🐝 Build a Layen's Beehive | With Only One Saw!

Build this Beehive with only Two power tools! Building a beehive doesn't require a ton of tools and experience. In this video, I show how I was able to build a 14 Fra e Layen's hive with just a circular saw and a drill using dowel joinery.
I realized after posting other videos on building beehives and bee frames that not everyone had a fully equipped shop to build their hives in. It took some time and some thinking about it, but I can now say it is possible to build a Layen's beehive and all the frames needed to raise honey bees with just a circular saw and a drill.
This is great news for beginners that have some basic tools and want to start beekeeping as it makes it much more approachable. I tried to include all of the measurements in the video, but I also have plans available for this hive on my website.
If you build one, I'd love to hear about your experience, please leave a comment below!
🐝 My Build Plans: www.beeboybill.com/store/buil...
🐝 L I N K S
Note: Commissions may be earned from the links below. Thanks for your support!
► Rip-Cut: amzn.to/3ln8HUn
► Similiar Dowel Jig: amzn.to/3tGnFaZ
► Tools I use: www.beeboybill.com/store/tools
► My Favorite Bee Books: www.beeboybill.com/store/books
► Bee Products I Recommend: www.beeboybill.com/store/beek...
🐝 G E T I N T O U C H
► Facebook: / beeboybill
► Website: www.beeboybill.com/home
► Business/Customer Inquiries Only Please: [e-mail]
0:00 Start
0:09 Rip 2x10
0:55 Cross Cut Ends
1:52 Cross Cut Front/Back
2:26 Rabbet Front/Back
3:46 Plunge Cut Rabbet Ends
5:14 Rabbet Frame Rest
5:58 Clean Up Rabbets
10:25 Cutting Bottom Board
10:43 Assemble Bottom Board
11:31 Assemble Hive Bottom
14:49 Assemble Hive Top
19:53 Cut Lid
20:49 Assemble Lid
22:00 Vent/Entrance Holes
23:53 Install Lid Rest
25:22 Install Flashing
27:48 Install Entrance Discs
28:35 Conclusion

[@dlyall26]

That's what I say. Keep it simple . I Like this video for just that reason.

[@tlcross9620]

Right on!!! Best hive ever!!!

[@BeeBoyBill]

Thanks! I really like the Layen's hives.

[@rosehebrewable]

Great job and very needed by us that don’t have a shop filled with tools!

[@mr.leviathan6009]

Its great to see you making videos again, I stumbled upon your videos last year and was disheartened to see you gone. Keep up the great work I hope nothing but the best for you and your channel.

[@BeeBoyBill]

@Mr. Leviathan, Thanks for the comment! I'm glad to be back backing videos, life got crazy there for a bit but I'm working hard to keep them coming now.

[@frenchie9952]

You are a star young man, thank you

[@Klaatu-ij9uz]

OUTSTANDING tutorial....and camerawork!!

[@gallowaylights]

That was awesome and solid build even the narrative was cool and the reglue @ 12:30 ;)

[@ChiefHamza]

Thank you man this is what I needed a simple take on the hive for people who doesn’t have a table saw.

[@BeeBoyBill]

@Chief Hamza You're welcome! My goal with showing how to do it with one saw was that it would help others who don't have a lot of tools. Thanks for your comment!

[@blackmantis001]

Thanks there is hope for me yet with out buying every wood working tool.

[@vmr6771]

Thanks for the option on how to build the hive with fewer fancy tools.

[@suzanneguiho4882]

Ah this is God send! I don’t have a truck nor access to one not even a person with a trailer. I did exactly what you did, that is cutting the wood at Home Depot...! Thanks for the info in the description! That will be useful.

[@BeeBoyBill]

@ Suzanne You're welcome!

[@JohnJohn-tc4xc]

Wonderful informative video! I’m working on making my Layens hive now. Glad your back making content. Please keep them coming. 👍🏽

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi John, thanks for you comment and watching!

[@Klaatu-ij9uz]

LOVE that brake, too!!

[@BeeBoyBill]

Thanks!

[@oddnectargods]

New fan

[@SindreEide93]

This messuring system is crazy. so much 7/8s 6/7s 5/8s like it's so complicated. I wanna build a hive, but it will be a whole job to just convert it to mm and cm. Good video tough and cool to build it with limited tools.

[@BeeBoyBill]

Haha thanks Sindre. I can def appreciate the metric system, but grew up with standard.

[@SindreEide93]

@@BeeBoyBill metric is aloooooot easier. I see plans on horizontalhive and they are all with these crazy numbers XD

[@gallowaylights]

That was awesome and solid built. love the narrative even the reglue ;)

[@timothymitchell8310]

Thank you . I love your thought process because you inspire me.

[@BeeBoyBill]

You’re welcome Timothy! Thanks for watching, I appreciate the feedback.

[@phillipriggs3375]

Good job keeping your mind right. Sometimes I have trouble loosing my place! I sure was glad to see a different shirt, it takes me two or three times as long on my projects. I thought you were going to get er done all in one day. Blue insulation for spacer was great...... And that break the Bomb!

[@joshdyer236]

I bought your plans and made 5 hives, some slight adjustments, took me 3 full days to make them all, that includes the frames. Absolutely zero woodworking experience so plenty of mistakes on my part they came out great!

[@tehwizeone]

Thank you Bill! 👍

[@BeeBoyBill]

You’re welcome Chris. Thanks for your comment!

[@kimiagulli7554]

I enjoy your content. Great work.

[@BeeBoyBill]

Thanks Kim!

[@russmc3]

Another excellent video, Bill. I put a hive together yesterday, and it turned out pretty good. But, I will be using some of your methods on the next one to speed up the process.

[@BeeBoyBill]

Thanks for your comment McMullin Creative. Glad the video helped!

