This video shows you how to do a thorough, deep-clean of your Flow Frames using Methylated Spirits/Denatured alcohol, an old toothbrush and a dental pick. #flowhive
Thank you so much Kat....it is possible to clean these frames. Ours have just gone black and I found thousands of ants and ant eggs all through an empty super, sitting on the hive all over winter. (Our winter has been wet and cold....in Queensland) so we have been really caught out. But your videos have hiven us hope. Thanks so much
Thank you, Kat, for making your videos. I went all in on the Flow Hives when they first came out, but so many things went wrong and I gave up. I want to give it another shot, but they are beyond filthy. Luckily, I found your wonderful videos and I'd be happy if my frames turned out even halfway as clean as you got yours. I have six to do and I'm not looking forward to it..:)
@@Kat_Andrews True, true...a little nervous about using denatured alcohol, but I suppose most traces will be removed with the next wash and rinse. I'd be lost without your videos!
@@greekbecky1 denatured alcohol evaporates very quickly. Once the frames have been rinsed and dried, no trace of it remains. The bees won't have an issue with it.
Personally, I think it comes down to what you have access to. The ultrasonic cleaner does a better job, in a shorter timeframe with less physical effort involved. However, not everyone has an ultrasonic cleaner. And they are expensive! So, while ease is an upside, cost is a big downside. Doing it manually with the chemicals is cheaper and probably more accessible for most people, but is not as thorough at cleaning. And I have had one person say she tried it this was but it just didn’t work for her. So at the end of the day it comes down to what you have access to, really. But if I had to say which was better, all things being equal, and everyone having an ultrasonic cleaner, then go with the ultrasonic cleaner. It does do a better cleaning job with less effort and less chemicals.
Hi Kat, although this cleaning method is not recommended by us, we understand that for sterilisation this might be needed. Can you please change the title of this video to better reflect that this is for sterilisation of the Flow Frames rather than cleaning, as we have reports from beginner customers saying the methylated spirits is deterring bees from reusing the Flow Frames and disassembling Flow Frames is resulting in damage. Thank you for this. -Kieran
Hey Kieran, I have now changed the title as per your request. I would ask though, how about you folks make a video showing how to effectively remove the wax and clean the frames? If you were to do that, I would happily delete this video totally. It's the same for my video on how to disassemble and reassemble the frames, people are unable to find your video on that (it's on your help page, not publicly available on YT), and so they turn to mine as they can't find the information they need from you.
Hi Kat Your Videos are extremely helpful and quite detailed. I was wondering if you have ever prepared a video about moth infested Flowhive Flow Frames and how to clean them thoroughly to make sure that there're no remnants of moth eggs left behind after the clean up is done. what is the best way to sterilise the flow frames to ensure that any moth eggs are eliminated and "hopefully", they don't come back . also what are the precautionary steps to be taken to ensure flow frames are protected from Moth infestation.
No I haven’t and unless it happens to me, I won’t. I would say that using this technique would do as you say, just freeze the frames for 48 hrs first to kill off the moths and eggs etc.
I have already placed the frames in the freezer for a couple. Would freezing the frames be sufficient to kill off any eggs. Afterwards I follow what you have just mentioned in your presentation, except I won’t be able to carry out the sterilisation, as I don’t own the equipment for it.
@@SamElomari freezing will kill the eggs. If you follow the video as I showed, then that IS the sterilisation process, so I don’t understand what you mean by needing the equipment. If you don’t have the tubs, you just need a pot or bucket of some kind.
Haha, unless you want to re-plumb half your house and replace your dishwasher, I wouldn’t be putting these into one. And I’m pretty sure Aussie has dishwashers, but I can’t say for certain as I don’t live there 😂
Very true. But I don’t smoke so it doesn’t occur to me to warn people about that stuff. Beekeeping is a very common-sense-based hobby. If you are so lacking in common sense that you need a no smoking warning when working with flammables, then maybe beekeeping ain’t for you 😂 Along with…don’t drink the meths 😂 Cheers mate.
@@sonofthunder. yep. I service and restore old Kenwood cake mixers, so I use the cleaner to clean all the gearbox components as well. Very handy machine.
