Beekeeping Equipment

Equipment needs vary with the size of your operation, number of colonies, and the type of honey you plan to produce. The basic equipment you need are the components of the hive, protective gear, smoker and hive tool, and the equipment you need for handling the honey crop.

The hive is the man-made structure in which the honey bee colony lives. Over the years a wide variety of hives have been developed. Today most beekeepers use the Langstroth or modern ten-frame hive. A typical hive consists of a hive stand, a bottom board with entrance cleat or reducer, a series of boxes or hive bodies with suspended frames containing foundation or comb, and inner and outer covers (Figure 8 includes dimensions for those wishing to construct their own hives). The hive bodies that contain the brood nest may be separated from the honey supers (where the surplus honey is stored) with a queen excluder.

Links to information on:
 - Hive stand
 - Bottom board
 - Hive bodies
 - Frame and combs
 - Queen excluder
 - Inner cover
 - Outer cover
 - Other pieces of equipment
 - Painting the hive parts
 - Plastic equipment
 - Equipment suppliers
 - Ancillary equipment
     - Smoker
     - Hive tool
 - Protective clothing

Plans for Beekeeping Equipment:

Solar Beeswax Extractor
Langstroth Hive
Honey Extractor (simple extractor made from large trash can)
Honey Heater

Fact Sheets:

Beekeeping Equipment & Supplies

References:

Beekeeping Basics (Formerly Fundamentals of Beekeeping) - Text covers the basics of beginning beekeeping. $7.50. Information on managing parasites, pests and diseases; honey production and processing; pollination; handling beeswax; pollen trapping; and a guide to important floral sources. (click here for on-line pdf version) Available from Penn State Publication Distribution Center, 112 Ag Admin Bldg., University Park, PA 16802 Phone 814-865-6713

Questions or comments concerning this website should be emailed to Roxie Smith at roxiesmith@psu.edu
Last modified March 12, 2008