[@TheMlkj]

I always enjoy watching other techniques for building these hives. I lack a workshop and have to carry all my tools outside from the basement. Another option I've used is pocket holes to join the upper and lower boards together for the hive sides. You'll need to cut an extra .5" off (or .25" off both) either the top or bottom board to account for the standard tongue and groove from Dr. Leo's plans. Keep the videos coming.

[@BeeBoyBill]

@TheMlkj I considered the pocket hole jig but I’ve never used one before and don’t own one. Have you been happy with the results of the pocket hole jig? Do you have a model that you would recommend? Thanks for watching!

[@TheMlkj]

@@BeeBoyBill I use the Kreg R3 and it's is pretty cheap (~$30) and easy to adjust on the fly. My tongue and groove skills are severely lacking, and one screw up on cutting almost pays for the jig itself. I've built two hives so far: one using tongue and groove, and one using the pocket holes. Both seem to perform the same so far after the first year. Make sure you use exterior coarse head (blue) screws made by Kreg. I only use it to join the top and bottom boards together; I do not use it to join the four sides together since that is not as strong. I also skip the tongue and groove on the bottom board that Dr. Leo recommends; glue and screws seems to work just fine. I may have to try to use the plunge cut method that you used in this video. The router I have is a pain and I'm looking for a simple way to cut out the groove for the bottom. Got your swarm traps up yet?

[@BeeBoyBill]

I did tongue and groove on my original hives but wanted to make this video for people without a table saw. I’ll check that kreg pocket jig out. Swarm traps are coming soon, we still have snow in spots up here. At least a month out from swarm season. I’m working on a new swarm trap idea for this year to assist with hanging them.

[@russmc3]

@@TheMlkj This is good to know. I have a Kreg jig and after struggling to get a tight fit with the tongue and groove on my table saw, I have wondered if pocket holes wouldn't make my life easier. They would certainly be faster. I read that dowels make a much stronger joint than pocket holes, but with the boxes just sitting, that extra strength probably makes little difference. Thanks for the tip on the blue screws.

[@KarelSeeuwen]

Great Video Bill. Maybe a few pointers on getting the dowel holes lined up, as your experienced hands make it look so easy.

[@farmer998]

I also turn boards up on sides and screw a board to the bottom of the saw for width I want cut can use this also to tongue and groove. edge of boards.

[@georgeb8328]

I just finished my very first swarm trap, it's made to have layens frames but also takes langstroth. I've got a langstroth hive for a start but plan to build my own horizontal layens hive soon.

[@BeeBoyBill]

Sounds like an interesting swarm trap. Is it your own design?

[@kevinorr6880]

Kevin Orr As long as we were chipping away at the wood here, lap joints or rabbits on the ends could have been cut for stronger corners. Why not, right? I like that you used dowels. You can still tongue and groove however. Just cut with a circular saw and clean out with a chisel.

[@BeeBoyBill]

@Kevin Orr, you’re right, you sure could do it a bunch of ways and I did consider other options. My goal with this project was to make it more accessible for people who may not have built a lot of things before and only have a couple of tools. Tongue and groove with a circular saw would be a challenge for sure, but anything’s possible. Thanks for your comment!

[@grantcalloway571]

I'm making a 28 frame layens and a 14 frame, but most of it all glued with the same GLUE YOU ARE USING

[@30farms70]

Where can I get the plan for the metal break.

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hey 3 & 0, I didn’t make any plans for the break because I didn’t perfect it yet. I know there’s some other videos on KZbin of just the breaks that may have plans with them.

[@jerrymcmahan2855]

I see some on horizontal hives that 14 and some that are 20 frames Do you think 14 is plenty enough for a good hive I’m new to this so just wanted your opinion

[@BeeBoyBill]

Hi Jerry. I would say it depends on your local weather and goals. The longer the winter the more I would leave for the bees. That’s why I opted for a 19 frame here in NY. Hope that helps!

[@jerrymcmahan2855]

Thanks I’m in Piedmont NC we have pretty mild winters I just bought lumber yesterday for my swarm traps

[@mohammedshaban7210]

great nice work . can you give the size of hive i mean measurement length deep wide and frame too if you dont mind sir

[@BeeBoyBill]

The dimensions of the hives are available from horizontal hive (dr. Leo’s site). If you’re looking for the build guide for building a hive without a table saw, there are plans available in the description.

[@007Cajun]

Nice. Do you ever use screened bottoms?

[@BeeBoyBill]

@007Cajun Thanks for your comment! I've never tried a screened bottom board. I've heard of other people using them though but I haven't investigated why yet. Do you notice some advantages from using screened bottom boards?

[@007Cajun]

@@BeeBoyBill I don’t have any bees yet but plan on building this summer so I can start next season. Seems like it would help with ventilation especially since I am in south Louisiana

[@BeeBoyBill]

It would defiantly be more vented. I’m up in western NY state

[@kentcostello8099]

You did a good job but lumber prices are high these days . I'm going to build 2 or 3 of them.

[@BeeBoyBill]

They sure are! I'm going to try and source some rough cut from the amish for a larger expansion next year. Have to allow the wood time to dry is the only downside.

[@russmc3]

Home Depot has a section in the lumber area where they sell defective lumber at 70% off. I cruise by there every once in a while to see what is available. Last week, I picked up a couple of really nice 2"x12"x16' boards for just $15 each. For what I need, they will work great. There were some 2"x12" off cuts in the pile--long enough for ripping frame parts--that they just gave me.

[@collegeguy14]

Bill want to see an update sir. Hope all is well

[@lambbrookfarm4528]

Where are you Bee Boy Bill?

[@farmer998]

easier to cut plugs to glue in the ends rather making plunge cuts

[@soupvis2616]

The answer is NO !