See the video link below for an explanation and demonstration of my system. You can safely make professional hive handles for a box in less than 2 minutes.
Hive Handles using a drill press jig The size of hive box (10 frame, 8 frame, or nuc) is not an issue at all. Longer hive sides such as Kelly, or smaller hive sides such as for 8-frame or nucs would have a jig of exactly the same basic design. For Kelly you just increase the length of the base board about 1/8”. For shorter hive components you just cut the base board about 1/8” longer than the longest side. The vertical supports with the levers for the shorter board of whatever component you are making would be adjusted accordingly. Note that the length of the base board and position of the vertical supports is also an issue depending upon whether you use box joints, rabbet, or butt the boards together.
Depth of boards (hive body or super) is not an issue either since you are always working 1 1/2" from the top of the board in an upside down mode.
Also, there are drill presses with circular tables. All you would need to do is attach (with clamps or recessed bolts) a 12-14" square piece of 3/4” plywood to the circular table. I have detailed instructions that show how to calibrate the jig to the drill press.
Carl Korschgen
Columbia, Missouri 65203
Email: carlkorsch@aol.com