Where to buy equipment
Last Updated on Thursday, 16 July 2009 13:33
Buying Beekeeping Equipment
This page aims to cover:
- What beekeeping equipment should a beginner purchase
- Where can you buy beekeeping equipment
- What price options are available
- Pro and cons of brand new equipment
One question that comes up regularly amongst beginner beekeepers is where do I buy my equipment, hives, bees etc.
Lets start with buying brand new. Like any other hobby or industry, there are plenty of suppliers out there only too happy to wrestle your hard earned money out of you, to kit yourself out as a beekeeper. So before you make any purchase, it's really worth spending some time browsing catalogues. Go another step further and see how many of the things you've seen in the catalogue are in any of the beekeeping books (not many!).
You can find plenty of beekeeping suppliers online, and you can ring, or email them to get a catalogue. You'll find a few links at the bottom of this page.
To add complication, something not widely known by beginners is that companies such as Thornes do offer "seconds" quality product. This is timber which may have the odd knot, or defect. Below, we see seconds from my local beekeeping supplier, Paynes.
To see a variety of suppliers simultaneously, two good events to get to are the Spring Convention at Stoneleigh, or the National Honey Show. Both of these will have numerous general, and specialist suppliers. National Bee Supplies, Maisemore Apiaries, Northern Bee Books etc. I think spending a morning chatting to a few suppliers at such an event could save a serious dent in your wallet.
Advantages of Buying New Equipment
- It's sterile, no risk of foulbrood or nosema spores
- Everything fits together correctly, with correct dimensions
- It's easy to assemble, although for those not inclined to woodwork you can purchase pre-assembled
- A variety of price options are available, #1 quality, Seconds, and "in the flat"
- It can sometimes be cheaper than buying second hand (yes really - bidding wars at auctions can trigger prices in excess of new!)
- No risk of making a mistake, mixing WBC Queen excluders with National Brood chambers for example
For most beekeepers, it doesn't make good husbandry sense, or cost sense to purchase second hand frames. They cannot easily be sterilised (boiling is effective, but requires equipment beyond most beginners). Therefore purchasing new frames can be recommended - which again, can be purchased in 1st or 2nd quality.
Foundation will always need to be purchased new, and even if you see some on ebay, or are offered some by a local beekeeper - steer clear of it. Foundation loses its aroma and goes stale. Some on ebay was in excess of 20 years old recently!
Click here to read about buying second hand equipment (at auctions)
Here is a few other suppliers, who also have websites (not exclusive - contact us to be added!)
BJ Engineering Tel 01905 29517 (No website)