Slovenian AZ Beehive

[mmmooretx]

I particularly love the elegance of curved roof over the "facade" of the beehouse. It looks like the bigger room (plan A) has honey-extraction area?

I agree 100% on the curved front/top. I think it is the same, or very close, to the one posted by bostek in the photo section. I also like the natural wood finish and wonder what they are using that stands up to their winters. Also I think you are right on the second room being the extractor room, which I like very much. My garage is already full of "stuff" so beyond the cost of an extractor there is the storage overhead for something used twice a year?
I am also curious on how that watering board works, in the picture that bostek put up. I like the rainwater recovery system to the tank too.

[Goran]

For translation I need some time,even is slovenian simmilar to ours, it's not so small text. I'll see later. For pouring bees into hive is some as You say "adapter board" which you put when open the door and so the bees don't fall on the ground. The holders goes into the hive and plate with some edge on a sides is in front of You. So when need to brush off the bees from frames or so it is helpful. But some beekeepers don't want to bother with it ( it slows them)..
Still didn't found the book, sorry..

Forgot to see this board, type in google picture search " sipalnik" or " sipaonik". It's simple to make.

[mmmooretx]

Thank you very much for your time Goran, I kind of assumed that use after seeing bostek's video. Now I am just trying to gather information on tools and techniques for this type of hive.

[Goran]

What I know I will try to give objective info without make-up. Now is winter, in spring I may be more in chance to picture some AŽ grom at my place. Now we are all busy in a " workshops", preparing woodenware, planning, reading, etc.. I believe same as You.
All the best..

[mmmooretx]

Goran,
Thank you again for your support. Inside pictures of how things are positioned inside a bee house would be very helpful, and Spring will be fine.
Thank you again.

Update: If anyone knows of YouTube videos showing the AZ hives or the bee houses they are built into please share them, assuming they have not already been shared in this thread. Thank you.

[cerezha]

... I also like the natural wood finish and wonder what they are using that stands up to their winters. ...

In Russia we were using hard boiled linseed oil - apply hot in 3-5 24-48 hours apart coats until oil does not get in anymore. It creates beautiful golden finish, which survived many Russian winters. It was most common way of wood preservation in Russia for centuries. I tried the same approach here in US (SoCal) and it did not work at all - oil is not the same and/or sun. My impression is that in SoCal at least UV from sun is much-much stronger than in Russia and it damages oil finish. In Los Angeles, literally any transparent outdoor finish does not stay for more than 1.5 years... I find the oil-based finish from Canada,which designed for boats (expensive) - this one stays 3 years on my redwood deck. It creates really beautiful finish - if interested, I could find the name of the product.

[mmmooretx]

Sergey,
I read somewhere to add 1-2 ounces of beeswax to 1 quart of boiled linseed oil and brush on while hot, but do not remember about multiple coats.

[cerezha]

Sergey,
I read somewhere to add 1-2 ounces of beeswax to 1 quart of boiled linseed oil and brush on while hot, but do not remember about multiple coats.

Interesting. In Russia, we just use linseed oil - when it dry, it is like varnish, it creates a thick hard shiny golden layer. I would imagine, with wax it would be more waterproof, but wax will make protective layer softer and less shiny...

[mmmooretx]

Interesting. In Russia, we just use linseed oil - when it dry, it is like varnish, it creates a thick hard shiny golden layer. I would imagine, with wax it would be more waterproof, but wax will make protective layer softer and less shiny...

Sergey, what type of wood did you use in Russia and did you only coat the outside or inside and outside?

[cerezha]

Sergey, what type of wood did you use in Russia and did you only coat the outside or inside and outside?

Good question. We mainly use a pine, but I know that people used linseed oil on birch and other porous wood. I am not sure how it is used on log-houses. My understanding is that they cover the entire log before building. But I also saw a new houses built from un-treated wood, which, I assume, will be treated later. From another hand I know that Russians prefer untreated wood inside the house for "freshness of the air" and breathing (wood is breathing). So, the answer is that I do not know exactly. I think, that service buildings are probably treated entirely, houses - probably treated only outside. Keep in mind that it was many years ago. I do not think that anybody in Russia treat wood with linseed oil anymore. Russia is following Western at least in consuming preferences - I would guess that they use artificially created varnish exported from Germany these days...