8 Frame Colony Builder Beekeeping Kit (2 Story, Assembled) - Wax Dipped or Painted

8 Frame Colony Builder Beekeeping Kit (2 Story, Assembled) – Double Wax-Dipped or Painted

Start Your First Colony with Assembled Hive Equipment, Essential Tools, Protective Clothing, and Beekeeping Education

The 8 Frame Colony Builder Beekeeping Kit (2 Story, Assembled) – Double Wax-Dipped or Painted brings together the essential hive equipment, tools, protective clothing, and educational resources needed to prepare for your first honey bee colony.

The kit includes two assembled eight-frame deep hive bodies, 16 deep frames, an inner cover, telescoping outer cover, entrance reducer, and your choice of solid or screened bottom board. With selectable woodenware finishes, frame configurations, protective clothing, and additional beekeeping supplies, this beginner-focused kit provides a practical foundation for establishing and managing a colony.

Live honey bees are not included and must be obtained separately.

At Lappe's Bee Supply, our family has been involved in commercial beekeeping since 1978 and has served beekeepers with equipment and practical beekeeping education since 2017. We believe a good beginner setup should do more than provide equipment. It should help you understand what you're working with and make sound decisions as your colony grows.

8 Frame Colony Builder Kit at a Glance

• Hive system: Eight-frame Langstroth
• Hive configuration: Two assembled deep hive bodies
• Deep hive body height: 9-5/8 inches each
• Frames included: 16 assembled deep frames; choose triple-wax-coated one-piece plastic frames or assembled wooden frames with triple-wax-coated foundation.
• Exterior finish: Painted white or double wax-dipped
• Bottom board: Solid or screened, according to your selection
• Hive covers: Inner cover and telescoping outer cover included
• Entrance reducer: Included
• Protective clothing: Bee suit or bee jacket, with size selection
• Gloves: Goatskin beekeeping gloves, with size selection
• Additional supplies: 9-5/8" deep in-hive frame feeder with cap and ladders, smoker, smoker fuel, hive tool, and bee brush
• Education: Beginner beekeeping book and one-year beekeeping magazine subscription
• Live bees: Sold separately
• SKU: BGNK-2446

What's Included in the 8 Frame Colony Builder Beekeeping Kit?

This kit combines the equipment needed to establish a Langstroth hive with tools and protective clothing used during routine inspections. The specific configuration you receive depends on the options selected when ordering.

Hive Equipment

• 2 assembled eight-frame deep hive bodies: Each measures 9-5/8" tall and accommodates eight standard Langstroth deep frames.
• 16 assembled deep frames: Includes eight assembled frames for each deep hive body. Choose triple-wax-coated one-piece plastic frames or assembled wooden frames with triple-wax-coated foundation when ordering.
• 1 Inner cover: Provides an interior cover between the upper hive body and the telescoping outer cover.
• 1 Telescoping outer cover: Provides the outer roof of the hive to help protect the equipment from weather.
• 1 Bottom board: Your choice of a solid or screened bottom board.
• 1 Entrance reducer: Allows the hive entrance opening to be reduced when appropriate for colony conditions.
• 1 Deep In-Hive Frame Feeder with Cap and Ladders: A 9-5/8" deep in-hive feeder designed to provide supplemental feed inside the hive when needed. Includes a cap and ladders.

  How does the included frame feeder fit? The feeder holds approximately 96 fluid ounces of feed and measures approximately 2-1/4" wide. It occupies roughly 1.5 to 2 deep frame positions inside the hive body.

  When using the feeder, remove enough frames to accommodate it while maintaining proper spacing for the remaining frames. All eight standard deep frames and the feeder generally cannot fit in the same eight-frame hive body simultaneously. Reinstall the appropriate frames when the feeder is removed.

• Exterior woodenware finish: Your choice of painted white or double wax-dipped.

Before Installing Your Bees: Live honey bees and a hive stand are not included with the 8 Frame Colony Builder Beekeeping Kit and must be arranged separately. Prepare a stable hive stand or other suitable support before your bees arrive.

Beekeeping Tools and Protective Clothing

• Bee smoker
• Smoker fuel
• Hive tool
• Bee brush
• Bee suit or bee jacket, according to your selection
• Goatskin beekeeping gloves, with size selection

Beekeeping Education

• Beginner beekeeping book
• One-year subscription to American Bee Journal or Bee Culture, according to your selection

How Lappe's Prepares Your Colony Builder Kit

When preparing the 8 Frame Colony Builder Beekeeping Kit, our team checks that the selected eight-frame hive bodies, frame configuration, bottom board, and woodenware finish match the customer's order. We also verify that the kit includes the specified inner cover, telescoping outer cover, entrance reducer, and accessories.

These preparation checks help us identify configuration issues before the equipment is shipped, so customers receive the components and options they selected when ordering.