For me, yes. For the safety of my bees, I won’t put dirty second-hand hiveware into my hive, but by giving it such a thorough clean, then that removes 90% of the risk of AFB. So yes, totally worth it. The answer for you depends on your situation.
@@matthewmaale1940 I’ve no idea. I’ve never heard of a turkey boiler. But, if you do try it, the water can’t be over 82 degrees celcius. And as you lift the frames out, the melted wax will cling to the frames again, defeating the purpose. And hot water doesn’t kill AFB spores. So it may work, but possibly not. Again, your call for your needs.
Unless you know how to thoroughly clean and sanitise your equipment, I don’t recommend buying used beekeeping gear. The potential for the spread of disease is too high. So, no, I don’t have used Flow Hives for sale. You would need to find someone in your country that is selling them themselves. My recommendation would be to by directly from Flow Hive. If cost is the issue, buy langstroth equipment locally, and just buy the flow frames separately. They even have videos showing you how to modify a standard box to fit their frames. That would save you a couple of hundred dollars.
I agree, and that’s why these are langstroth hives. The flow frames are just the super. Makes harvesting soooooo much easier than the sticky, messy centrifugal extraction. And luckily, I only have to do this type of clean on the frames every 5 years or so. Much, much easier than a normal honey extraction.
Only when they are REALLY filthy, or if you have bought used, second hand frames. Generally, end of season, you don’t clean them like this, as the bees would have to do all that hard work over again. However, if your frames look as bad as this one, clean it!
That’s because it’s a video on how CLEAN a frame. If you want to see how to pull it to bits, look on my channel, I have already made a video showing that.
You cannot be serious going to all that trouble, and as you say after all that effort it isn't perfect. Just buy some cheap asian auto frames as they come from the same place where the Nimbin gunja boys contract their flow frames from. My time is way more valuable than yours it seems.
The knock-off auto frames are actually subtlety different so they won’t fit in a flow hive box. Also, I don’t believe in supporting people who make knock-offs from other people’s work. I got these super cheap, second hand. So the time factored into the cleaning still brought them out to be cheaper than buying new. If you believe you time to be more valuable than mine, more power to you. You obviously have time to waste if you watched my video. 😂
As put a year ago engroupe Kat your innovation has now helped many, and with now over 100,000 units out there should help many many more. Well done lassy, and may 2023 be all yours whist for! Shad
That value of your input Glen well matches the rorted product you advocate for, tones of avarice lacking smarts...yes? FYI FloHive frames are built in Brisbane Australia, BeeInventive P/L an Australian owned and operated Company.
![[UNCUT]"ทักษิณ" โชว์ฤทธิ์-ครอบครอง "อุ๊งอิ๊ง" ประเทศไทยมีนายกฯ 1แถม1 I คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ I 23 ส.ค.67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uyl4y59R-Sk/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you so much Kat....it is possible to clean these frames. Ours have just gone black and I found thousands of ants and ant eggs all through an empty super, sitting on the hive all over winter. (Our winter has been wet and cold....in Queensland) so we have been really caught out. But your videos have hiven us hope. Thanks so much
Now worries Lynda. It’s not hard, just a little time consuming and monotonous. Get a comfy chair and a loud stereo and off you go.
After looking at this, I don't understand the price for the frames.
Thank you so much ❤❤❤❤
Riad from ALGERIA 🇩🇿
Thank you.
Thank you, Kat, for making your videos. I went all in on the Flow Hives when they first came out, but so many things went wrong and I gave up. I want to give it another shot, but they are beyond filthy. Luckily, I found your wonderful videos and I'd be happy if my frames turned out even halfway as clean as you got yours. I have six to do and I'm not looking forward to it..:)
You can do it! It will be time consuming, but it will be worth it in the long run, simply because of the expense of the frames.
@@Kat_Andrews True, true...a little nervous about using denatured alcohol, but I suppose most traces will be removed with the next wash and rinse. I'd be lost without your videos!
@@greekbecky1 denatured alcohol evaporates very quickly. Once the frames have been rinsed and dried, no trace of it remains. The bees won't have an issue with it.
