A local craftsman did an amazingly fine job on building me some top bar hives - the design close to that of Phil Chandler of "Barefoot Beekeeper" fame. Only difference were the inside dimensions which I wanted to fit the bars of Sam Comfort, from whom I get my nucs. For those interested, the top side to side inside width: 18 inches, bottom width: 8 inches - fits 4 popsicle sticks end to end in the top bar.
Anyway, I asked the carpenter if he wouldn't mind applying a coat or two of boiled linseed oil to the outside of the hives. He said he'd be glad to.
I got a call a few days later: "Stone, you said you wanted that oil outside and inside, right?" Well, I was fortunate that I stopped him after he did this to only one hive. He said he'd sand it all out but I was skeptical that this would work knowing how this oil behaves when it hits wood.
He did an absolutely beautiful job on these hives, and he did do a good job of sanding, but my question to you is this: Is it safe to use this one hive or should I feed it to my wood stove?
Anyway, I asked the carpenter if he wouldn't mind applying a coat or two of boiled linseed oil to the outside of the hives. He said he'd be glad to.
I got a call a few days later: "Stone, you said you wanted that oil outside and inside, right?" Well, I was fortunate that I stopped him after he did this to only one hive. He said he'd sand it all out but I was skeptical that this would work knowing how this oil behaves when it hits wood.
He did an absolutely beautiful job on these hives, and he did do a good job of sanding, but my question to you is this: Is it safe to use this one hive or should I feed it to my wood stove?