Last Updated: 20 November 2024
Imagine the burst of flavour the first time you taste honey gathered from a beehive you’ve started. The sweet sensation and aroma, plus being part of the effort in helping the bee population. This hive of activity begins with the proper selection of beekeeping equipment.
Would you like to explore this tasteful hobby?
Read on. This article shares what you need to know about the equipment you’ll need for your first hive.
Table of Contents
The Essential Beekeeping Equipment: A Honeypot for the Outdoors-Type
Three options (cheapest to highest costs) are available to amateur beekeepers:
- DIY
- Kits
- Commercial
Your choice is largely determined by budget and resilience. Technically, you could harvest from your hive with little to no protection. But, this isn’t ideal since honeybees aren’t happy with you disturbing their hive.
Here is the essential beekeeping equipment you’ll need to get started:
Woodware
The woodware is the wooden boxes and raised platforms you’ll use to house and manage the beehive. Each box contains slides housing combs made of wax or plastic. Though, one may choose to use hollowed logs or baskets for their bees.
Your type of beehive will dictate its foundation. Some beekeepers choose to use foundationless frames. These produce greater yields but are easily damaged during the harvest period.
Bees will select one of these boxes as their brood chamber. You may choose to modify this box to prevent the queen bee from exiting the chamber.
Build Them
The woodware is a simple DIY project requiring untreated planks of wood and a handful of nails. A basic box is framed and finished. Openings are added to its sides along with a removable top to insert/remove frames.
Buy Them
Wood or polystyrene are typical box materials. They need a small effort to set up. But, includes everything needed to begin beekeeping.
You may opt for a commercial product containing the essentials. But, with small modifications such as automatic honey harvesting. These, of course, come at a higher price for their convenience.
Hive Tool
The hive tool is a multi-tool used for:
- Prying the box cover and frames
- Scraping the comb(s)
- Any beekeeping labor
These tools have a flat edge on one side to scrape. The other size may have a hook-like end to help with prying. We recommend the Mann Lake HD584.
Smoker
A smoker houses a flame or burning coal and set with a combustible material. A beekeeper will pump smoke into the hive to make bees docile. Once bees are docile, they become manageable during harvesting or check-ups. We recommend the Goodland Bee Supply – 11inch Smoker.
Bee Suit (with Veil) and Gloves
A bee suit slips over clothes to prevent beekeepers from being stung. The mesh veil covers the face without blocking their view. Or, beekeeping jackets are available to cover the top-half of your body.
You may opt out of using the suit or jacket in place of thick clothes and a makeshift mask. But, it’s not recommended for beginners.
Thick gloves come with most beekeeping suits. Though, you’ll find alternatives in the gardening section of your local hardware store. We recommend the Natural Apiary Beekeeping Suit.
Extractor
An extractor is a metal container used to separate honey from comb(s). A basket holds the frames. A motor or hand crank spins the frames to pull the honey out of the comb(s). This item does not damage the comb/frame allowing you to reuse them again and again. We recommend the Honey Keeper 4-Frame Extractor, although take a look at our Top 18 Best Honey Extractors article for more choices!
The Non-Essential (But Good-to-Have) Beekeeping Equipment: Since You Want Honey, Not Stings
The previous section detailed essential items to create and set up a hive. There are other items you may choose to buy to make the experience easier.
These non-essentials include:
- A brush — Used to push bees away from your work area
- Knife — A knife gives a sharper edge where the hive tool fails
- Containers — Elegant designs in place of mason jars
- Frame grip — A specialized tool for removing the frames
- Scratcher — A comb looking tool to remove the cappings
You may choose items to protect the colony like:
- Fencing — To keep larger animals away from the hive
- Traps — To catch rodents trying to sneak a taste
- Flora — To influence honey taste and/or keep pests at bay
There isn’t much reason buying these items unless you’ve shifted toward production. Or, if you need to reduce processing time. Though, they’re available for your convenience if need be.
A Sweet Hobby: Sourcing Your Beekeeping Equipment
Taking up beekeeping as a hobby a challenging experience. We saw a loss of 44% of the United States bee colonies between 2015 and 2016. The unexplained losses may have you on edge about investing in beekeeping equipment.
Beekeeping is exploding in popularity despite the bad news. Lending a helping hand to nature — while getting honey — is worth it for many.
Consider purchasing your beekeeping equipment from professional beekeepers.
Why? They are:
- Often activists for honeybee well-being and growth
- On top of the latest developments and best practices
- Guide amateurs through a vested interest to see the hobby grow
We welcome you to explore the beekeeping equipment offered through EbeeHQ. Here, you’ll find the necessary items to begin this rewarding hobby. Plus, learn a ton about bees while you’re at it!
We also offer beehives for sale, too. This way you can get set up and begin your colony all in one go!
You’re a Busy Bee: Let’s Wrap This Up
Want to hear something interesting? Most honey bought in grocery stores isn’t honey — it’s adulterated and watered down. Imagine, to your delight, being able to taste real honey (possibly for the first time!).
Beekeeping equipment is inexpensive if you choose beehive starter kits. DIY options are available with the right ingenuity; used equipment is a big no-no. Commercial options are available, too, for those anxious to begin their new hobby.
Those with patience will find themselves enthralled. The taste of real honey, made in a hive they’ve nurtured, is weeks/months away. A time that’ll quickly pass with the fun had while beekeeping.
Think beekeeping is for you? Join our community and buzz about your foray into backyard beekeeping. Leave a comment, below.
Steve's experience in beekeeping is extensive, having managed numerous hives and colonies of bees throughout his career. He is well-versed in all aspects of beekeeping, from hive management and bee behavior to honey production and bee health. Steve is also an advocate for sustainable beekeeping practices, using natural and organic methods to maintain healthy hives and protect the environment.
As a seasoned beekeeper, Steve has also shared his expertise with others by teaching workshops and classes on beekeeping. He is a sought-after speaker and has been invited to speak at conferences and events across the country.
With his wealth of knowledge and experience, Steve is a valuable resource for anyone interested in beekeeping. Whether you are a seasoned beekeeper or just starting out, Steve's insights and advice can help you become a successful and responsible beekeeper.