Top Bar Beehive Design

From each bar bees build comb dangling down into the hive.

Top bar beehive design. Distinct in shape and size the top bar beehive commonly features a single rectangular or tub shaped hive body with parallel bars spanning the width of the opening. The top bar hive is the oldest and most commonly used hive style in the world. 38 langstroth top bar and warre hive plans. Warre hives are the middle ground between langstroth and top bar.

This is a top bar hive so no need for closed frames. Top bar hives are always rectangular in shape and are typically more than twice as wide as many story framed hives. The design is based on the kenya top bar hive but it has some aesthetically pleasing features that add a little pizzazz to your yard. At a high level it is effectively a box on legs with a cover.

The use of wedges and slots to keep the side panels connected to the front panels adds to the stability of the build. It features individual bars laid across the top of the hive cavity. A top bar bee box has bars from which the honey bees attach and hang the wax comb an array of hexagon six sides cells. Designed by commercial artist and art center college of design graduate steve steere the bubees is a top bar beehive made from salvaged wood from his oceanside neighborhood.

Top bar hives allow beekeeping methods that interfere much less with the bee colony allowing it to be more natural. Top bar hives are perfect for small scale beekeeping or hobbyist who doesn t want to lift more than 40lbs. Generally the bars are a wooden wedge or strip with a guide to ensure combs hang straight. You can also print the complete design plans and parts list which is posted below to build your own hive.

Now let s begin with the first beehive plans. Made from different materials that are often repurposed or recycled top bar hives can be observed around the world. Since each top bar accounts for only half of the bee space required between combs a spacer should be placed between the first bar and the side of the hive. A top bar beehive is a single story frameless beehive where the comb hangs from removable wooden bars.

Mar 22 2015 beehive design plans special projects uncategorized woodworking here s a how to video on building a new top bar beehive using thermally treated poplar. While this obscures some of the effort involved in manufacturing a top bar this simplicity is one reason it has been so popular.