Why Choose an Eight-Frame, Two-Deep Hive?

An eight-frame Langstroth hive uses boxes designed to accommodate eight frames rather than the ten frames found in a conventional ten-frame setup. The narrower boxes can make individual hive bodies more manageable to handle, especially when compared with similarly constructed and similarly filled ten-frame equipment.

Each assembled deep hive body measures 9-5/8 inches tall and accommodates eight standard Langstroth deep frames. The kit includes all 16 deep frames needed to fill both hive bodies, providing a two-deep configuration with space for brood rearing and colony food storage as the colony develops.

A new colony may initially occupy only one deep hive body. The second box can be added when colony population, comb development, and available resources support expansion.

Eight-Frame vs. Ten-Frame Langstroth Equipment

Eight-frame equipment can be a practical choice for beekeepers who prefer narrower boxes. However, full eight-frame deep boxes can still be heavy, and a strong colony may eventually require additional boxes. Choosing eight frames does not automatically mean fewer inspections or less total colony-management work.

Compatibility matters: Eight-frame and ten-frame hive bodies, covers, bottom boards, and other width-dependent components should not be treated as interchangeable. Standard Langstroth deep frames generally use the same frame dimensions across these two box formats, but frame depth and equipment fit must still be confirmed.

Choose the Configuration That Fits Your Beekeeping Plans

Which Frame Style Should You Choose?

The kit includes 16 assembled standard Langstroth deep frames, with two frame configurations available when ordering. Both options provide a triple-wax-coated foundation surface for honey bees to build comb, but the frame construction differs.

• Triple-Wax-Coated One-Piece Plastic Frames: The plastic frame and foundation are molded together as one assembled piece. The integrated plastic foundation has a triple-wax-coated surface for comb construction.
• Assembled Wooden Frames with Triple-Wax-Coated Foundation: These frames arrive assembled with the foundation installed. No wooden frame assembly is required before placing them into the hive.

What does triple-wax-coated mean? The foundation receives multiple applications of wax to provide a wax-coated surface for comb building. It does not guarantee faster comb construction or improved colony performance.

Both frame styles are designed for standard Langstroth deep hive bodies. Choose the option that best matches your equipment preferences and beekeeping plans.

Painted White or Double Wax-Dipped Woodenware?

Both finish options provide assembled woodenware for the same basic hive configuration. The choice comes down to your preferred exterior finish, appearance, and maintenance approach.

• Painted white: Provides a finished painted exterior. Over time, inspect for peeling, cracking, scratches, or exposed wood and maintain the exterior coating when needed.
• Double wax-dipped: Provides a wax-treated exterior finish. Double wax-dipped surfaces may change appearance as they weather, and any future refinishing should account for the original treatment.

Neither finish guarantees better honey production, improved colony health, or a particular equipment service life. Choose the finish that best matches your preferences and maintenance plans.

Solid or Screened Bottom Board?

The bottom board forms the base of the hive. A solid bottom board provides a continuous floor, while a screened bottom board incorporates a screened area.

Both configurations can be used within an appropriate colony-management approach. A screened bottom board should not be considered a substitute for monitoring or managing Varroa mites.

Bee Suit or Bee Jacket?

The included protective-clothing selection lets you choose the coverage that fits your working preferences.

• Bee suit: Provides integrated upper- and lower-body protective clothing.
• Bee jacket: Provides upper-body coverage and is worn with separate pants and footwear.

Check the available garment sizing information before ordering. Your clothing should allow comfortable movement while keeping closures properly secured. Select the appropriate glove size as well.

No beekeeping suit, jacket, or pair of gloves should be considered sting-proof. Inspect protective clothing for damage and make sure closures are secured before working with bees.

What Else Will You Need to Start Beekeeping?

The Colony Builder Kit supplies the listed hive equipment, tools, protective clothing, and educational materials, but it does not include a live honey bee colony.

Before your bees arrive, arrange for:

• Live bees: Package bees or a compatible nucleus colony must be obtained separately. Shop honey bee nucs and packages.
• A stable hive support: A suitable hive stand or other stable support arrangement
• A suitable apiary location: A location with room to work safely around the hive
• Colony-management supplies: Appropriate feed and Varroa mite-monitoring equipment as needed

A nucleus colony, often called a nuc, is a small established colony typically supplied on frames containing bees, brood, and food stores. If purchasing a nuc for this kit, confirm that its frames are the correct Langstroth deep size. Package bees are supplied differently and require a different installation procedure.

As your colony develops, you may also need compatible eight-frame honey supers, additional frames and foundation, and honey-harvesting equipment. Honey extractors, uncapping tools, strainers, and food-safe collection containers are not part of the listed kit contents.

