"I have a cheap hook for lumber so I can build boxes for $3 and I have been building all my boxes, bottoms, and covers. Frames at 75 dollars a hundred I buy em for the rest of my life, I would have to be able to make 200 a day to break even, not worth the head ache."
I'm confused...
With the jig and table saw set up, it takes me about 1 minute per to make the frames (not assembled). That's 360 in a 6 hour day. For the lumber, I can make very roughly 22 frames out of a $3 piece of 2x4. Also, any scrap that comes from building bodes also gets recycled back into frames.
The cheapest I've found them is $80 per hundred, and that's if I drive the 2 hours to pick them up (and if the guy actually shows :whip:) Taking the cost of gas or shipping into account, that increases the price a bit, too. When I can make the same 100 frames for less than $14 of lumber, and 3 hours of work. Now, if you loathe woodworking, then certainly one could argue that your 3 hours is worth more than that, but I rather enjoy the woodworking aspect.
Last night I built two medium Nucs (four 5 frame medium hive bodies, two telescoping lids, two bases) in just about an hour (assembled) with $28 worth of wood, and still have plenty left over for making more frames - possibly enough for another nuc. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I do use rabbet joints on the boxes instead of finger joints, but for a nuc I believe finger joints are serious overkill. I may soon get to eat those words. But either way, switching to a finger joint would only be a minor inconvenience.
This exact design for a nuc would run me $28 EACH.
I'm just not following how you would "have to be able to make 200 a day to break even". If you made 4 frames from a 2x4, the remaining 18 would be solid profit. This means after the first 4 you make from each 2x4, your earnings per hour would be limited only by how many frames you can make in that time frame.
Now, if commercial bee keepers are TRULY getting their boxes for $8 per, my 1 x 8 x 8 boards run me $9.12, and from one of these you can make a single medium hive body (with a little left over). At $8 per, it really would be cheaper than to get the lumber alone. That said, I don't get them for $8 per. I get them for $9.50 per, so the cost tradeoff isn't in my favor there. But again, the difference is, when I need 'em, I can make them. Instead of driving for 2 hours to have the guy no-call, no-show.
I also prefer the English Copper Top design. While these are $49.95 each, I can build one (with aluminum flashing) for roughly $22.
So sure, if you're talking about hive bodies, I could see the argument that they're just not worth the trouble when their near the cost of the lumber. But for just about everything else, it's way worth it IMO to make them yourself.