Week 12 - Costs of materials and where to buy them

For my project, I already have most of the tools and materials needed to make my hive, so I will not need to buy many more. But I could still run out at any time and I will need to buy some, so that is why I am researching where to buy these materials this week in case such a situation arises. 

Also, I will research where to buy the materials that I don't already have but I will need, to build the hive; these include wood glue, wood and wood paint.

I will most likely buy most of the items that I will need from Amazon because it is cheaper for me and is a lot easier as they have a wide range of different items and products that I can choose from.

Nails

I already have some nails at home that will be enough to complete the hive, but there still is a chance that I could run out and then I won't be able to complete the build if I don't have any nails spare. 

The nails I have decided on are these nails shown in the link below. These nails will be the best for my hive making as they come in all different sizes, they are iron and approximately 250 nails all together. Also, they have many positive reviews and a good price of £3.29, so that is affordable and won't increase the costs of the hive too much.

250pk Assorted Nails for Wood – Iron Nails for Hanging Pictures | Long, Medium and Small Wall Nails for DIY and Crafts, Home Décor, Woodwork, Furniture and Construction : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Glue

For the Wood glue I have chosen for the hive, I have selected titebond III ultimate wood glue. This glue I believe is the best for the job that I am doing and will provide the right amount of strength, water-resistance and a quick drying time. 

For making my hive this is the best glue for the best price. I have decided to go for the 473ml bottle for £18.11 over the 237ml bottle for £10.00. I have done this because I am not sure how much glue I will be using and if I were to run out while making the hive then I will have to stop and wait for some more. However, if I were to get the larger bottle I am less likely to run out of glue, so I will be able to make my hive without any worries, I would also be able to still use it if I decided to make a nucleus (mini self contained version of a hive, which is useful when collecting swarming bees).

Titebond 1414 lll Ultimate Wood Glue (16fl oz) : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Paint

The paint I will choose to use will be the Ronseal garden paint. This paint has very good reviews and is relatively cheap compared to other paints available to buy. It is also water resistant and will last a long time with a drying time of 1 hour and also stops cracking and drying.

The paint I will be getting is the 750ml tin for the price of £8.71. This will help keep costs down, so I can spend it on other items that I might need when building the hive.

RONSEAL RSLGPSA750 GPSA750 Garden Paint Sage 750ml, 750 ml : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Wood

The wood that I have decided to use for the hive is cedar wood. I had this wood in mind from the very start as it is known to be the best wood for beehives, as it has natural oils that help protect the hive even further. It also has natural colours which make the hive look even better and more natural. So that is why I believe it is the best out of all the wood to use, compared to other woods like oak for example. 

Although cedar wood is a little bit more expensive than other woods, this is only a minor set back as paying more for better quality wood is only natural.

T G Norman Limited | Timber & Solid Fuel Products – T. G. Norman (timberandsolidfuel.co.uk)

How this helped me?

This helped me to clarify how much the materials will cost and where to get these materials from - for the best price. Before I did this research I had no idea of the costs the items would be. This is important because I am wanting to spend as little as possible on materials and tools. At the time of writing, wood is still very expensive and it will cost more than I would have liked but then, it will still work out significantly cheaper than buying a ready made hive! 

This is why I am trying to get the cheapest materials possible, which are also very good and reliable. For example, I am getting the best wood glue (from reviews) but I am only getting the second largest out of the three available, to stop myself from buying the bigger one for more when there is no need to.

I have also decided on which website to get most of the materials from, this will most likely be Amazon. This is because they provide a wide range of materials that will be useful for myself when building the hive, as well as providing top quality for the best price available.