How to make a Langstroth Beehive // Woodworking | I Like To Make Stuff

We made a Langstroth Beehive for a colony of bees that moved into my back porch. Thanks to Google Images for sponsoring this video and helping us find inspiration for our DIY projects.

TOOLS & SUPPLIES THAT WE USED(affiliate links):

I'm not saying this as a disclaimer, well maybe, but I really think the success of this project was largely in part from the advice from our local beekeeping community. I looked up the group online and the leader, Richie, came out to check on our bee situation. A lot of people have a general fear of bees, but I didn't want to unnecessarily harm the creatures in any way. Richie suggested that we remove the wall panel and carefully remove any honey comb that the bess had made and transfer them to a Langstroth Beehive. There are many beehive designs, but the Langstroth is very versatile and can grow as the colony grows.

I found some plans online to make a standard Langstroth hive, and I used Google Images to research different hive ideas. My favorite was a Langstroth made out of cedar with a simple metal roof, so I decided to emulate it. Once we finished the hive, Richie planned on coming back to help me move the hive into their new home.

If you aren't familiar with beehives, let me fill you in, specifically the Langstroth hive. It is a system of boxes, some deep and some shallow, that stack on top of each other. The bees brood, or incubate and hatch new bees, in the deeper, lower boxes while the workers bees store honey in the shallower, upper boxes. There is a base with a landing pad and two separate lids that cap the whole hive.

To make the deep and shallow boxes, I cut up some cedar boards and joined them using box joints. Because I'm not sure how many bees are living in the wall, I'm going to make enough boxes for 2 hives. Once the boxes were glued together, I used a router to add a rabbet on the top so that the individual beehive frames will hang inside the boxes.

The bees need places to build their comb, not just attach it to the insides of the boxes. The Langstroth hive uses thin, empty frames slotted closely together inside the boxes to give the bees a place to build out the colony. The spacing is very specific so that the bees don't instinctually fill in small gaps with a secreted resin-like material and close in the colony. The individual frames can be pulled out of the boxes and the honey from their comb can be harvested without disrupting the rest of the hive.

To make the frames, I cut the top and bottom rails from more cedar lumber and Josh used the laser cutter to make the outside vertical supports. These vertical supports needed to be cut with the specific spacing added to each side. When two frames are placed next to each other, it needs to be no less than 3/8". After a long batching process using jigs, glue, and brad nails, we had enough uprights to complete all of the frames for each box. To help support any existing honeycomb, I ran some fishing line along the frame.

Now that the boxes and frames are complete, we have to add the remaining elements to the Langstroth hive, both of which are integral to the success of the system. The bottom acts as a barrier for other creatures, only allowing a 3/8" opening; a landing pad to enter the hive; and a way to catch all of the bee's waste. This was created using a cedar frame with dados cut along the inside to accept a sheet of corrugated plastic that could be removed and cleaned. On top of the plastic sheet, I stapled down a sheet of screen door mesh and secured it in place with a 3/8" vertical spacer. The entire hive simply sits on this base, which then is elevated by some cinder blocks.

Learn 3d modeling, get digital plans, and cool merch at

Want to support ILTMS? Get exclusive content and more...

FOLLOW:

#ILikeToMakeStuff

About I Like To Make Stuff:

We have lots of projects including woodworking, metalworking, electronics, 3D printing, prop making and more!

These videos are our attempt inspire and empower others to make the stuff that they want to have. Hopefully you'll see something here that will inspire you to make something that you're passionate about!

I Like To Make Stuff

[hamzaimran]

"...instead of killing them off..."
Thats deserves a like already

[rozzogozzo]

This should've been sponsored by honey

[TSHolden]

Beekeeper here! As Bob mentioned, your local beekeeping organization will be the place to go, because regional variation is surprisingly high.

For example, many places need to paint the hives white to keep them cooler: otherwise the bees have to line up at the entrance and use their wings to circulate air as a sort of natural AC, which means the hive is less productive. Conversely, some climates paint the hives black to warm them up, and in some places the hives are painted differently on different sides, to warm them in the morning and cool them in the evening. Check with your locals to find out what works best in your area!

[wtfrankian]

Beekeeper here! This is generally a very informative video. But I have to chime in and say that there is a reason why the original plans for hive parts do not use glue. Wood glues and some super glues have compounds that the bees do not like, and may be toxic. Please consider using only nails and screws when constructing your hives, future viewer! And don't worry about keeping the hive air tight, the bees will cover any small openings with sap. Also, do not paint or stain the interior of the hive, or any of the frames. Bees only like to walk on raw wood!

[Jordiwt]

Google Images? Never heard of it.
Seriously though. Did Google have such a huge marketing budget they are now advertising elements everybody already knows about?

[Danielmanly]

I want updates on this beehive throughout the year! Bob the beekeeper!!!
"Hi, I'm Bob and I like to keep bees"

[gavinhillery]

"Josh made a quick jig."


Immediately hear Josh say "Makin' a jig" in my head.

[danthemakerman]

You know people are gonna being expecting ILTMS™ branded honey.

[wanayuni]

the bees : *built a hive near bob's house


bob : *built them a better hive


the bees : it's free real estate

[Zalera]

This makes me happy. Thank you for being so respectful to those bees

[kdurham]

Bees: “Bzzzz”

Bob: “Hi, I’m Bob, and I like to make stuff.”

Bees: “We were really hoping for something with arduino.”

Bob: “How about a removable/cleanable ‘yuck’ tray?”

Bees: “Deal.”

[wanayuni]

i feel like the bees know you're gonna build them a better hive, that's why they built their hive near your house lol

[etedrowable]

It's probably worth noting that a riving knife is meant to help avoid binding and kickback as a piece is split by the sawblade. The riving knife allows the material to STAY separated after it passes the length of the sawblade. If you're just cutting a dado without splitting the piece into two, it shouldn't be an issue to remove it for that cut.

[AppelmoesArtandPhotography]

My grandpa is a beekeeper. He has bees as long as I can remember. Very cool. You will love it. Have a nice day.

[rebornmomma]

Just an FYI this channel is the only reason I passed my shop final last year.

[nateyoumans]

I really like the slow camera pans during the sped-up sections!

[codyfrohmader]

Awesome. I have been beekeeping for many years and I have always wanted to find a "wild" colony or swarm that I could move into my hives, free bees. I loved listening to how excited you were on "Making It" when you were talking about all the things you have been learning about bees. Bees are absolutely fascinating, you will never run out of things to learn about them.

[drunkenkyle]

Here’s why I like you man. Your lack of ego. You don’t edit around your mistakes. You use them as a learning tool. Thank Bob. Good luck to you and your family.

[lenawilliams]

I am a beekeeper myself and it makes me so happy to see someone helping them instead of killing them. I have 2 hives and I hope that you enjoy your bees just as much as I do

[MCsCreations]

Bob, my mother had LOTS of hives in my parent's farm... And when they moved the bees something fantastic is that once they put the queen in the box, the others went after by themselves! 😃