I then tried adding it as a second deep box and the bees would not go near it.
They are what I use except that I use a screened bottom board w/ oil pan (SHB control) and it helps with the ventilation as these boxes tend to stick together because of the wax coating, again (SHB control)🤡
I haven't had it in the heat yet but I am very impressed with the quality of the hive. I am moving away from screened bottom boards for the same reason you have the oil trey. Hive beetles are the worst. :-)
It was the camera angle. It is level. The box was amazingly tight. I think I may change to waxed hives instead of going through all of the trouble of sanding, staining, and finishing. I still wish I could glue them together though.
I love the dove tail joints. Wish i could get all my boxes that way. I'm sure you already heard it but I would have used glue anyway but it's not my box LOL. Now do you think they heat soaked the wood in wax or just sprayed in on? Thanks for sharing!🌻🐝
Hello Sunflower King! Those boxes are tight and right. It looks to me like the boxes were dipped or sprayed. I will be following that box for a while to see how it weathers over time. How are your honey sales going by the way? I have been selling at the local ACE hardware and selling about 35 lbs a week. Of course I only get $6 a pound because the store has to make a margin but it is a quick and easy way to sell. Take care buddy.
This is great information! I'm a second year beekeeper and have wanted to try waxed hives. Thank you for sharing and reviewing for us!!! Appreciate it so much!
I am happy I was able to help. It is a very well made bee hive. Make sure to get a second hive by spring. You will need a place to put your first split. Also it is always helpful to have two hives so you can judge the health of one against the other and share resources between the two. Welcome to beekeeping.
Another wonderful episode from the secret Bug bunker inside Bugsville , Bug Farmer at large!! Bee Castle 🏰 extra! Craftsman hour in the Bug Bunker… Join again next week same bug time Same bug channel, where the Bug Farmer crusader is sure to say ….. Bee Happy, 🐝🐝and I will see you next time!!!!
Nice looking product. China, but gotta balance what we can do. Big box lumber from Vietnam, Sweden, not American. Most of my boxes are also Mann Lake because the local store carried them at a reasonable price. Now my local store wants $31 for an unassembled deep and yes it is the utility grade I forget what Mann lake called it. I could see ordering those if they had reasonable shipping prices. But I do wish to buy American
I'm a little late catching up on your latest video today. But they are always worth the wait! I've moved to waxed boxes too. I just don't think the painted boxes can last as long. If the hives have been hot wax dipped, the moisture seeps out of the wood, and can never return. I also like seeing the natural wood grain on my hives. So that's a bonus. :)
@@BugFarmerBees seems you have quite the following from Oz! We're about to start getting very busy with our hives coming into spring. I noticed you mention dovetail joints. I've actually not seen any hive kits here that are not dovetail. Seems I've been lucky that those joints are more popular here.
That was fast. With your edits I had no idea it was that fast. Good to know if I was going to build a hive. I'm allergic to bee stings so I'll just keep hosting your bees on my flowers!
Great video Mr Bug Farmer 👩🌾, nice review. It seems to be a great product and assembles like the flow hive. Our season is about to start in the next few weeks down under Oz. Thanks again TrickyTrev 🇦🇺👍🐝🍯
These are much better built than the flow hives. Thicker wood, dove tail joints and counter sunk screw holes. Wish flow would put the same quality into their $1000 hives.
@@bradwamsley3465 hard to compare between something you build yourself and something mass produced. I myself build most of my supers only the flow supers and frames I purchase from flow, you save a lot of money 💰 that way. Thanks for the advice 🇦🇺👍🐝🍯
Thank you so much. I really appreciate you stopping in to have a look and for taking the time to drop a comment. I hope to see you in future comments. Take care.
It does matter where things are made regardless of the brand being American or not. Buying ‘made in China’ stuff is like putting money in your enemy’s pocket. Not a great idea.
Buying local made when I can is always a priority but a quality product is a quality product regardless of where it's made. I appreciate your passion and your opinion. Thank you for taking the time to watch my video and share your thoughts. Take care.