BeeCastle 10 Frames Longstros Honeycomb Box with 100% Beeswax Coating with Honeycomb Frame and Wax Foundation (2 Deep Boxes, 2 Medium Boxes)

Here’s a quick review if you don’t want to read my entire one: It’s cheap, it works, the wax may not be bees wax and everything arrived in one piece and went together well. ——— As a beginner bee keeper who’s looking for quality and also cost effective, this does the job pretty well so far. I haven’t used it outside, but straight out of the box it fit well, comes with a few extra nails and screws, no knots where it could be detrimental to the structure. The pre drilled holes made it easy and only one frame ever got a little crack from the nails. It did take us a few hours to put together. The roof did have some sharp corners so we just hammered it down a bit so it didn’t cut our hands. The Queen excluder was a little larger than our actual box so it stuck out on the side which we could probably just cut off and the bees will seal any cracks from it to the box. The frames are covered in wax but it’s very thin, (some reviews said bees would not build on it, my bees are picky too so we’ll see this spring.) I had to really look for it to even notice it. It seems most bad reviews are about broken pieces and the wax not being bees wax. It looks like the picture and is covered in some kind of wax but I can’t say it’s bees wax with 100% certainty. The wax also gets everywhere so be aware when you’re putting it together. 😅 I don’t expect it to last for years and once the “wax” comes off I’ll probably have to paint it so the boxes are protected from weather. For now though it works and I hope it holds up outside. Be aware it doesn’t come with a stand so you’ll have to get one separately (which I’ll just make one with some wood beams and cinder blocks.) Compared to the natural hive from Dr. Leo the box is thin, (he compares it to the more natural ways bees are kept like in hollow trees.) So yeah it’s pretty thin in that regard but if you don’t mind and are just looking for a “standard” langstroth box, it’s standard and you’ll need a cover in the winter. —— So far my overall review is 5/5 stars and I’ll update this review when I find out how it lasts long term.

Easy to assemble and bees haven’t left to find a new home.

This is the first hive I have assembled from a kit. If you are an old hand at constructing furniture from IKEA kits you will have no problem. The instructions were minimal. You definitely need a mallet, a hammer and a Philips screwdriver.

If you have any woodworking skills, you will appreciate this build and design. I did not need the instructions, as the tongue and groove design only allow for it to be assembled one way. It took me a minute to figure out the frames, but they two were easy to understand. The two different comb boards are a neat design, and hopefully will expedite the bees motivation and productivity. The stand out is the precision of the cuts, and how close the tolerances are, this is quality. Also, the outsides are well weatherproofed, and I believe wax coated. Another point is the very well thought out packaging. There was very little dead space in the box, so it would have had to endure a large drop to damage anything inside. The lid for the hive is upside down on the bottom, so if it travels upright, it has very strong natural reinforcement. This will be my first go at bees, so I won't need all four boxes and frames to start, but I'll be able to grow into them if all goes well. The only negative I can see, and it is a reach, is that the day mine arrived I see it listed for $229 with a $12 discount coupon, where I paid $249. Free shipping has to be built into the price or companies would not make any money, the craftsmanship is worth the price I paid, and this is one heavy and large box. Even so, you always hate being on the wrong side of price drops, and rejoice when on the right side.

I love these! Well-built, fun to put together. I used air stapler instead of the nails, just for expediency. They are beautiful hives, people have complimented me for them. Quality lumber, and care in construction to avoid knots in the wrong places. And...the bees love them. I bought two and put nucs in them. I thought the price was great, they came quickly and were solidly packed in sturdy boxes.