Hi Robert/All
 
You mention an interest in getting swarm boxes. A number of cheap
alternatives exist.
 
1 - Ammo crates. Befriend you local army base and see about doing a
bee demo in exchange for a few M16 ammo boxes. Our South African made
R1 Rifle is similar as far as ammo goes and these crates take three
frames perfectly, have a lid and handles, are plastic and robust etc.
Just paint the inside with dirty wax and propolis mixed together and
put wax strips on the frames. Hang in  sun facing corner of a
building.
 
2 - milk, beer etc crates. Check the sizes of plastic crates used for
packing - many are the same dimensions as a frame. Much easier and
cheaper to sort out as hive bodies than buying things.
 
 
And the best is just to buy a new box, or boxes for your established
hives. Move them into the new boxes and leave the old BEEn in boxes
for the swarms.
 
Keep well
 
Garth
Garth Cambray           Camdini Apiaries
15 Park Road
Grahamstown             Apis mellifera capensis
6139
South Africa
 
Time = Honey
 
The Universe is not here right now, if you would like
to leave a message, leave your name and number after
the long silence and it will get back to you as soon
as possible.