T HE FAT B EE M AN !
N O-DROWN HIV E-TOP FEEDER!
!
Learn how to make the Fat Bee Man No-Drown Feeder"
Don Kuchenmeister!
“The Fat Bee Man”
T HE FAT B EE M AN!
No-Drown Hive-Top Feeder
Patent Pending!
!
Feed your bees without killing them with Don’s FatBeeMan
Hive Top feeder.!
This ePlan contains all the dimensions and details needed to make your own hive top feeder.
in 3 sizes.!
I have been making and improving beekeeping equipment for over 55 years making various
types of feeders along the way. This feeder is the culmination of many attempts as you can
see in the picture above. It is the first one I will proudly call the FatBeeMan No-Drown
Feeder. It is so unique that we are in the process of obtaining a patent on the product.!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
2
My plans are presented in simple picture format with dimensions drawn right on the pieces
to make it as easy as possible to possible. If you have comments or questions, I can always
be reached through my web site at www.DixieBeeSupply.com.!
This book is edited by Tim Farr and published through
his web site where he and his wife sell dog related items.
Using his existing website shopping cart service allows us
to keep the cost low. His site is located at www.ThreeSmilinDogs.com !
I welcome all feedback through my webpage and email.!
I wish you the best of luck. Please email me through my
website if you have questions or suggestions to improve the product or
plans or just to talk bees.!
Don
“The Fat Bee Man”
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
3
5-FRAME NUC CUT LIST
PIECE
LENGTH
WIDTH
THICKNES
NUMBER
S
Long Sides
19 1/8
3 3/4
3/4
2
Short Sides
9 1/4
3 3/4
3/4
2
D - Bee Ladder
Top
5
2 3/4
1/8
1
C - Bee Ladder
back board
5
2 1/4
3/4
1
B - Bee Ladder
side pieces
2 1/4
3/4
3/4
2
A - Bee Ladder
top side pieces
3
3/4
3/4
2
Slot Blocking
short pieces
2
2 1/2
3/4
2
Slot Blocking
front piece
7 3/4
2 1/2
3/4
1
Bottom
19 1/8
8 1/2
1/4
1
5
4
na
1
1/8” screening
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
4
8-FRAME CUT LIST
PIECE
LENGTH
WIDTH
THICKNES
NUMBER
S
Long Sides
19 1/8
3 3/4
3/4
2
Short Sides
13 3/4
3 3/4
3/4
2
D - Bee Ladder
Top
5
2 3/4
1/8
1
C - Bee Ladder
back board
5
2 1/4
3/4
1
B - Bee Ladder
side pieces
2 1/4
3/4
3/4
2
A - Bee Ladder
top side pieces
3
3/4
3/4
2
Slot Blocking
short pieces
4 1/8
2 1/2
3/4
2
Slot Blocking
front piece
12 1/4
2 1/2
3/4
1
Bottom
19 1/8
13
1/4
1
5
4
na
1
1/8” screening
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
5
10-FRAME CUT LIST
PIECE
LENGTH
WIDTH
THICKNES
NUMBER
S
Long Sides
19 1/8
3 3/4
3/4
2
Short Sides
16 1/4
3 3/4
3/4
2
D - Bee Ladder
Top
5
2 3/4
1/8
1
C - Bee Ladder
back board
5
2 1/4
3/4
1
B - Bee Ladder
side pieces
2 1/4
3/4
3/4
2
A - Bee Ladder
top side pieces
3
3/4
3/4
2
Slot Blocking
short pieces
5 3/8
2 1/2
3/4
2
Slot Blocking
front piece
14 3/4
2 1/2
3/4
1
Bottom
19 1/8
15 1/2
1/4
1
5
4
na
1
1/8” screening
For this larger sized hive, you might want to make 2 Bee Ladders and install them side by
side.!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
6
The plan describes the construction of an 8-Frame feeder.!
PIECE
LENGTH
WIDTH
THICKNES
NUMBER
S
Long Sides
19 1/8
3 3/4
3/4
2
Short Sides
13 3/4
3 3/4
3/4
2
Bottom
19 1/8
13
1/4
1
!
Build the Box The long board dimensions are 19 1/8” x 3 3/4”.
The shorter pieces are 13 3/4” x 3 3/4”. You need 2
boards for the long and 2 for the short sides.!
The ends are rabbited and attached with 3 -4 staples in each joint on sides and ends. The picture
above shows the box frame upside down to illustrate the bottom 3/8” rabbits cut prior to assembly. !
