Flow HIVE 2 User manual

FLOW®HIVE 2
ASSEMBLY GUIDE
If we look
after the bees they will look
after us, and the honey really
is an amazing bonus.
AUSTRALIAN
MADE
FLOW HIVE 2: CEDAR 6 & 7 FRAME, PAULOWNIA 6 FRAME, ARAUCARIA 6 & 7 FRAME
FLOW HIVE 2 BROOD BOX

Building a Flow Hive usually takes a
couple of hours, so it’s a good idea to leave time
and space to spread out your components to
ensure that your assembly goes smoothly.
To assist you in identifying the parts for each
of the major components we have included a
pictorial guide at the beginning of each set
of instructions.
PLEASE NOTE: Flow Hive 2 – 6 frame illustrations
shown throughout. Flow Hive 2 – 7 frame model
will vary slightly in appearance .

3
HARVESTING
SHELF
LEG
KIT
(OPTIONAL)
PAGE
17
PAGE
16
HIVE CONFIGURATIONS
TIMBER FINISHES, HOW TO USE THE BASE TRAY,
HOW TO USE THE INBUILT SPIRIT LEVELS
PAGES
18-19
HARVESTING CHECKLIST PAGE
20
BROOD
BOX &
BROOD
FRAMES
PAGES
12-13
NOTE: IDENTIFYING FLOW SUPER AND BROOD BOX PARTS
It’s important to note that your Flow Super and Brood box panels may appear
to be the same, however, these have a few minor dierences which need be
identified, to avoid confusion.
The brood box end panels can be distinguished from the Flow Super front panel, by
the inclusion of an extra set of pilot holes on the finger joints (see images below).
The Flow Super side panels can be easily identified as the panels which contain a
window cutout, stepped box joint and metal bracing strip notch, all of which are
absent from the Brood Box side panels.
BASE PAGES
14-15
FLOW
SUPER
PAGES
10-11
ROOF
CEDAR & PAULOWNIA
6 FRAME - PG 6
ARAUCARIA 6 FRAME - PG 7
ARAUCARIA 7 FRAME - PG 8
CEDAR 7 FRAME - PG 9
PAGES
6-9
FLOW SUPER PARTS
Flow Super side panelFlow Super front panel
BROOD BOX PARTS
Brood box side panelBrood box end panels
Extra pilot holes

4 5
COMPONENTS OF A FLOW HIVE 2
ROOF
INNER
COVER
with plug
FLOW
SUPER
QUEEN
EXCLUDER
BROOD
BOX
with brood
frames
Flow Key
access
cover
Tray
Vented
cover
Latch
Latch
Rear
window
cover
Rear
window
HARVESTING
SHELF
BRACKETS
(optional)
Side observation
window
Side observation
window cover
Your Flow
Frames will
sit in here
BASE
LEG KIT
(optional)
• It is important to read all instructions before assembling, however,
if you’re like most of our Flow team, you may find our assembly videos
extremely helpful. These can be viewed at www.honeyflow.com/assembly
• If you are unfamiliar with constructing beehives, you may like to
ask a friend or someone from your nearest beekeeping club to help.
• If short on time, the Flow Super can be constructed at a later date,
as this will not be added to your hive until your colony is well
established in the brood box.
• Timber is a natural product and will expand and contract in dierent
climate conditions.
• Don’t be alarmed if you have extra screws and hardware as we have
included spares.
• When fastening the square drive screws, stop when the screw head
is still slightly proud of the box to avoid splitting the timber.
TOOLS YOU WILL NEED
(NOT SUPPLIED)
• Hammer (for brood
frames)
• Non-toxic wood glue
• Suitable wood finish
(see page 19). Many
customers find it useful
to apply this finish
before adding windows,
latches and knobs.
• Carpenter’s square
(optional)
• Clamps 41cm and 51cm
(optional)
• Power drill (optional)
use only with low
torque setting. Must
be used with care to
avoid splitting the
timber.
TOOLS INCLUDED FOR ASSEMBLY
*PLEASE NOTE: The assembly tool is located
in the super hardware pack along with drive
bits. Additional drive bits are located with
the brood hardware kit.
Assembly tool
(L - wrench)
Sandpaper
No.2
Phillips
head
drive bit
No.2
square
drive
bit
Roof
alignment
block

6 7
1. Screw the roof rails and gables together (using the
square drive bit and square drive screws) as shown.
• The Flow logos face toward the outside.
• Match the slope of the rails with the slope of the
gable. The angle should align at both ends.
• The roof rail end that aligns with the rear gable
(shorter gable) has a second cut out to allow space
for the key access cover once assembled.
2. Check the roof is square prior to axing the shingle
panels.
• Hint: You can use the inner cover and some packing
material to hold it square while you ax the
shingles.
3. To ax the roof shingles, place them so that
the underside of the panels match with the roof
alignments on the gables.
4. Line up the holes in the shingle panels with the roof
gables. The roof overhangs the front and rear gables
by 27mm (1.06 inches). Use the roof alignment block
to measure this overhang
5. Check once again that the roof assembly is square
and that the holes in the shingles are correctly aligned
with the gable ends. Screw the shingles into position
(square drive bit and square drive screws).
• Take care with this stage to make sure the screws
are positioned square to the shingle and run into the
gable (so they don’t break through).
6. Line up the ridge cap with the roof shingles. Screw the
ridge cap down as shown.
7. To secure the roof, locate the two brass wing screws.
Screw into the pilot holes in the side rails. These can
be used to secure your roof in high wind areas.
PARTS
ASSEMBLY
ROOF ASSEMBLY - CEDAR & PAULOWNIA 6 FRAME
1 x front gable – tall
1 x rear gable – short
1 x ridge cap
1 x left side & 1 x right side rail
ROOF SCREW PACK – ACTUAL SIZE
17 x square drive screws
2 x brass wing screws
2 x shingle panels
roof
alignment
block
drive
shingle
screws on
slight
angle
1. Screw the roof rails and gables together (using the
square drive bit and square drive screws) as shown.
• The Flow logos face toward the outside.
• Match the slope of the rails with the slope of the
gable. The angle should align at both ends.
• The roof rail end that aligns with the rear gable
(shorter gable) has a second cut out to allow space
for the key access cover once assembled.
2. Check the roof is square prior to axing the shingle
panels.
• Hint: You can use the inner cover and some packing
material to hold it square while you ax the
shingles.
3. To ax the roof shingles, place them so that
the underside of the panels match with the roof
alignments on the gables.
4. Line up the holes in the shingle panels with the roof
gables. The roof overhangs the front and rear gables
by 27mm (1.06 inches). Use the roof alignment block
to measure this overhang
5. Check once again that the roof assembly is square and
that the holes in the shingles are correctly aligned with
the gable ends. Screw the bottom shingle into position
first (square drive bit and square drive screws), then
apply some wood glue to the join between the two
roof shingles to create a good weather barrier, before
axing the top shingle.
• Take care with this stage to make sure the screws
are positioned square to the shingle and run into the
gable (so they don’t break through).
6. Line up the ridge cap with the roof shingles. Screw the
ridge cap down as shown.
7. To secure the roof, locate the two brass wing screws.
Screw into the pilot holes in the side rails. These can
be used to secure your roof in high wind areas.
PARTS
ASSEMBLY
ROOF ASSEMBLY - ARAUCARIA 6 FRAME
1 x front gable – tall
1 x rear gable – short
1 x ridge cap
1 x left side & 1 x right side rail
ROOF SCREW PACK – ACTUAL SIZE
17 x square drive screws
2 x brass wing screws
4 x shingle panels
drive
shingle
screws on
slight
angle
roof
alignment
block