How to Set Up Your Colony Builder Hive

The hive bodies arrive assembled, but the equipment still needs to be arranged and prepared before colony installation.

1. Prepare the hive location. Choose a stable location with adequate access for inspections and routine hive work.
2. Position the bottom board. Place your selected bottom board on a stable hive support.
3. Prepare the first deep hive body. Arrange the correctly sized frames in their intended positions.
4. Check component fit. Confirm that the hive equipment is positioned correctly and adjoining components fit securely.
5. Prepare the feeder. Follow the applicable feeder instructions and determine whether supplemental feeding is needed.
6. Inspect your tools and clothing. Check your smoker, hive tool, gloves, protective garment, and closures before use.
7. Install your bees. Follow the appropriate installation procedure for the package bees or nucleus colony you obtain.

A new colony may begin in one deep hive body. Having two boxes available does not mean both should be installed immediately. The appropriate starting arrangement depends on colony size, the type of bees being installed, and local conditions.

When Should You Add the Second Deep Hive Body?

Lappe's Bee Supply recommends adding the second deep hive body when the colony is ready for more space, rather than following a fixed calendar date.

A useful general guideline is to consider expansion when approximately 70–80% of the frames in the first box are drawn and occupied. This should be evaluated alongside the colony's population, brood development, food reserves, available forage, and weather conditions.

Adding too much space before a colony can occupy and defend it may create management difficulties. Waiting too long can contribute to crowding and increased swarm pressure.

Lappe's Apiary Note

At Lappe's Bee Supply, we encourage beekeepers to observe their colonies closely and make expansion decisions based on actual colony development rather than a fixed schedule. Every colony develops at its own pace, and regular inspections help determine when additional space is appropriate.

What to Expect During Your First Beekeeping Season

Spring: Establishing the Colony

Spring is a common time to establish a new honey bee colony where local conditions permit. After installation, monitor food reserves, brood development, comb construction, and colony population. Expand the hive when colony conditions support additional space.

Summer: Managing Growth

As the colony grows, continue monitoring available space, food reserves, brood development, and pest pressure. If the colony becomes strong enough to store surplus honey, compatible eight-frame honey supers may be needed.

Fall: Preparing for Winter

Evaluate colony population, food stores, Varroa mite levels, and local winter-management needs. Additional feeding or winter-preparation equipment may be appropriate depending on conditions.

Colony establishment, honey production, and winter survival depend on the bees, forage, weather, pest pressure, and management practices. The equipment itself does not guarantee any particular colony outcome.

Care and Maintenance of Your Hive Equipment

Regular inspection helps you distinguish normal woodenware aging from damage that affects the hive's function.

• Painted woodenware: Inspect the exterior for peeling, cracking, or exposed wood. Refinish exterior surfaces when needed using a method appropriate for beehive equipment.
• Double wax-dipped woodenware: Expect some surface weathering over time. Avoid assuming ordinary paint preparation or refinishing methods are suitable for wax-treated wood.
• Hive bodies: Check corners, joints, frame rests, and stacking surfaces for structural damage or distortion.
• Frames: Inspect for broken components, distortion, and deteriorating comb.
• Bottom board: Remove accumulated debris as needed and inspect for damage. On screened versions, check the condition of the screen and its attachments.
• Protective clothing: Inspect veils, fabric, closures, and gloves before use. Follow the garment's care instructions.
• Smoker and tools: Keep tools in usable condition, handle the smoker according to its instructions, and allow it to cool completely before storage.

Minor discoloration, scuffs, and cosmetic weathering do not necessarily mean woodenware needs replacement. Significant rot, severe warping, broken frame supports, or other structural damage may require repair or replacement.

Store unused hive equipment in a dry, protected location. Equipment associated with a serious contagious brood disease may require special handling or disposal under applicable disease-control guidance.

Is the 8 Frame Colony Builder Kit Right for You?

This kit is a practical option for someone establishing one colony who wants assembled eight-frame Langstroth hive equipment together with basic tools, protective clothing, and beginner education.

Consider this kit if you:

• Are preparing to establish your first honey bee colony
• Prefer assembled hive bodies instead of constructing wooden boxes
• Want an eight-frame Langstroth hive configuration
• Need basic inspection tools and protective clothing
• Want the flexibility to select your woodenware finish, bottom board, and clothing options
• Plan to expand your colony's hive space as its development requires

Consider a different equipment configuration if you:

• Already use ten-frame hive equipment and want to maintain a consistent box-width system
• Prefer to assemble your own woodenware
• Already own most of the included tools and protective clothing
• Need a complete honey-harvesting setup rather than a colony-establishment kit

The most useful starter kit is one that matches your equipment system, physical handling preferences, and plans for future expansion.

Common Questions About the 8 Frame Colony Builder Beekeeping Kit

Does the 8 Frame Colony Builder Beekeeping Kit include live bees?

