Kelley,
 
    If by "top bar hives" you mean the standard hive body used in the
U.S., where the frames sit on groves routed into the hive body, then
yes these plans are available.  I built a bunch of hive bodies using
plans out of one of the "Fine Woodworking Magazine's" books,
published by Taunton Press (check your local "fine-woodworking"
supply stores).  Another useful book with hive plans is "Build It
Better Yourself", a thick book of useful plans which also includes
(if I remember correctly) a diagram for a four frame honey extractor.
 
    Keep in mind the supplier of frames that you plan on using, so
that the equipment fits your bodies.  This is true also if you
already have some hive bodies or other equipment.  The measurements
should be modified to match the equipment that you already have,
unless you plan on discontinuing the old equipment.
 
    Also keep in mind that bees have low tolerance for less than
exacting carpentry.  Build the box more than a 16th of an inch too
narrow and they will glue the frames to the box.  Build the box more
than a 16th of an inch too wide, and they will build comb.  If you
leave any space between the boxes, they will glue the boxes together.
Sharp clean cut edges on the wood, and solid well-fitting joints are
suggested by the books that provide hive plans.  The bodies that do
not make the grade can have a board screwed to the bottom to become a
wooden box.  Buying hive kits are sometimes the cost effective way to
proceed, rather than building them, unless you can get a really good
deal on wood.
 
 
   Dave Einhorn
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