While this Log Cabin is a little more detailed than previous builds, it’s still the classic design and even has a little yellow native bee hive on the front bench, and there’s enough room beside it to sit with your coffee and watch the bees, but I have a feeling…
This idea came from Simone as part of the recent “Suggestions 2020” post. Simone posted this photo from Google that shows the Fairy Door on a big tree, I’ve interpreted it in to a Native Bee Observation Box. This will not be for sale but will become part of the…
Basic Observation Hive Box This is a very basic style of a tower observation box. It has one single internal space with a volume of 6.2 litres. You could easily make them different sizes, larger or smaller. Tips for getting it set up It’s up to you how you want…
Display Tower with Removable Frames Note: This is a new design and is still being tested so availability will be limited to “beta testing” boxes. Sarah from Bee Yourself – Brisbane Native Bee Business, was looking for an observation hive so she could show her customers the inner workings of…
Native Stingless Bee Display Tower This is an observation hive box intended for displays and education. This could be set up at demonstrations, markets or just at home for fun. A hinged door on each side so it can be viewed from both sides. The doors can be used to…
Hour Glass Observation Hive The idea This started with an email from Brian Keeble “So it got me thinking, we could attempt a Perspex cylinder…..Then I thought, to make things easier, we could have the rectangular exterior made of wood and the Perspex cylinder slips in and out of it?”…
I bought this barrel from ebay. It’s a 5 litre oak barrel, possibly a bit of a cheap low quality product that might look shabby before long. These would normally be used to hold your wine as they have a wine cask bladder inside. The walls are 10mm thick oak…
Combination Hive Box Article by Brian Keeble I approached Steve asking if he’d be happy to construct a ‘custom’ native bee hive build, thankfully (as my DIY is poor) he agreed. So, after several emails clarifying various issues, Steve got building! The ‘Combination Hive’ name came from Steve himself, and…
Some Solitary Bees like Resin Bees will create their nest in small tunnels or grooves and for most of us it’s a mystery what happens inside the tunnels. This observation block allows the nests to be easily viewed without causing any disturbance or damage. Using Cypress I’ve routed grooves 160mm…
I’ve been working on some routed timber signs… I’ve used some rough Cypress timber slabs here, putting them through the thicknesser to achieve a nice flat surface. The grain shows up really nicely on Cypress, as opposed to Hoop Pine which is fairly bland. It took me a while to…
Oiled Cypress Observation Hive
Display Tower with Frames
The Outhouse
OATH Painted – 35mm Cypress
Phone Box Hive
Basic Observation Hive
Solitary Bee Observation Block
Split a Native Bee Hive – Video
Solitary Bees
Pests or not?
Buzz Inn – Create the ultimate luxury accommodation for native bees in your backyard
Honey Super Designs & Testing
Pollination Box – Getting Bees in!
Budding Hive Instructions – How To
Bobs Honey Extraction
Hive Haven
Alex Derrick – ANBA Meeting
Native Bee Club – Steve Maginnity
Romina Rader – Wild Pollinators in Australian Crop Systems
Empty Native Bee Boxes available, with Honey Supers and viewing windows. Budding Kits with everything needed to try your own Budding/Eduction. Postage available. *Empty boxes do not include bees. **Please read the FAQs before buying empty boxes. www.nativebeehives.com/boxes-for-sale/
Boxes for sale - Native Bee Hives
www.nativebeehives.com
*Boxes do not include bees *If you are new to Stingless Bees please read this first before buying empty boxes www.nativebeehives.com/faqs/ . Click to see more++ Box Makers Tip ++
+ Start out by making boxes for yourself and monitor the build quality over years. You might think your boxes are great when you've finished them but in one/two/six months they could have all warped.
+ Wood like Cypress can be popular because it looks great new and is termite resistant but really needs plenty of time to "season" or dry out. It's very unlikely you will find kiln dried Cypress. Cypress boxes should be made over months and not over days or weeks. They will continue to warp over many months. The frames will twist and the top lid and base will cup.
+ Test test test: Make some single frames, get them perfect so they sit against each other with no gaps and no rocking, then leave them alone for a month or two, then sit them against each other again and check the gaps and rocking. This will give you an indication of how stable the timber is.
+ The same applies for the coatings. Testing should be done over a year or so. You'd want a good idea of what will happen to your boxes with bees inside and exposed to the elements.
Full timber article here: www.nativebeehives.com/more-timber/
Fairy Door Hive update. Three months Budding/Eduction progress photos. The hive is extremely busy at the moment! 😁👍. See more photos and info on the website: www.nativebeehives.com/fairy-door-hive/
12 week result from my wood sample test. I'd be interested to hear from anyone that uses Paulownia and has native bee boxes that are years old. www.nativebeehives.com/wood-samples/
Wood Sample Testing - Native Bee Hives
www.nativebeehives.com
Wood Sample Test I thought i’d throw a few samples of different wood together for some weather exposure tests. Some box makers have been trying out a wood called Paulownia recently. It’s a very li...