How has the NeverWet lasted for you?
I tried NeverWet on Brad’s reports on his using it. It is no longer sold thru Bunnings (the Aussie equivalent of Home Depot) It is much more expensive than common ant dust and became ineffective as being a slippery surface after 6 months after applying. A paste made up of Borax, sugar and water and placed on an ant trail in a bee proof trap and using an ant dust will get rid of an ant problem in or about your apiary. It is a repeat application as needed.
Cheers Peter
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Thanks for the update. Did you ever try to reapply? It’s easy to find here in the US, but I’m just not sure if it’s bee safe to reapply. Will try the borax mix until I figure out if it’s safe or not. Thx!
With the NeverWet failing after 6 months from applying I all went into my “failure” box so I reverted back to what I know works. You could reapply as it fails but my thinking is at the cost of it I don’t see using it as an option. A borax, water and sugar paste in a match box almost closed up so that ants can get into the paste but bees can’t enter is a way better way to go with less time used, much cheaper to make the baits and it works, but if you want to give it a try then go for it. For me it is a waste of my time and money. I am not saying it doesn’t work as it does but for not long enough considering the hassles in re-coating to an active hive.
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I’ve been looking for this neverwet, but can’t source it in our little town.
Keen to try.
Good to hear of your opinion @Peter48.
@Webclan I think you need to get them off eBay. I too have tried looking around but only found it on eBay.
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It used to be available at Bunnings but is no longer stocked by them or the other two smaller hardware chains in Australia, probably because of a lack of sales. As @Ericm says I suspect it is available on EBay. I bought is to see if was effective which it was for about 6 months against ants walking over it, but it ‘weathered’ and ants had no issues with walking over it. To recoat would be impossible on an active hive, the two cans I have left went into the ‘failed experiment box’. I am not saying it was a ‘fail’ from applying it, it was effective, but in every other way it didn’t ‘stack up’ against the tried and proven.
As I have said, I have gone back to what has worked for me for 40+ years, it wipes out the issue of ants and has not harmed my bees at all, the makings needed are readily available and the ant dust is ready to use bought from any hardware store or supermarket and at a fraction of the cost.
Cheers Peter
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I wonder if I was to put the hive on cinder blocks and make homemade ant caps then spray the underside which would not be rained on, face wind or sun whether it will last longer than 6mths.
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Tin ant caps are readily available from any hardware store to fit onto cinder blocks for house construction, which might work if sprayed with anything that was slippery, like Silicone or grease. I look forwards to your feed back and results.
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Science IS life!
I’m going to try this myself, just need to sort out a way to confirm the durability concerns Peter talks about.
hi peter have you tried organic ground cinnamon , ive done it for a few months now and its working
It is great on some species of ants, and many swear by it, but is all cinnamon not organic? so you are just paying more the claim that it is ‘more organic’ so to say? I have tried a heap of products and settled on the Ant-Rid baits that are encapsulated in a white bee proof plastic case, I buy them at Coles in 4 to a pak. I also use Hovex ant dust, Coles again, that I sprinkle on ant nest entrances when I find them around my apiaries, others on the forum said that it will kill the bees but in many years of using it I haven’t found that to be the case, I guess because it doesn’t attract bee to come to it at all. Ants are a major issue for me.
Cheers
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Thank you @Peter48! After seeing them in Bunnings for many years and even occasionally wondering what it could be, it never came to my mind to read the label! 
Will buy some next time I am there 
do the tin ant caps work,
They work to some extent but far from a given as a barrier. A spray of silicone on the hive legs is another trick, nothing is a total fix on their own but if you combine a few it certainly helps keep them from getting into the hive. It is a toss up which is worst in my apiary, ants or SHB, but ants are the bigger irritant as well as way out number the SHB.
Cheers.
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The Flow Team just release “ant guards” that go onto the legs of the base. It’s part of the improvements for the Flow Hive 2 plus. I’m not sure if they are going to sell them separately yet. Let’s all ask to encourage them to.
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Ya, they are!!! They already sent me a link. Everything they have added from the FH2+ is available for additions to the Flow Hive 2. Excited. The ant guards are only $25!
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And I was happy they are selling the hive stands! Yes the ant guard is an anticipated purchase.