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OATHs with fitted lid

I thought i’d make a few Observation boxes with a fitted lid, not hinged. The lid will be easily removed so you can see through the viewing window and check on the progress of the bees.

The top honey super frame. I’ve recessed the viewing window in and removed a section from the outer edge so the lid will sit in place.

I’ve made a few different sized top Super frames, 90mm high and 70mm high.

Front landing pads using Red Wood and clear coat then stained the fitted lids to match the Red Wood colour.

I ended up painting the boxes. Oiled timber looks great but after a while exposed to the sun it starts to go grey, or silver. For a better longer lasting box it’s best to paint them with good exterior paint, though some people don’t mind the grey/silvering of wood. The lids are stained/coated clear, as it would be a fairly easy task to remove the lid, sand it back and coat it again to make it new again in a couple of years if it’s exposed to the sun. If kept in the shade it should look good for many years.

Below; This shows the Honey Super Separator Plate. I’ve been doing it like this lately as it seems like a nice neat way. There’s a 50mm hole drilled in to the clear plate and it can be blocked off so the bees can’t access the top. This allows the bees to maintain a smaller area below and they can be monitored for a while. Once the lower boxes are full you could unblock the hole allowing bees in to the Honey Super area. You could allow them full access to the area or you could place an up-side-down container or jar over the hole. The bees should fill the container with honey pots and you will still be able to view the bees.

This is a small jar that i stole, i mean.. borrowed from Sydney Stingless Bees for demonstration purposes.  Melissa uses these jars on her hive boxes so it’s the same system really.

Observation Boxes finished!!

Hivecraft - Australian Native Bee Supplies

Native bee boxes available at www.hivecraft.com.au

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