Welcome!
7LESSON
No smoker without fire (featuring Emily Grace PhD)
Suiting up
Tool of the trade
Flow Hive assembly guide [TEXT ONLY]
Sealing your hive [TEXT ONLY]
Extinguishing your smoker (featuring Chuck Rou)
ASSESMENT (Optional)
Sealing your hive [TEXT ONLY]
2: Tips & Tricks Before You Get Your Bees
We recommend painting the roofs of all Flow Hives, regardless of the timber type. If you have an Araucaria or Paulownia model, we recommend painting the outside of your hive. Use at least 2 coats of good quality exterior paint. If you have a Western Red Cedar hive, you can maintain a more natural timber look by using oil or decking product.
Many beekeepers use oils such as Tung oil, however, we have found when finishing with oils in wet climates that mildew (black mould) can grow on the surface of your hive. While this will not affect the structural integrity of your hive and should not have any impact on your bees, this may not be the look you were anticipating.
It can be a challenge keeping wood outdoors looking like new, especially in wetter climates. If you wish for your hive to stay mould free and to maintain the natural timber look for as long as possible, we suggest you go to your local paint store and ask for a finish that will last outdoors.
When choosing a finish you will be faced with the choice of natural or non-natural finishes. If you go with a less natural finish we recommend you leave the inside of the timber boxes unfinished to keep the internal wood natural for the bees. However, if you’ve got a Flow Hive it’s advisable to coat the inside of the window covers to stop these from expanding excessively in wet weather.
If the finish has a strong smell it is recommended to leave it a few days before installing your bees.
Cedar Flow Hive 2 oiled with painted roof – the oil finish will diminish and become grey over time.
It’s important to note that we have had limited success in treating hives with varnish. If the treatment you are using is not breathable this can result in moisture from inside the hive affecting the external finish and producing mould or discolouration under the surface of your timber treatment.
Aside from mildew, wood outdoors will naturally turn to grey. If you want to prevent your hive from greying, paint stores will recommend a finish with a tint. The tint helps shield the wood from UV which is what turns the wood grey.
Painting your hive with outdoor paint is a great option for protecting your hive from the weather. This will also give you the opportunity to get creative with your designs.
Painting hives with at least two coats of good quality exterior paint gives the longest and most effective protection.
Painted Flow Hive 2 Araucaria 6 frame.