Thank you for your business.
Included are six screws. Take the round bottom with the feeder on it and line it up with the screw holes in the bottom of the observation hive and screw it together. You will need 1 ½” PVC pipe if you are going to install this hive in your house. The included 1 ½” pipe is for display purposes only. When you are viewing both sides of the hive you should turn the hive in one direction to keep the wheels aligned and in one direction. If you try turning the hive the other way and it turns harder and starts to stick, look under the hive and make sure all the wheels are facing the right direction. You will need two sheets of double strength glass. Unscrew the eight screws from the top of the hive and remove the top board. Measure from the deepest point of the groove on one side to the deepest point on the other side of the hive and from top to bottom to get the correct dimensions for the glass. You can pick up the glass at any hardware store like ACE for around $15 per pane. Check to make sure dimensions are correct before getting glass cut. Once you have the glass cut, slide it down into the grooves and make sure there are no gaps for the bees to get out (Small gaps will get filled with propolis later). Then align the top and replace the eight screws. To place bees into the hive the top will need to be removed again and one glass pane slid out to place frames into the hive.
If you are going to use this hive for viewing purposes in your house you will need to buy a nightstand or table for the hive to sit on. You will also need extra PVC Pipe. Once you have your night stand or table that you are going to use, drill a 1 ½ hole directly in the center of it. You will also need to drill a 1 ½ hole in the side of your house where the bees will exit (Don’t do this yet!). Now place the night stand or table where you want it with the observation hive on top of it. You will now need to measure and cut the appropriate size of PVC for your hive location and drill the 1 ½ hole in your house in the desired spot. Below is an example of how my hive PVC pipe is set-up:
http://mowbrayhoneyfarm.com/ObservationHiveSetUp.aspx
From the hive to a 90 degree 1 ½” PVC fitting I have 5 1/2”of pipe. Then from the 90 degree fitting to the outside of the house there is 22” of pipe. To view my setup with pictures go to:
Notes and Tips:
- All measurements are given in inches.
- If your hive shut off (the thin piece of wood with the gold knob) does not close, the PVC pipe from the hive to the 90 degree fitting is to long and is obstructing the shut off from closing. To fix this simply take the PVC pipe out and cut it shorter.
- If the hive is turning hard make sure all the wheels are facing the same way. If this does not fix it take the hive off and grease the rubber bearings, if this does not work make the hole in the round wood circles a little bigger.
- I put a golden screw in the round piece of wood behind the shut off so it cannot be accidentally pulled out by children. To do this pull the hive shut off out well looking down the inside of the hive. Once the shut off has opened the PVC pipe fully, mark the spot on the wooden round circle. Now shove the hive shut off in and screw a screw in the middle of the mark that you have made. Now you should be able to pull the shut off out again but it will not come all the way out. There is also a picture of this at: http://mowbrayhoneyfarm.com/ObservationHiveSetUp.aspx
- When you cut the pipe going from the hive to the 90 degree PVC fitting, you may want to roughen up the inside of it so the bees will have a better grip to climb up. You may also want to do this to the 90 degree fitting.
Working the Hive:
To work the hive you can simply slide the hive shut off in, fully closing the PVC pipe. Then lift the top round wooden circle with the hive on it off. Once you have the hive off, place a wet paper towel or wash cloth over the PVC pipe that is connected to the outside. This will not allow any bees to come into your house well you are working your observation hive. When you go to place the hive back on the PVC pipe take the paper towel off and align the bottom hole of the observation hive so the PVC pipe slips into it. Once you are sure that the hive is setting on the PVC pipe securely, open the hive shut off to allow the bees to go in and out of the hive freely again.
This observation hive is sold as is, and there is no warranty. Mowbray Honey Farm is not liable for any injury occurring from this observation hive.
Again I would like to thank you for your business, I really appreciate it.