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ingo50 Scout Bee
Joined: 30 May 2014 Posts: 311 Location: Newport, Gwent, Wales, UK
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 10:43 pm Post subject: Oil or wax on cedar TBH? |
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Could members please advise on treating the exterior of a new TBH with a suitable non-toxic safe wax or oil. I live near Cardiff in South Wales, we get a lot of rain here. Should I leave the cedar wood untreated? Many thanks. |
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trekmate Golden Bee

Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Posts: 1137 Location: UK, North Yorkshire, Bentham
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 6:28 am Post subject: |
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Untreated is fine for cedar. It's reputed to last for 40 to 60 years outside without protection. The red colour will slowly fade to silver/grey.
You could opt for RAW linseed oil and beeswax - 20 parts oil 1 bees wax, melted in a bain-marie and painted on while hot. This would need to be re-applied every year or so or it will look scruffy. NOTE: Boiled linseed has some nasty additives!
If you have a cedar roof I'd paint raw linseed oil on that as a minimum to help rain bead and roll off. |
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ingo50 Scout Bee
Joined: 30 May 2014 Posts: 311 Location: Newport, Gwent, Wales, UK
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:36 am Post subject: |
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Thank you very much trekmate, I was planning on using marine ply for the roof as cedar planks are 2,5 cm thick and ply will be easier to use as a single sheet on each side. Any ideas on eco-friendly paint for the roof or has anyone use linseed oil there as well. Many thanks. |
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trekmate Golden Bee

Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Posts: 1137 Location: UK, North Yorkshire, Bentham
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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My favourite roof is aluminum sheet over the ply. http://fragile-planet.co.uk/aluminium-roof-sheet-reclaimed.html
3 sheets will cover a 36 or 48 inch hive. If you plan to build more hives order plenty of sheets (I don't get commission), the P&P barely changes!
The aluminium is thin and bends easily to form around the ply. |
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MikeRobinson Foraging Bee
Joined: 01 Apr 2012 Posts: 201 Location: Upper Northwest Georgia, USA
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 12:49 am Post subject: |
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A product available here, "Thompson's Water-Seal," will weather-proof any sort of bare wood with a single light coating ... which can be brushed or sprayed on. I used it on the outside of my (found-wood ...) hives, as well as on a few pieces of outdoor furniture. The wood "weathers" delightfully and naturally, yet it keeps the water out. Bees don't mind. (I used it exterior-only.) |
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Merinos Foraging Bee
Joined: 12 Sep 2011 Posts: 163 Location: Brussels, Belgium
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Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2014 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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most natural protection : torching the hive. Torched wood is not attractive to insect, does resist fungus... |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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