FLOW® HIVE ASSEMBLY GUIDE
Flow® Hive Hybrid 3 Frame
If we look after the bees they will look after us,
and the honey really is an amazing bonus.
AUSTRALIAN
MADE
• Read all instructions first.
• If you are unfamiliar with wood work, you may like to ask a
friend or someone from your nearest beekeeping club to help.
• We’ve put together some great assembly support videos,
view them here: www.honeyflow.com/assembly.
• Timber is a natural product and will expand and contract in
dierent climate conditions.
Tools you will need for assembly (not supplied):
• carpenter’s square
• clamps (optional) – one that opens at
least 41cm and one that opens 51cm
• power drill with phillips head
bit (use low torque setting) or a
phillips head screwdriver
• hammer
• non-toxic glue
• sandpaper
• drill bits 3mm-4mm (3/32"–1/8")
for pre-drilling.
• suitable finish (see back cover)
BEE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY
For beekeeping info and assembly instructions go to: www.honeyflow.com/assembly
To keep connected join us on forum.honeyflow.com or contact info@honeyflow.com
ASSEMBLY VIDEOS
honeyflow.com/assembly
BEGINNER VIDEOS
honeyflow.com/beginner-videos
MEET THE BEEKEEPER
honeyflow.com/mtb
facebook.com/flowhive
twitter.com/flowhive
instagram.com/flowhive
1
COMPONENTS OF A FLOW HIVE HYBRID
FLOW
HIVE
ROOF
INNER
COVER
HYBRID
SUPER
QUEEN
EXCLUDER
BROOD
BOX
with Brood
Frames
Flow Key
Access
Cover
Latch
Latch
Rear
Observation
Window
Cover
Side Observation
Window Cover
Your Flow®
Frames sit
here
SCREENED
BOTTOM
BOARD
with corflute slider
2
1. Cut binding tape and lay out all pieces of your brood box.
2. On a flat surface, dry fit all the pieces together to make a
box (as per the illustration above). Be sure they fit together
tightly and the handles are on the upper outside of the box.
Some force may be necessary to get the fingers together,
however if it looks like the wood could split use sandpaper
to adjust finger size.
3. If you are using clamps, apply one on each side of the
brood box toward the top. The clamps will aid in box
assembly by holding the pieces in place as you install
screws. Note: insert a slip of cardboard between the clamp
head and timber to avoid the clamp leaving a mark. If you
don’t have a clamp make sure the joints are held firmly
together before driving in screws, pressing the opposite
end of the box against a wall can help.
4. Check if the box is square using the carpenter’s square.
Adjust the clamps and box as needed to get it into
alignment. If you don’t have a carpenter’s square you can
make visual checks or line up the box with the corner of a
square table.
5. Screw the pieces together, checking as you go along
that the box is square and that the upper edges are level.
Be careful not to over-tighten the screws once flush
with the timber surface. Each hive is unique and may
have imperfections from the woodworking process. use
sandpaper to smooth any areas where required. Apply a
suitable timber finish to the outside of your brood box (see
back cover).
• 2 x box end panels• 2 x box side panels
Note: There are no aligning strips
PARTS HARDWARE
24 x 1
3
/
4
" 8G
pan head screws
To assemble box
sides and ends
NOTE: Rebate/rabbet is at top
BROOD BOX ASSEMBLY
ASSEMBLY
3
1. Lay out all the pieces of the roof and ensure you have
all the parts. Dry fit the pieces together (as per the
illustration above). You can use the Inner Cover to keep
the frame square and to prop the rear gable to the
correct height for assembly. See our video at
www.honeyflow.com/assembly
NOTE: The long screws
should be used to assemble
the roof base and ax the ridge cap. The short screws
should be used to ax the roof shingles.
2. Align and screw the front gable (this is the taller gable) to
the side rails. The side rails do not have pre-drilled holes.
You may pre-drill to reduce the risk of wood splitting.
3. Lift the rear gable so the angle on the top is flush with the
angle on the top of the side rails. You may wish to pre-drill
the holes then partially insert screws so they are slightly
protruding from the back of the gable to help you align with
the holes in the side rails. Clamp the parts while screwing.
Check to see that this roof base is square before attaching
shingles.
4. Align the ridge cap on the roof apex between the front and
rear gables and screw down.
5. Slide the top shingles under the overhang on the ridge cap
and ensure they sit firmly against it. Screw down to secure
(do not over tighten). Slide the next shingles under the
recess of the first shingles and make sure they are flush front
and back. Screw down and repeat for remaining shingles.
Tighten all screws.
• 1 x rear gable (shorter)
• 1 x front gable (taller)
• 6 x 'shingle' panels
• 1 x ridge cap
• 2 x side rails
PARTS
ASSEMBLY
HARDWARE
6 x 1
3
/
4
" 8G
pan head screws
12 x 1
3
/
8
" 8G
pan head screws
FLOW HIVE ROOF ASSEMBLY
NOTE: You will need to raise rear (shorter)
gable so the top angle is flush with the top
angle of side rails
TIP: You may wish to predrill pilot holes to reduce
the risk of wood splitting.
