What to use for wood treatment?

Jens the Beekeeper

What do you all use to naturally treat your wood you use for your projects?

I just treated a bought observation hive as it will be sitting outside some time in all weather.

I used linseed oil for this as it is natural and not harmful to the bees.

water2world

@Jens the Beekeeper linseed oil, I think, is the best choice. I used it on a wooden bar in the kitchen.

I am curious about the observation hive. Can you tell me more about that?

Jens the Beekeeper

@water2world

Basically it is a three frame nuc.

That's a picture of the inside wit one door open and the below is the outside after treatment.

You can open both sides and there is an acrylic Glas so no bees can escape. You can look for the bees, brood and queen. It needs a lot of taking care as you need to remove to much brood and add some food but you can take them with you when going to kindergarten or school classes for education work.

water2world

@Jens the Beekeeper Thanks so much for explaining this! My son has bees, but I would love to be able to sit and watch! (I'm like a kindergartener! lol)

mart85

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvhvR8KwWhw

This method has caught my attention, I have not tried it but thought I would share it here. I found a youtuber in Canada who used this method in building his basement.

mart85

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osnzI-bBiCw

LaurieLovesLearning

@mart85 That way of finishing wood very much appeals to me. I have some relatives that have done this on the wood of some of their handmade clocks.

mart85

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/924012#Comment_924012

I have not done it myself, but it does make sense to me as well.

vickeym

@mart85 & @LaurieLovesLearning We have also been studying this style of wood preservation. I have always liked the wood burned look and this just speaks to me.

Torey

I will be using this method next time we have to replace the wood on our garden beds.

I've seen this done for fire protection as well. Burnt exterior wood siding will not catch and burn like painted or stained wood siding.

Some of the pine wall boards in my house have been lightly burned for esthetic effect. Really brings out the grain of the wood.

LaurieLovesLearning

I didn't realize that it would help with fire protection.

So, it has a nice esthetic in the right project (maybe a house would get looking overly black), it's good against water, fire, lasts indefinitely & needs little to no maintenance if done well.

What's not to like?