Hi everyone,
I would like to introduce myself to this fantastic forum. I have just started my exciting journey of bee keeping with my flow hive located in the suburbs. I have just finished building the hive and have coated it with Tung oil from the advice from the various replies on the forum which was very helpful. I have bought my suit and all the bits and pieces and I am now waiting patiently for the bees to arrive. My new found friends should arrive in late September/early October. I have also signed up to attend the Introductory to responsible bee keeping course with the WA Apiarist Society which I am really looking forward to. So it is going to be a busy time, so much to learn and plenty of topics on the forum to read.
One question I do have, what is the best and easiest way to engrave the hive registration onto the brood and super boxes and is there any specific location that the engraving should be. Thanks
Welcome to the forum Steve, lots of nice folk here happy to pass on advice. You can have a branding iron made to âburnâ your registration number into your hive but I have a stencil and spray paint in on, Not as safe(anti theft) as it can be painted out but it works for me in my location. Ozito also make an electric gouging chisel that would be ideal for a permanent âengravingâ. My âbrandsâ are on the center front of the hives but your DPI should have their requirements on their WWW site. Iâm sure the WA bee keepers can nail it for you.
Good on you for doing any course that is available, you are heading into an exciting hobby/interest and the more you can learn the better.
Did anyone warn you bee keeping is VERY addictive?
Cheers
Thanks Peter and yes I have notice that the addiction has already started. Reading the various topics on the forum helps 
Regards Steve
Welcome and enjoy your journey.
In WA the legislation says the hive brand must be etched. A branding iron is handy but over kill for a hive or two, IMHO. I use a dremel to do my brands on my hives. It must be etched on each super so both the brood and flow frame super. It doesnât really matter where.
Adam
Great idea Adam and I actually have a Dremel which I use once in the blue moon. Tomorrow will be that day.
Regards Steve
Hi Adam I cannot recall coming across the brand etching requirement when I registered mine. Is this something new? Also do they say anything about size? I think in some states the brand has to be visible from a certain distance.
I used a Sharpie Bold Oil Based Paint Pen for mine. In a backyard setting, does it really matter as long as they are registered? I generally like to be within the regulations.
Affixing brand
The brand may be burnt in, stamped, carved or scored, so that
the brand is distinctly impressed below the level of the surface
branded
Obviously I was not proactive enough to find out the full requirements. Did you receive a copy of that skeggley because all I got was this:
I am officially a criminal now.
I reckon it might be on the next page because the etching is contained in Reg 203. Easily rectified over time.
@skeggley that legislation has been repealed and is now incorporated in the Biosecurity legislation and subsidiary regulations. https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a146629.html
The identification of hives is in this one https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_s43884.html (Reg 203 specifically). Still the same requirement:
203.Identifying hives
(1)A registered identifier applied to a hive must â
(a)be burnt in, stamped, carved or scored, so that it is distinctly impressed below the level of the surface of one exterior surface of â
(i)each brood box of the hive; and
(ii)each honey super of the hive;
and
(b)meet the requirements of subregulation (2).
(2)Each letter and numeral forming part of a registered identifier for hives must be not less than 12 mm in height, set in alignment but not conjoined.
(3)A beekeeper must apply the beekeeperâs registered identifier to a hive within 7 days of taking possession of the hive.
I know Stan Taylor makes two brand sizes the larger one just the supers and the smaller can also be used to brand frame top bars too.
Look forward to seeing your effort with the dremel
Thanks Adam. There was no next page in the paperwork I received.
I donât have a Dremel tool⌠another beekeeping expense.
Stan sells his brands for around $60-70 from memory.
Iâm sure there are other options people use too. Depending on your letters and numbers you maybe able to use something as a punch.
Adam
Just a thought, I wonder how an electric soldering iron would go, burning the brand into the boxes. They are fairly cheap to buy.
Also I will let you know how the Dremel goes, it is one of those tools that I donât use much but when required it is brilliant.
Steve
Yes, it is called pyrography. There are irons specific for that task but a standard soldering iron that has a high temperature setting something like 100W I think can be used. A pointy tip is better.
Iâm sure a soldering iron would work for a few.
This is one of my dremel ones on a 2f nuc
[quote=âSteve61, post:12, topic:27291, full:trueâ]
Just a thought, I wonder how an electric soldering iron would go, burning the brand into the boxes. They are fairly cheap to buy.
Also I will let you know how the Dremel goes, it is one of those tools that I donât use much but when required it is brilliant.
Steve
[/quote]
Using a soldering iron would work but it will be slow doing it. Bunnings stock an Ozito brand of an electric gouging chisel with a range of gouge widths, sorry, no idea of the price, but a guy at the Menâs Shed has one for his wood working sculpturing objects and he is very fast, food for thought if you have an on going need for something like that.
Cheers
That is correct. I used a small soldering iron with a cnc brass stamp, it doesnât heat up hot enough. I instead torch the stamp and burn my wood accordingly.
Hi Steve you are welcome in this group. This group is very much dynamic and full of knowledge that knowledge is just not book but full of practical. Once again warm welcome and enjoyđ
Thank you Mahendra, looking forward to the journey, there is so much to learn.
Steve