Hi,

Hoping to get some advice to carry out basic repairs to an old hive. My mate has had one in his orchard for years, and we're looking to press it into service. He put a new metal roof on it a couple years back, so the wood and all the frames are still sound.

However I'm not sure what to varnish the outside of the hive with, or if it matters what we use? The internal frames are in various states of repair, some need some wire replacing but that seems straight forward. But we discussed possibly bathing the wood in linseed oil, but I guess that might effect the honey. Are internal frames treated with anything?

Got the thing clean, sanded and ready at least.