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  • Bee Hive building & a place to share howto's on equipment
Bee Hive building & a place to share howto's on equipment
 #6722  by GillB
 26 Apr 2020, 09:15
Does anyone protect their hives with linseed oil? I read something recently about it and wondered on the pros and cons. I have a new hive and one which is a year old, I've not put anything on them.
Also having been given an old brood boxfor a spare with just a little rotten wood in one corner, is the specialised filler worth buying?
Thank you 🙂
 #6723  by AdamD
 26 Apr 2020, 09:31
I haven't used linseed oil on hives.

However if you have some rot, I would personally cut it out and go back to clean wood; then replace the small section of wood and then treat the area with a clear preservative, can be quite fiddly. I am not convinced that filler will work; and I rekon you do need to 'stop the rot'.
 #6724  by Patrick
 26 Apr 2020, 10:17
The fact you have rot makes me wonder if you have bought deal or pine hives, then they will need treating. If cedar, they will not need it terms of preservation but many still do treat in terms of looks.

I have used linseed oil in the past and it certainly doesn’t do any harm. I don’t bother now however.

Unusual for cedar to rot as such unless it is very old, but can break or crush, particularly at corners. I am with Adam on cutting back to sound wood and inserting a patch piece glued and clamped / nailed in place. If it is really decrepit, junk it - you don’t want it collapsing when you are trying to carry a full load of honey!
 #6789  by Alfred
 01 May 2020, 07:47
Listened oil should be raw as the boiled stuff is apparently toxic.
The aroma is traditional and it will take around a hundred washes to get the spots and smell from clothing
It gives a golden hint to light wood and a dark hue to old grey woodware

It is a an oil that dries like paint and two coats should be sufficient for any British weather.
The downside is it is difficult to remove (even using pure apibioxal) and if the host surface is in a dark damp area it goes black and mouldy
Cheapest source is 5l tubs from amazon