Well after a year I finally received my flow hive and just in time as we have had 2 swarms this week. I was excited but ultimately disappointed as others in the quality and how they aligned with expectations. I am an engineer, and product designer, and woodworker and a person that appreciates innovation. I will let the photos and commentary speak to my feelings and hope that it will spur improvement. Based on the response I have already received Flow is more than willing to take care of things, but I have already incurred the cost of assembly and inconvenience to get something I needed done. In any case, the process and pictures.
Since I cannot attach more than 1 picture, I have posted them to a new blog I started ( so I could post them).
All in all its just problem after problem. With paying good money I expect a well manufactured product that matches the innovation of the flow frames.
With wind, winter and pests, I need things to be pretty tight. I will likely implement a roof latch as I usually put a cinder block on the roof to keep the Langstroth caps from flying off.
I thought finger joint boxes were one of the most simple to implement but looks like I was wrong. Fasteners need to be wood fasteners. Roof needs an strong interlock or more fasteners and pilot holes need better registration and through-panel poke 100%. Removable windows need more draft and guide in or remove the finger joints on that feature completely.
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Mike