!
!
!
!
!
The bottom board can be hardboard or paneling or
almost anything you have on hand. Rabbits are cut to
match the bottom board thickness. !
The inside dimension of the bottom board is 19” x
13”. (The 13” dimension will change depending on
your box size.)!
The bottom of the box has a 4” x 3/4” hole for the
bees to access the Bee Ladder.!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
7
Build the blocking for the screen bee ladder:
Slot Blocking
short pieces
4 1/8
2 1/2
3/4
2
Slot Blocking
front piece
12 1/4
2 1/2
3/4
1
This assembly
consists of 3
pieces.!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
8
Build the Bee Ladder Assembly:
PIECE
LENGTH
WIDTH
THICKNES
NUMBER
S
D - Bee Ladder
Top
5
2 3/4
1/8
1
C - Bee Ladder
back board
5
2 1/4
3/4
1
B - Bee Ladder
side pieces
2 1/4
3/4
3/4
2
A - Bee Ladder
top side pieces
3
3/4
3/4
2
1/8” screening
5
4
na
1
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
9
Now make the bee ladder. This assembly is the same size for all variations of the feeder.
For the 10-Frame feeder, you may want to put two enclosure assemblies side by side to feed
the larger population of bees.!
The updated design replaces the hardboard piece “C” with a 3/4” solid wood. This will hold
up better when wet and makes the assembly stronger. Part “D” is still 1/8 hardboard or similar. It is not submerged in liquid.!
There are 6 parts to the Bee Ladder plus the screen.
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
10
!
!
!
Parts B and C have the same length
and angle of cut. Angle is 22 1/2 degrees on both ends.!
!
!
!
This picture shows part C on end to
illustrate the angle cuts!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Attach parts B and C together
as show in picture.!
!
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
11
!
!
!
!
!
Attach part D to parts A.
One side of part A is angled.!
Attach part D to the shorter
side of parts A.!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Now attach assembly A/D to
assembly B/C as shown in the
picture.!
!
!
!
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
12
!
!
Screen:
There are 2 screen
pieces. The larger piece
covers the front and
curls around the bottom. The smaller
screen covers the small
gap under the assembly.!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
The screen is
folded over on the
edges. This
strengthens the
edges and holds
the staples better.!
!
!
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
13
!
!
!
!
!
Attach the small screen under the top. You can use thin metal or screen to cover this gap.
Both examples are shown below. The assemblies are upside down in this picture.!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
14
!
!
!
!
!
!
Finished Bee Ladder
Assembly
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Time for the box to meet the Bee Ladder assembly.!
These pictures show the feeder with and without the Bee Ladder assembly.!
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
15
Here is the Bee Ladder assembly attached to the box. The Bee Ladder assembly is attached
with two screws. This way it can be removed to
make it easier to insert various sized containers.!
!
!
!
We just cut
old milk jugs
and other
plastic containers to
use in the
feeders.
They don’t
leak and be
cleaned very
easily.!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
16
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
YO U AR E DONE!!
!
!
!
!
!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
17
No Drown Feeder!
Assembly Tips and Instruction!
!
The following link takes you to a video where Don provides tips for making the Fat Bee
Man No Drown feeder. We sell this separately but include it with the plan for no additional charge.!
!
Click the link below to access the video:!
!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enAEUmUloUo&feature=youtu.be!
!
Thanks for your interest in natural beekeeping and for your purchase of this ePlan.!
We work hard to produce simple, easy to follow ePlans so you will be successful with your
project and beekeeping. !
If you have suggestions or questions just go to my website and email me. I love to share the
skills of natural beekeeping. !
The bees need us.!
Don!
Dixie Bee Supply!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
A word from the editor.!
Thanks for buying this ePlan. I am a student of Don’s and am slowly learning his methods
of beekeeping. I help him with his website, take the newer videos and edited this material
in an attempt to provide low cost training and instruction for beekeepers- new and seasoned. We are using my Dog Food and Toys shopping cart to distribute the ePlans. !
Don is active on YouTube and has a number of videos out. His new You Tube Channel is
The New Fatbeeman and his user name is Fineshooter.!
Like Don, I welcome suggestions for improving this process.!
Thanks,!
Tim!
Three Smilin’ Dogs, LLC!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
18
Notes:!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
_________________________________________________________________________________!
2013 Don Kuchenmeister!
www.DixieBeeSupply.com!
19