The Gold Star Top Bar hive:
It's easy to assemble, it's easy to manage, it's just easy!
Our Deluxe Top Bar Hive kits come in two models. There's the New Englander Model, with its black roof for colder climates and the Arizona Model, with a white roof, for where it's warmer.
Gold Star Deluxe Top Bar Hive kit bodies, roofs, and legs are all made of pine.
Our one-piece, beveled point top bars are made of poplar.
Why all this emphasis on the "one-piece beveled point top bar"?
Good question. Most importantly, it does a very good job as a "comb guide", which is the most important thing about the top bar when you're asking your bees to make all their own natural beeswax. Which is what it's all about. Are you wondering why a top bar hive makes any sense at all? Click here for why.
And the next important thing about our top bar is that it's all one piece, so there's no screws or glues - nothing toxic, and nothing to come apart.
ALERT:
People often ask us if they should "prime" the top bars by painting wax on the points. This was previously thought to be a good idea - but we recommend against it, for this reason: The bees can attach directly to the dry wood better than any painted on wax may be attached. So we let them do that. Otherwise you may find that they've drawn honeycomb attached to the painted on wax, and should that wax detach from the bar - you can lose the whole honeycomb. Not good!
The original point of painting wax on the bars was to have the smell of beeswax in an otherwise bare top bar hive. But nowadays, we can offer you a "starter kit" containing wax, an attaching wire, and lemon grass essential oil - and this does a much better job of convincing your bees to stay in the hive.
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