While standard Flow Frames are engineered specifically to extract liquid honey without removing wax, there are three distinct methods available for harvesting beeswax and honeycomb within the Flow Hive ecosystem. To achieve this, you must bypass the standard Flow Frames and utilize specific configurations or modifications to the hive structure.
Core Insight: You cannot harvest wax directly from standard Flow Frames because they are designed to let bees reuse the wax. To harvest honeycomb or wax, you must use a Hybrid Super, add a dedicated standard box with foundationless frames, or utilize the roof cavity for small-scale comb building.
Understanding the Standard Flow Limitation
The Mechanics of Flow Frames
It is vital to understand that the classic Flow Frame mechanism is designed exclusively for liquid honey.
Why Wax is Retained
When you activate the Flow Key, the cells split vertically. This breaks the wax capping but does not remove it. The honey drains out, and the bees immediately repair the wax and refill the cells.
The Efficiency Benefit
Because the wax remains in the hive, bees do not need to rebuild the comb after every harvest. This significantly increases honey production speed, as the colony's energy is focused on foraging rather than construction.
Option 1: The Hybrid Super Model
Mixing Extraction Methods
The most integrated solution is the Flow Hive Hybrid. This model is configured to hold a mix of frames within a single super.
How it Works
The super contains several Flow Frames for easy liquid extraction, alongside traditional timber frames.
Best of Both Worlds
On the timber frames, bees build natural comb. You can remove these frames manually to cut out honeycomb or harvest beeswax, while still enjoying the "on-tap" convenience from the adjacent Flow Frames.
Option 2: Adding a Traditional Super
Expanding the Hive
If you own a standard Flow Hive model, you can simply add an extra box (super) to the stack.
Using Foundationless Frames
Place this new box above your existing Flow Super. Fill it with foundationless frames.
Direct Cutting
The bees will draw out natural comb in this upper box. Once filled and capped, you can remove these frames and cut the honeycomb directly from the wood for harvest.
Option 3: The Roof Cavity Method
Utilizing the Inner Cover
For smaller harvests, you do not need an entirely new box. Locate the plug in the inner cover (the board between the top box and the roof).
Creating a Comb Zone
Remove the plug and place a small container inside the roof cavity.
Spontaneous Building
Bees will move up through the hole and build comb inside the container. This is excellent for harvesting small chunks of pristine honeycomb for eating.
Understanding the Trade-offs
The Energy Cost of Wax
Harvesting wax comes at a significant metabolic cost to the colony. Bees consume approximately 7kg of honey to produce just 1kg of wax.
Impact on Yield
If you choose to harvest wax (using the methods above), you should expect a lower total honey yield compared to a pure Flow Frame setup, as bees must consume resources to rebuild the comb you removed.
Increased Labor
Standard Flow Frames require no heavy lifting. However, harvesting wax via the Hybrid or Traditional Super methods requires you to open the hive, smoke the bees, and manually remove frames, reintroducing traditional beekeeping labor.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
To select the best method, assess your priorities regarding volume versus variety.
- If your primary focus is maximum liquid honey: Stick to standard Flow Frames, as the bees reuse the wax, saving energy and increasing production speed.
- If your primary focus is versatility (honey and wax): Use the Hybrid Super to harvest both products from a single box without significantly increasing the hive's height.
- If your primary focus is occasional honeycomb treats: Use the Roof Cavity method to harvest small amounts of comb without buying extra equipment.
With the right configuration, a Flow Hive can successfully provide both clear liquid honey and natural beeswax.
Summary Table:
| Method | Primary Equipment | Labor Level | Wax Yield | Honey Production Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Super | Mixed Flow & Timber Frames | Moderate | Medium | Minor reduction |
| Traditional Super | Foundationless Frames | High | High | Significant reduction |
| Roof Cavity | Inner Cover Plug | Low | Minimal | Very low impact |
| Standard Flow | Classic Flow Frames | Low | None | Maximum yield |
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