This is so helpful, thank you!
Won't the bees repair the broken slices with beeswax themselves?
يمكنك استعمال ultrasonic cleaner
Привет, струбциной на 50-70 сантиметров сжать немного, и легче вставить провода, . Актуально слегка сжать. Удачи вам.
My Flowframes are still new but thank you for this video
Hopefully you will get many years of use out of them. Good luck and enjoy your bees.
Great video, thank for sharing how to do this.
No worries. I’ll be uploading a video soon on how to reassemble the frames too.
Awesome! Which cleaning technique is best, this one or sonic cleaning? Thank you in advance.
Personally, I think it comes down to what you have access to. The ultrasonic cleaner does a better job, in a shorter timeframe with less physical effort involved. However, not everyone has an ultrasonic cleaner. And they are expensive! So, while ease is an upside, cost is a big downside.
Doing it manually with the chemicals is cheaper and probably more accessible for most people, but is not as thorough at cleaning. And I have had one person say she tried it this was but it just didn’t work for her.
So at the end of the day it comes down to what you have access to, really.
But if I had to say which was better, all things being equal, and everyone having an ultrasonic cleaner, then go with the ultrasonic cleaner. It does do a better cleaning job with less effort and less chemicals.
Bonjour,
Avez vous une vidéo, ou une procédure pour tout assembler et comment attacher et tendre les câbles (fil) en acier ?
Merci beaucoup
th-cam.com/video/RUrc1gu2o4M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=VqgdO3q0Mp1W15wr
Hi Kat, although this cleaning method is not recommended by us, we understand that for sterilisation this might be needed. Can you please change the title of this video to better reflect that this is for sterilisation of the Flow Frames rather than cleaning, as we have reports from beginner customers saying the methylated spirits is deterring bees from reusing the Flow Frames and disassembling Flow Frames is resulting in damage. Thank you for this. -Kieran
Hey Kieran, I have now changed the title as per your request. I would ask though, how about you folks make a video showing how to effectively remove the wax and clean the frames? If you were to do that, I would happily delete this video totally.
It's the same for my video on how to disassemble and reassemble the frames, people are unable to find your video on that (it's on your help page, not publicly available on YT), and so they turn to mine as they can't find the information they need from you.
Thank you!
That was great thank you
Thanks
Hi Kat
Your Videos are extremely helpful and quite detailed. I was wondering if you have ever prepared a video about moth infested Flowhive Flow Frames and how to clean them thoroughly to make sure that there're no remnants of moth eggs left behind after the clean up is done. what is the best way to sterilise the flow frames to ensure that any moth eggs are eliminated and "hopefully", they don't come back . also what are the precautionary steps to be taken to ensure flow frames are protected from Moth infestation.
No I haven’t and unless it happens to me, I won’t. I would say that using this technique would do as you say, just freeze the frames for 48 hrs first to kill off the moths and eggs etc.
I have already placed the frames in the freezer for a couple. Would freezing the frames be sufficient to kill off any eggs. Afterwards I follow what you have just mentioned in your presentation, except I won’t be able to carry out the sterilisation, as I don’t own the equipment for it.
@@SamElomari freezing will kill the eggs. If you follow the video as I showed, then that IS the sterilisation process, so I don’t understand what you mean by needing the equipment. If you don’t have the tubs, you just need a pot or bucket of some kind.
Do you have dish washers in Australia? Asking for a friend
Haha, unless you want to re-plumb half your house and replace your dishwasher, I wouldn’t be putting these into one.
And I’m pretty sure Aussie has dishwashers, but I can’t say for certain as I don’t live there 😂
Thank you Kat, do you know maybe whats the weight of 1 empty flow hive?
The whole hive itself (ie: box and 6 frames)? Or do you mean the weight of one empty frame?
Hot tip, no smoking while trying this😂
Very true. But I don’t smoke so it doesn’t occur to me to warn people about that stuff. Beekeeping is a very common-sense-based hobby. If you are so lacking in common sense that you need a no smoking warning when working with flammables, then maybe beekeeping ain’t for you 😂
Along with…don’t drink the meths 😂
Cheers mate.
