If you have an old Bee Thinking Top Bar Hive and want to use those old bars in your new Bee Built Top Bar Hive, follow these steps to adapt them!

Use 3/4" #4 Phillips screws

For empty bars:

STEP ONE:  Drill two in each end to about halfway. Don't drill the screw in flush with the end! These screws will serve as pegs, making your bar long enough for the new hive's dimensions by resting on the side of the hive.

For bars with combs:

STEP ONE:  Drill two in each end to about halfway. Don't drill the screw in flush with the end! These screws will serve as pegs, making your bar long enough for the new hive's dimensions by resting on the side of the hive.

You will need to trim the combs from the old hives.

(This could get messy!)

STEP TWO:  Depending on how far the comb is built out, you will want to measure or approximate how much you will need to trim. We suggest trimming a little more than you think you should because you aren't going to want to do it twice!

For reference, the depth of the new Top Bar Hive 8⅛".

The old style hive was 9⅝".

STEP THREE:  If you are putting your old bars into a new hive, be sure to place the hive in the old hive's location. You will want the entrance to be in the exact same spot the entrance to the old hive was.

That's it! Now your old bars are usable in your fancy new hive! Happy bee-ing!