CREWORKS Bee Hive Boxes Starter Kit, 3 Layer Bee House Langstroth Beehive for Bees Keeping, Beekeeping Supplies with Plastic Queen Excluder and Nails (10 Medium and 20 Deep Frames)

I hate reviews that say '5 Stars, item arrived on time and intact!' because I don't care how it shipped - I want to know if the ITEM is any good. But here I am doing almost just that same thing..haha. In case seller has others for sale, mine is the 4-box hive: 2 deep and 2 medium. I was worried because of some negative reviews and because there also aren't that many reviews for the product. I work in shipping and know how some heavy items are easily damaged. I half expected damage on arrival. Delv'd by FedEx, and they seemed to take care with it. One seam of the shipping box had a split, but shipper had taken care to band and tape well. Nothing was damaged. A lot of reviews for low-price hives mentioned missing pieces. All pieces were included that should have been. I feel quality is great so far. Sure, wood is narrow and can split - it's the nature of wood. There might be types of wood that don't split, but I've worked with a lot of hardwoods that still did when pieces are narrow. I, personally, could not face the thought of hand-nailing 1,000 small nails, so I broke out the wood glue and brad gun...haha I had zero pieces split on me. The bag had plenty of nails, though, so there were probably plenty to secure everything. Seeing the narrow pieces, I'd probably pre-drill holes...another thing I could not face, thus sealing my choice of a brad gun! Can't remember if this item had reviews for no instructions, or for bad instructions, but instructions were included and pretty clear. Pieces went together easily and are square. As with any assembly of this many pieces, some pieces fit more snugly, some more loosely. Light hammer taps took care of the snug fits, wood glue and nails took care of the loose. All pieces fit, and there were no big issues getting any where they were supposed to go. All boxes and parts sit squarely on top of each other. Assembly took probably close to 2-1/2 hours at a lazy pace. Are they interchangeable with boxes from other hives? I don't know as I don't have any other hive boxes to sit them on. Outside measurements of boxes are 16-1/4" x 19-7/8", according to my cheapie tape measure. Big question - will it hold up? I don't know. I plan to coat with 2 light coats of exterior paint and hope for the best. I'd say it's probably the same for any wood going outside, but if I remember a year from now and can find my original review, I will update. Last biggie - will the bees like it? I also don't know because my bees arrive next month. If I imagined myself a bee, I think I'd like it. But who knows. This will be included in my one-year update, assuming I can find the original to update and assuming I don't kill the poor bees. Things I'd love even more: option of a screened bottom board for hotter climates. I can buy separately but would have been easier to just add on to here. Me being lazy and no reflection on this product...haha Also would have loved the foundations coming pre-waxed. Wax options I see here see are not so great as far as reviews, and the process of waxing seems tedious. I'd have paid more for the item if pre-waxed foundations had been an option. But I knew this going into the purchase, so no reflection on the product. I was hugely nervous about buying this given the # of reviews and some of the comments, but I'm so far really happy with the purchase. Hope this review helps someone else looking for an affordable and easy option for a hive kit purchase!

Pros and Cons of this product. Great set up for the sale price. I built 3 supers same day and the HD wood sucked in comparison. I also bought a 3 box kit plus this 4 box kit and all the wooden ware was in good shape with only one poor super board that still works. This is not US and the boxes only fit together in ONE WAY and you may need a rubber mallet to put them together (7 boxes) and some fit easy and other need a mallet. Yes I would buy it again when looking at a single box with frames and foundation cost ~72$ plus tax + shipping from my local store and here you get two good tops and bottoms. Not sure what some of the sales are for a full set up locally but still a lot more $. THE ONLY THING I WORRY ABOUT: Is the WAX coating on the 70 sheets of foundation. I could not feel or smell the WAX coat on these sheets. All sheets are black. FIX: If you bee keep and save your WAX then you can use a small crock pot and a 5" roller to put a new coat of wax on these sheets. They may have a thin coat but I would not take the chance they will work. Unless brand it is new foundation with heavy wax I usually take my saved wax that has been cleaned up to coat all the frames that I use just before I need them. Still a GREAT DEAL and lot cheaper than local products.

These hives are very well made and very solid. Appears to be quality material. I would definitely buy again. I expected to pay much more for this nice of quality. Very little sanding or filing to put together the dove-jointed sides. Just wish I could buy more right now! Minor tools needed for assembly. I did use glue on all joints and added exterior-screws to strengthen/secure all corners. Some skills required for assembly, but easily assembled all parts. Nice! ;-)

I bought this 4 level hive during a lightning deal at a price significantly lower than competing hives. ($170) The shipping box was too light weight and was busted on each end. Luckily, nothing was damaged and all pieces were still in the box. The cedar wood hive pieces seem very well made with dovetails joints, and the wood looks excellent. (Have not assembled them yet.) These come with nails instead of screws, so no holes are predrilled as with some other brands. I will use screws, so I will have to drill the holes. The pine frame pieces also look very good. All foundations are black plastic and are not wax coated. (Description just says foundations - does not mention wax.) I have found that on other brands that furnish thinly wax coated foundations that I have to wax coat again to get bees to build proper comb, so this is probably not too big a deal to me. I do believe when assembled, these will be quality hive boxes and frames. However, considering the light weight shipping box, no coating on hive pieces (3 other brands that I have purchased are wax coated.), no predrilled screw holes, and no wax coating on the foundations, I would only purchase this brand over other brands if price is lower. They are a good deal at the price I paid.

Acceptable craftsmanship, great price. I was skeptical to purchase at first but was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the material. The craftsmanship is decent, could be better. There is quite a bit of chipping on the wood layers which of course is not ideal, and where the wood has been laminated you can feel the separation if you were to run your nail over it. However, most of it is cosmetic and as long as you paint it with a couple of good coats, it shouldn't present any issues later on. For the price, I think this was a steal. One thing I wish they had was the option to wax-coat the frames, and if you were wondering about the title of my review, that is what I was referring to. The frames come unwaxed and it is bare plastic. Which means, bees are less likely to accept it and are more likely to avoid it and build around. So, you will need a couple of pounds of wax and a was melter or an old pot to melt it and brush over the foundations a few coats, in order for the bees to be more likely to accept it. Overall, out of 10, I'd give this purchase an overall score of 7.5. Now, the rest will be determined by how long it lasts out in the world. Hopefully, I will not be disappointed. But so far it seems like a solid choice.

So far do good. Easy to assemble with a finish nailer.

Every beekeeper is always looking for extra equipment, and when I saw this 5 box hive complete setup and the price, I snatched it up. It arrived quickly and when I pulled it out of the box I was amazed at the craftsmanship. I expected a barely acceptable grade of wood and straight slabs for ends. This was excellent, straight grain pine, with notched, tight fitting dovetails that required no nails, only some good wood glue and a rubber mallet to put together. The only thing I would have liked more would have been if an entrance reducer had come with the package.

I bought better. They do the job use a brand nailer she just to assemble the boxes and The Frames. The other brand I bought uses screws for the body.It holds together great and goes together.Great this one not so much