Thank you Madam ! But how we can get the Flow Hive frame in the Nepal ?
Buy them from honeyflow.com
Is methylated spirits denatured alcohol just metho in Australia?
Yes, metho, meths, methylated spirits, all the same stuff. If you look at the bottle in the shop it will say methylated spirits.
Is the 82 degree hot water in farenheight or Celsius degrees ???
New Zealand is a metric country, so of course it will be in Celcius. Only a couple of countries in the world still operate officially in Fahrenheit.
You say not hotter than 82. degrees, is that fare height or Celsius ???
New Zealand is a metric country, so of course it will be in Celcius. Only a couple of countries in the world still operate officially in Fahrenheit.
wonder if a sonic cleaner would help,
Funny you should say that…I did a video using an ultrasonic cleaner. Here’s the link. th-cam.com/video/sL1moq3P2Bo/w-d-xo.html
@@Kat_Andrews carburator s are cleaned w them when rebuilding them gets them clean
@@sonofthunder. yep. I service and restore old Kenwood cake mixers, so I use the cleaner to clean all the gearbox components as well. Very handy machine.
is this worth it? that's the question
For me, yes. For the safety of my bees, I won’t put dirty second-hand hiveware into my hive, but by giving it such a thorough clean, then that removes 90% of the risk of AFB. So yes, totally worth it.
The answer for you depends on your situation.
@@Kat_Andrews can't I just use a turkey boiler and let them sit in there a bit?
@@matthewmaale1940 I’ve no idea. I’ve never heard of a turkey boiler. But, if you do try it, the water can’t be over 82 degrees celcius. And as you lift the frames out, the melted wax will cling to the frames again, defeating the purpose. And hot water doesn’t kill AFB spores.
So it may work, but possibly not. Again, your call for your needs.
I want to purchase used flow Hives. do you have it?
Unless you know how to thoroughly clean and sanitise your equipment, I don’t recommend buying used beekeeping gear. The potential for the spread of disease is too high. So, no, I don’t have used Flow Hives for sale. You would need to find someone in your country that is selling them themselves.
My recommendation would be to by directly from Flow Hive. If cost is the issue, buy langstroth equipment locally, and just buy the flow frames separately. They even have videos showing you how to modify a standard box to fit their frames. That would save you a couple of hundred dollars.
Essay too much trouble. The10 frame Langstroth is still the best and most perfect hive ever made!
I agree, and that’s why these are langstroth hives. The flow frames are just the super. Makes harvesting soooooo much easier than the sticky, messy centrifugal extraction. And luckily, I only have to do this type of clean on the frames every 5 years or so. Much, much easier than a normal honey extraction.
How often are flowhive frames be cleaned?
Only when they are REALLY filthy, or if you have bought used, second hand frames. Generally, end of season, you don’t clean them like this, as the bees would have to do all that hard work over again. However, if your frames look as bad as this one, clean it!
You are not showing how to open the frame.....
That’s because it’s a video on how CLEAN a frame. If you want to see how to pull it to bits, look on my channel, I have already made a video showing that.
You cannot be serious going to all that trouble, and as you say after all that effort it isn't perfect. Just buy some cheap asian auto frames as they come from the same place where the Nimbin gunja boys contract their flow frames from. My time is way more valuable than yours it seems.
The knock-off auto frames are actually subtlety different so they won’t fit in a flow hive box. Also, I don’t believe in supporting people who make knock-offs from other people’s work.
I got these super cheap, second hand. So the time factored into the cleaning still brought them out to be cheaper than buying new.
If you believe you time to be more valuable than mine, more power to you. You obviously have time to waste if you watched my video. 😂
As put a year ago engroupe Kat your innovation has now helped many, and with now over 100,000 units out there should help many many more.
Well done lassy, and may 2023 be all yours whist for!
Shad
That value of your input Glen well matches the rorted product you advocate for, tones of avarice lacking smarts...yes?
FYI
FloHive frames are built in Brisbane Australia, BeeInventive P/L an Australian owned and operated Company.
@@shadmorgan5491thanks Shad.