If you’ve ever transported full honey supers in the back of a closed vehicle, you know the struggle: sticky seats, honey dripping into the carpets, and a car full of confused bees. Today at the Bee Sanctuary, I’m solving that problem with a simple DIY project: converting a standard plastic storage tub into a specialized Honey Frame Transporter.

Why Not Just Use the Super?

While most commercial beekeepers transport frames right in the super, it doesn’t always work for a growing apiary:

• The Mess Factor: In a closed car or SUV, any leak from the super becomes a permanent part of your upholstery.
• Storage & Scheduling: I often have to store frames at home for a few days before I can get to an extractor at another beekeeper’s location.
• Bee-Proofing: A sealed plastic tub ensures that no “hitchhiking” bees follow the honey into your house or car, and no local foragers can start robbing the frames while they sit.

The Build: Custom Wooden Inserts

The secret to this project is a custom-built wooden rack that sits inside the plastic tub.

1. Notched Ends: I cut precise notches into wooden end-boards to hold the frame ears. This keeps the frames perfectly spaced so the delicate cappings don’t scrape against each other during the drive.
2. Sturdy Construction: I used a brad nailer to secure the frame together, making it strong enough to handle the weight of 12 fully capped honey frames (which can get quite heavy!).
3. The “Double Decker” Design: The rack is designed to hold six frames on the bottom and six on top, allowing for a total of 12 frames per tub.

The Result: Clean, Professional Transport

The job is done, and the fit is perfect. The frames stay rock-solid, even if I hit a speed bump on the way to the Kyalami Apiary. Once the lid is snapped on, the honey is sealed away from dust, hair, and bees. Plus, the plastic tub is a breeze to wash out after the frames are extracted!

Love a good DIY beekeeping hack?

I’m always looking for ways to grow our apiary from 3 to 300 without spending a fortune on specialized gear. If you have a better way to transport honey, or if you want the measurements for this rack, let me know in the comments!

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What’s next? Should I show the full extraction process using these new tubs, or are you ready for the next big roof removal?