No. The kit includes the listed hive equipment, tools, protective clothing, and educational materials, but live bees must be purchased or obtained separately. You can establish a colony using appropriately installed package bees or a compatible nucleus colony.

Are the hive bodies already assembled?

Yes. The kit includes two assembled eight-frame deep hive bodies. You still need to prepare the hive location, arrange the equipment and frames, and install your bees using the appropriate procedure.

Should I install both deep hive bodies when I start my colony?

Not necessarily. A new colony may begin with one deep hive body. Lappe's recommends adding the second box according to colony development. Approximately 70–80% drawn and occupied frames is a general guideline to consider alongside brood development, population, forage, and weather.

Can I use ten-frame hive equipment with this eight-frame kit?

Eight-frame and ten-frame Langstroth equipment use different box widths. Hive bodies, covers, bottom boards, and other width-dependent components should match the eight-frame system. Standard deep frames generally share the same frame dimensions, but frame depth and fit must be confirmed.

Is double wax-dipped woodenware better than painted woodenware?

Neither finish is universally better. Painted white and double wax-dipped woodenware offer different exterior finishes and maintenance considerations. Choose according to your preferences, and maintain the equipment according to its condition. Neither option guarantees a particular service life or colony outcome.

Does the 8 Frame Colony Builder Kit include all 16 frames?

Yes. The kit includes 16 assembled standard Langstroth deep frames, with eight frames for each of the two assembled deep hive bodies. Choose triple-wax-coated one-piece plastic frames or assembled wooden frames with triple-wax-coated foundation when ordering. No wooden frame assembly is required.

Does the kit include hive covers and an entrance reducer?

Yes. The kit includes an inner cover, telescoping outer cover, and entrance reducer, along with the two assembled deep hive bodies and your selected bottom board. These components provide the primary equipment for arranging the two-deep hive.

Will this kit provide everything needed to harvest honey?

No. The kit provides equipment for establishing and managing a colony, along with basic beekeeping tools and protective clothing. Compatible honey supers and honey-harvesting equipment may be needed separately if the colony develops enough to produce surplus honey.

Can an eight-frame hive be used in a cold-winter climate?

Yes. Eight-frame Langstroth hives can be managed in cold-winter regions. Successful wintering depends on colony strength, food reserves, Varroa management, moisture conditions, local weather, and appropriate seasonal preparation rather than frame count alone.

Explore Compatible Equipment and Beekeeping Resources

As your colony develops, you may need additional hive equipment, supplemental feeding supplies, and Varroa mite-management products. Explore these resources from Lappe's Bee Supply to help prepare for future colony needs.

Varroa Mite Monitoring and Treatment

Monitoring and managing Varroa mites is an important part of maintaining honey bee colony health. Regular monitoring helps beekeepers evaluate mite pressure and determine when treatment may be necessary. Always follow current product-label instructions and applicable restrictions.

• Bee Treatments and Colony Health Supplies — explore colony-health products and Varroa mite-management supplies.
• VarroxSan Oxalic Acid Mite Treatment — learn about an oxalic-acid strip treatment option for managing Varroa mites.

Honey Bee Feeding and Feeders

Supplemental feeding may be needed when natural forage is limited or colony food reserves are insufficient. This kit includes a 9-5/8" deep in-hive frame feeder with cap and ladders, but additional feeding supplies may be useful throughout the beekeeping season.

• Honey Bee Feed and Feeders — explore supplemental bee feed and feeding equipment for colony management.
• Winter Bee Feed and Feeding Supplies — explore fondant patties and other seasonal feeding supplies.

Compatible Eight-Frame Hive Equipment

When expanding your colony, choose equipment that matches your eight-frame Langstroth hive. Eight-frame and ten-frame hive bodies, covers, bottom boards, and other width-dependent components are not interchangeable.

• Eight-frame Langstroth hive equipment — explore additional equipment in the same hive format.
• Eight-frame wax-dipped hive equipment — compare double wax-dipped woodenware options.
• Assembled painted eight-frame deep hive body — consider matching equipment for future expansion or replacement.
• Eight-frame double wax-dipped medium honey super — explore a compatible-format box for future surplus honey storage.

Get Your Colony Started with the Right Equipment

The 8 Frame Colony Builder Beekeeping Kit brings together assembled hive bodies, selectable equipment options, protective clothing, inspection tools, and educational materials in one beginner-focused package. It gives you a starting point for establishing a colony while leaving room to adapt the hive as your bees develop.

Before ordering, select your preferred woodenware finish, bottom board, frame configuration, protective garment and size, glove size, and magazine subscription. Arrange for your bees separately and plan to have your hive location ready before they arrive.

Start with the right equipment, learn what your colony needs, and build your beekeeping experience one inspection at a time.