I’m currently making a few rebated boxes, these will be a raw timber finish with oil. There’ll be a hinged lid and clear viewing window on top so you can open it and see the bees inside.

Specs:

• Timber: Cypress
• Timber Thickness: 35mm
• Design: Rebated Cypress OATH – Observation Hive
• Internal Volume: 
• Brood Supports: Cypress
• Separator Plate:
• Coating:  Oil
• Weight:

Below – rebates cut and assembling the frames…

I think the knots and imperfections in the timber could be seen as a technical fault with the timber but I like the character it gives so try to put them at the front for a feature ….

Below – I’ve cut some timber down to be laminated, 5 pieces together will create a top lid… Similar to the previous Australis Box

Putting the bottoms on the base frames….

Below – The tops layed out ready for gluing….

Below – the basic idea, in the rough….

Below – update, I cut the slot in the top lid and added the inserts….

Update below – I added some brass hinges for the lid and a chain on the side so the lid doesn’t fall backwards. I’m not sure if the chain is the best solution but i’ll go with it for now….

The tops could also be added to an existing OATH. You could paint it yellow to suit.