Product description

Built for longevity: the kit's wooden components arrive factory-treated with a thick beeswax coating that shields the exterior from moisture and sun exposure while preserving the natural grain of the wood. The finish means you don't have to paint right away, and it helps components slide into dovetail joints during assembly.

What's included: two standard deep boxes (intended for brood rearing) and one medium box suitable for use as a honey super, ten wooden frames fitted with heavy wax-coated foundations, and the basic hardware needed to assemble the boxes. Panels come predrilled and screws are supplied so you can get the hive assembled without sourcing extra fasteners.

Construction and materials: crafted from kiln-dried lumber with dovetail joints on the supers, the boxes are designed to interlock for a snug fit. Frames are traditional wooden frames that accept the supplied heavy wax foundations to encourage comb building in the intended locations.

Assembly and use: set-up is straightforward — align the dovetails, tap pieces together with a rubber mallet or light hammer, and secure with the included screws. The two deep boxes give ample space for brood and colony expansion, while the medium super provides a manageable honey-harvesting layer. Many users choose to pre-drill starter holes on frame nail points to minimize splitting.

Design considerations: the kit favors a simple, sustainable approach by combining natural beeswax treatment with classic hive dimensions. It’s suitable for backyard beekeepers who want a mostly finished hive that remains easy to maintain and expand over time.

Pros

Heavy beeswax coating for weather resistance
Includes 2 deep brood boxes, 1 medium super, 10 frames with wax foundations
Predrilled panels and supplied screws for easier assembly

Cons

Some frame pieces may show hairline cracks or knots
Instructions/basic hardware may require pre-drilling by the user
No built-in gabled roof option included

VerdictThis beeswax-dipped hive kit gives new and experienced beekeepers a largely ready-to-use system: two deep boxes for brood, a medium super for honey, ten frames with heavy wax foundations, and predilled panels plus fasteners for easy assembly. The wax finish reduces the need for painting and helps weatherproof the wood. Expect occasional woodworking imperfections in some batches (hairline cracks or

Reader reviews

jelaine 5/5

Attractive and complete

Visually very nice and appears to be a complete kit. The finish is attractive and the package included the expected components.
Josue Lozano 5/5

Ideal starter hive

Good for beginners — I began beekeeping with this set and it’s held up well after a couple of seasons. At first I worried about the wax dipping instead of paint, but the coating proved weather-resistant. I bought it unassembled and enjoyed putting it together; instructions were simple. A few screws were a bit large and caused minor cracking in places, and the inner cover lacked a small side entrance so I fashioned one myself. Overall a solid hive.
Rich G 5/5

Solid buy but watch the frame pieces

Well-priced and straightforward to assemble, the wax-dipped exterior removes the need to paint. In hot climates I added a screened bottom and a separate roof for ventilation. Several frame rails had hairline cracks that made nailing tricky; I used nails at top and bottom only and pre-drilled starter holes to avoid splits. The maker is not always quick to respond, so exercise care when finishing frames.
midas 5/5

Easy assembly, tight dovetails

Even with basic woodworking skills this kit comes together well if you have a rubber mallet and patience. A pneumatic nailer sped up assembling frames, but it’s possible to join the dovetails by hand — tap lightly and they fit tight. I didn’t scrape the wax off and still got snug joints. Boxes felt sturdy without glue, though I tacked them for peace of mind. Stained and waxed finish is a nice touch.
D. Backhaus 5/5

Well packaged and comprehensive

Arrived well packed with no internal damage. The set contained extras like a queen excluder, mouse guard, escape gate, entrance reducer and a pre-built inner cover, lid and bottom board. Bring a hammer, rubber mallet and a towel to work on, and pre-drill starter holes for any nails. Supers join nicely and the wax helps the joints slide together.
Dave in Rapid City 4/5

Two hives: one flawless, one problematic

I accidentally ordered two — the first assembled perfectly with tight dovetails and beautiful grain. The second had knots and some dovetails required extra work; it was also missing the entry reducer. Trying to nail through a knot caused splitting, so I avoided nailing near defect areas and relied on other fasteners.