Log beehives

[Arnold9801]

I'm an experienced beekeeper but would like to keep a colony y of bees in a more natural environment by making a log hive.

They're require a 20" diameter trunk which is hollowed to a diameter of 12".

A chainsaw is the first tool to create the hollowing but a lot is done with a carpenters slick on a long pole preferably a gouge type than the flat chisel.

Does anyone have a gouge Slick? I would have to adapt it to fit the pole but it's locating the gouge end which is more difficult.

 

[Tris]

If you have no luck here it might be worth contacting Ashley Iles, I believe they still make specials.
One though occurs, if you can get the log up on a sawhorse a single handed scorp would do a similar job

 

[Tris]

Nearest thing I could find was the last item on this site. Not sure if they will still ship to UK

https://www.fine-tools.com/mhg-hohlbeitel.html

 

[Inspector]

What was wrong with the ones I linked for you yesterday in the Pole Gouge thread?

Pete

 

[Vulcan]

I can’t help Arnold, but can I ask a question. Have you heard or had any experience of automatic (flow) Bee Hives?
Price is horrendously expensive but I think there may be more affordable DIY versions.

Flow Hive:

https://uk.honeyflow.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorQLQdjaNWHo6fg9zALQbncqJbtOECkQqRu_d5JJzqc52bHkGP3

 

[Doris]

They're require a 20" diameter trunk which is hollowed to a diameter of 12".

A chainsaw is the first tool to create the hollowing but a lot is done with a carpenters slick on a long pole preferably a gouge type than the flat chisel.

For that sort of diameter you could just use a Scorp and stick your arms in there no? Scorps can be single handed as well and so could fit to a long pole.

 

[CaptainBudget]

Wow, you can definitely tell who those flow hives are aimed at...

If getting a gouge slick proves to be a non-starter, can I suggest the below if you've not come across these before:

https://www.sustainlife.org/an-introduction-to-the-top-bar-bee-hive/

I made one about 10 years ago for my Dad out of a sheet of plywood (there's a lot more info on these out there now, and I'd do it very differently if I tried again...). The idea is the bees can build comb more like they would in the wild inside a log, but you help them by controlling the size of the "log" to suit the current colony size (so a smaller colony only has to heat a small space).

In theory they will just fill the last few end combs with honey for storage and you just take those, which with no foundation wire you can then easily harvest into lucrative Cut Comb for minimal effort...

 

[Majimoto]

I can’t help Arnold, but can I ask a question. Have you heard or had any experience of automatic (flow) Bee Hives?
Price is horrendously expensive but I think there may be more affordable DIY versions.

Flow Hive:

https://uk.honeyflow.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorQLQdjaNWHo6fg9zALQbncqJbtOECkQqRu_d5JJzqc52bHkGP3

No self respecting beekeeper would use one of those plastic monstroties.

 

[mwinfrance]

Chainsaw with a carving bar.

 

[ChaiLatte]

Does anyone have a gouge Slick?

Looking at the photo, a standard flat slick and a trip to a blacksmith might produce the desired result.

If you could find an old version of this, made with proper carbon steel, which would hold an edge, it might be an alternative:

http://www.axistools.co.uk/868680?gQT=1

Go to any West African country and look in the local market: you will find the same tool made out of an old leaf spring.