4
See illustration on right
1. Lay out all the pieces for a single frame on a flat surface.
2. Apply a small amount of glue to the u-shape slots on the end
panels, then fit the top and bottom bars into the slots. Glue is
not 100% necessary but will make the frame more robust.
3. Check that the frame is square, then nail all pieces together.
4. Glue comb guides in only when using natural foundation (if
you plan to use a plastic or wax foundation, not supplied,
do not use the comb guide strips) in your brood box - turn
frame upside down, add a few drops of glue to the slot on the
underside of top bar and insert the comb guide.
5. Repeat for remaining frames.
6. When frames are placed in the brood box, centre them so
extra space is towards the outside edges of the box. The
frames sit loosely in the Brood Box as they are designed to
allow the bees to draw their own comb.
• 2 x end
panels
PARTS (SHOWN FOR SINGLE FRAME ONLY)
HARDWARE
4 x nails
per frame
• 1 x top bar
• 1 x comb guide
• 1 x bottom bar
BROOD FRAME ASSEMBLY
FLOW HYBRID SUPER ASSEMBLY
PARTS
See illustration on right
1. Lay out all the pieces of your Flow® Hybrid Super.
2. Dry fit all the pieces together to make a box (as per the
illustration on right). Be sure they fit together tightly and
the handles are on the upper outside of the super.
3. If you are using clamps, clamp all the pieces together as
per the brood box construction to assist while inserting
screws. Screw the pieces together checking that the super
is square as you go along.
IMPORTANT NOTE: do not screw the rear window cover
in place as this piece will be used to gain access to the
Flow Frames.
4. To ax the metal bracing strip, turn the super upside
down. Put the rear window cover in place. To maintain
clearance, temporarily place some packing material, about
the width of a credit card, between the rear window cover
and the box side (see inset diagram).
The metal bracing strip sits across the notched ends.
Screw the metal strip in place (pre-drilling may avoid
splitting the wood).
You may wish to apply a suitable timber finish before
installing window and latches
5. Remove protective plastic from both sides of observation
window. Install into the rebate on the inside face of side
panel and screw into place.
6. Add the knobs to the rear and side observation window
covers and Flow Key access cover. Insert the springs into
the recesses on the latches before screwing them
to the super. The springs will prevent over-tightening of
the screws.
7. Insert wooden dowels into pre-drilled holes inside the
super. These will position your Flow Frames.
• 2 x side panels
(1 with observation window)
• 1 x front panel
• 1 x rear panel
• 1 x aluminium bracing strip
• 1 x Flow Key access cover
• 1 x rear window cover
• 1 x observation window
• 1 x window cover
• 1 x rear window latch
HARDWARE
2 x 20mm 6G
countersink
head screw
To ax metal
strip
4 x 10mm
6G
pan head
screws
To secure
window
2 x 32mm
wooden
dowels
For centering
Flow frames
4 x 23mm dia
wooden knobs
2 x observation
window latches
22 (+2 spare)
x 45mm 8G
pan head screws
To assemble box
sides and ends
3 x 25mm 6G
pan head screws
and springs
To secure
observation and
rear window
latches
4 x 20mm x
4mm
metal thread
screws
To secure
wooden knobs
5
ASSEMBLY
glue
glue
glue
glue
ASSEMBLY
Metal
strip
NOTE
4 brood frames
are used in the
Hybrid Super.
These are located
two either side
of the Flow
Frames.
TIMBER FINISHES
Each hive is unique and will have individual features as a
naturally grown product. Applying a suitable wood finish
will improve weather protection and increase the life of
your timber hive. We recommend painting the outside of
the hive with a paint primer followed by a good quality
exterior grade paint. To create a good weather seal on the
roof we recommend painting with exterior grade paint.
Apply a primer first then use two coats of paint, apply
liberally to the joins between shingles to create a good
weather seal.
FLOW HIVE CONFIGURATIONS
STARTING YOUR COLONY CONFIGURATION
Set up your brood box with frames, inner cover and
roof only while your bees are growing in numbers and
building comb. We cover the feeder hole of the inner
cover with screen mesh or a piece of wood. Insert
corflute slider in lower slot of hive base. This can be
moved to upper slot when harvesting.
For hints on how and when to add your
Flow Hybrid Super please visit
https://www.honeyflow.com/assembly-hybrid
ESTABLISHED COLONY CONFIGURATION
Hybrid Super with Flow Frames once your colony
is strong and established. Inner cover is placed
on top of the super. It is possible to add extra brood
boxes or supers once your colony is established and
expanding. Speak to your local beekeeping club for
region specific advice.
Inner
cover
Inner
cover
Roof
Roof
Brood
Box
Brood
Box
Hybrid
Super
Queen
Excluder
Screened
Bottom
Board
Screened
Bottom
Board
Printed on 100% recycled paper using environmentally friendly inks.
Australian Made Flow Hive Hybrid 3 Assembly Guide
Revision: 08.17-1
All content copyright © 2017 Flow®
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