Flow alternative?

[Erichalfbee]

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I can see the easily gulled queueing up with their hard earned cash clutched in their fists

 

[user 819]

Oh dear !!!
That would test my patience esp on my garden hive that produced nearly 250lbs of honey last year, the process would never allow me sleep .
The flow hive idea was bad enough, it guess it is ok for the beek who only manages one super per colony of honey a year.

 

[Ely]

Oh wow. I forgot about the flow hive. I remember the controversy and interesting reading on here a while back. How did they turn out? Naff as expected?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Naff as expected?

Not necessarily
We have members here who have made quite a success of selling premium unspun honey
Notably @Paras

 

[Ely]

Not necessarily
We have members here who have made quite a success of selling premium unspun honey
Notably @Paras

Good to hear some people have made a success of it.

 

[judy12]

My friend with top bar hives gently runs over the surface of the comb with a comb then rests it over a bowl to drip - did this used to be called virgin honey?

 

[Paras]

Interesting, at least it is an original idea and not a copy. The frames appear shallow / medium so might require 2/3 supers. Compared with the FlowHive it would seems it was flowing much slower.

I certainly would keep to my FlowHive.

 

[Paras]

Oh dear !!!
That would test my patience esp on my garden hive that produced nearly 250lbs of honey last year, the process would never allow me sleep .
The flow hive idea was bad enough, it guess it is ok for the beek who only manages one super per colony of honey a year.

The FlowHive works in the UK, I get about 88lbs on a strong colony, harvested 485lbs from my garden in 2022 leaving another 450lbs of honey for the bees to winter with. Therefore I would not totally dismiss the idea that they don't work.

 

[user 819]

Glad it works for you but the harvest averages aren't a lot to speak of.

 

[MeAndMyBees]

Oh wow. I forgot about the flow hive. I remember the controversy and interesting reading on here a while back. How did they turn out? Naff as expected?

Naff maybe (?)
But sometimes a Hive that's 'outside the box' concept, sorry for the Pun, can be a good Hive for those who are Disabled, the Infirm. Those needing an 'all in one' for Keeping/Storing/Harvesting Bees & their Honey. eg Kids at School wanting to study Nature up close. A Local Community Garden or Allotments wanting 'Pollination'. Those with a small Garden : who can't pertain to stacks of towering Supers. Etc, etc. . .

OK the Flow Hive is basically a (Yes, a Costly?) 'Designed Super' on a regular Langstroth Brood Box.
Even Rev Langstroth didn't invent the Hive. He 'Patented' the use of . ". . .the first movable frame beehive in America" in "1852." . . .

Hives seem to be updated, are further 'Modernised to Need' (created) eg off an Expired Patent of a similar Hive. From the last Century, (maybe even from the one before !) Nothing new really.

(Who?) : "I've" invented this really amazing new 'Hive' to keep Bees in. Its called a "Skep." Roll up roll up they are selling fast. I accept a Deposit of a Goat , or even a few Chickens ! Diner Card Accepted ?Sorry Sir, no but Dinner later, Yes

. . . The following came off the website: 'honeybeesuite.com' : from a 'Discussion' made over nine years ago !
(Relating to back when Flow Hive was 'Launched and Promoted.' This too was x9 years back in "2015.")
Thread :
"Patent for a Flow-Style Bee Hive 1940". . . a patent was granted by the U.S. Patent Office" . . .
for a Beehive that is eerily similar to the Flow Hive but is made of Metal. . . The inventor, Juan Garriga, lived in Spain & submitted the patent on August 8, 1939. The patent was approved on 3rdDec , 1940. . .
(. . .It never got to Market. . . )
The Poster also stated "Plastic" was not used / or was commonly in production. . .
A Google search shows : "Plastic Injection Molding" began in 1872 when the first molding machine was invented and patented to make "Buttons, Combs." Etc. . .

Despite Plastic Injection Molding being invented back then, the modern Flow Hive could not of been made or produced I guess, because of Filed 'Patents' ???
(Nonetheless, China have made a knock-off called the "Auto Hive." So patents don't seem to stop them !)

Guess the "Wheel" gets 'invented' and then 'replicated' in different designs. But basically does the same thing !
. . . Moving Stone Monoliths, a Roman in his Chariot, even Elon Musk in his Ferrari. . .

I'll stop before this 'Thread' unravels even more.

I got an 'AutoHive' Keyed Frame, bundled amongst some Langstroth Boxes, from a Bee Association 'Ad.'
It's frankly a bit of a 'gimmick' and complicated to sort if any part fails or breaks (!) Genuine Honey Comb, Bee Knowledge and Understanding is well worth the price. Even Priceless. . . But some want 'Honey' Now ! Throw their Money at the Instant hit the Flow or Auto Hive 'Offers' but rarely 'provide.'
Bees still need to be kept and looked after. . . Otherwise its a Bee Super Box of 'plastic parts and dead bees'.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

my brain and my eyes hurt after foolishly reading these posts

 

[Murox]

my brain and my eyes hurt after foolishly reading these posts

I had to give up.

 

[Erichalfbee]

.