Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Rodni73 on March 02, 2008, 11:50:28 PM

Title: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Rodni73 on March 02, 2008, 11:50:28 PM

When I get the hives what collor should I paint them? What kind of paint to use to protect the wood from the element?

I think white would be neat and nice but most of the people in my town with hives in their yard paint their's dark green or dark color.  I hate painting by hand can I use spray paint? or does it have to be a certain paint.

Thank u


Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Bigeddie on March 03, 2008, 12:11:09 AM
White is fine,but other colors will do as well. I'm a painting contractor so I would suggest 2 coats of 100% acrylic solid stain or 1 coat of latex extreior primer and 1coat of acrylic latex. I would use a brush and roller(cheap ones for you, throw away) unless you already have some type of spray equipment. I would not use spray cans if thats whet you were thinking. All paint should be exterior, by all means if you dont want to do it again any time soon.

good luck

Eddie
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Brian D. Bray on March 03, 2008, 12:38:20 AM
Quote from: Rodni73 on March 02, 2008, 11:50:28 PM

When I get the hives what collor should I paint them? What kind of paint to use to protect the wood from the element?

White is standard, I currently use School Bus Yellow and John Deere Green.  My daughter's hive is stained redwood.

QuoteI think white would be neat and nice but most of the people in my town with hives in their yard paint their's dark green or dark color.  I hate painting by hand can I use spray paint? or does it have to be a certain paint.

Thank u


The darker the color the more heat will be retained.  In some area's that can be a killer.  I use a compressor and brad nailer for building the equipment and a spayer for painting.
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: beekeeperookie on March 03, 2008, 07:47:23 AM
i use whatever on the discount counter at Home depot. 
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: bassman1977 on March 03, 2008, 08:23:53 AM
I use whatever I have left over from the house.  I have white, goldenrod yellow, shrimp, stratisphere blue, and some green color so far.    :-P
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Michael Bush on March 03, 2008, 08:40:14 AM
If I was buying the paint for the hives, I'd buy white.  But I never do buy paint.  I use what's laying around or buy off tints.  Or better yet, I don't paint them at all

http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#stoppainting

or even better, I dip them.  :)

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesdipping.htm

Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Mklangelo on March 03, 2008, 09:38:30 AM
Quote from: bassman1977 on March 03, 2008, 08:23:53 AM
I use whatever I have left over from the house.  I have white, goldenrod yellow, shrimp, stratisphere blue, and some green color so far.    :-P

Blue and white sounds nice. 
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: bassman1977 on March 03, 2008, 01:22:32 PM
QuoteBlue and white sounds nice. 

It is, but looks grey from a distance.  My personal favorite is the shrimp.   :)
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Kathyp on March 03, 2008, 01:44:35 PM
i buy latex oops paint from home depot or wherever and slap it on outside with a big brush.  the paint is 5 bucks a gallon and the colour is often a surprise.  keeps life interesting  :-)
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: steveouk on March 03, 2008, 11:21:10 PM
I have painted mine white and then the wife as painted logos onto them for each of our kids
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/2207397839_b9d3d6a0f5.jpg)
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Rodni73 on March 03, 2008, 11:51:13 PM
Very nice in deed!
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Rodni73 on March 03, 2008, 11:57:02 PM
I will be getting my hives and packaged bees at the same time! Can I hive the bees and paint the deeps while the bees are in (I know stupid question from a newb) or wait a day or two and paint the deeps 2 layers as sujested and let them dry then hive the bees?
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Cindi on March 04, 2008, 12:34:37 AM
Steve, you got some pretty cool looking hives for the childrens' point of view, very nice.  Have a wonderful and beautifully awesome day.  Cindi
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Carriage House Farm on March 04, 2008, 01:12:42 AM
Here are mine...waiting for bees.  I started working on everything back in October.
(http://gallery.mac.com/thesw0rdofroland/100046/IMG_1759/web.jpg)

Get your hives AND frames built before you get your bees.
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: beekeeperookie on March 04, 2008, 09:02:02 AM
I like those colors reminds me of spring and easter  :-D
Title: Re: Painting the hives questions!
Post by: Cindi on March 04, 2008, 09:33:16 AM
Richard, ooooh yes, I clearly remember seeing the beautiful pictures of the beautiful colour of your hives, they look so nice.  Mine all started out very clean and white last year, newly painted and beautiful. But remember, it doesn't take long for them to look tainted from those ding dang bees, hee, hee.

I have some lime green paint one of my foster boys painted his room left over.  I am going to paint the swarm boxes that I am going to hang in the trees this colour of green.  I am thinking that the bees will like the colour, it will attract the bees, just like how the trees change their colour to attract swarms for JP, hee, hee.  Now that is another story in itself, hee, hee.

I love that shade of green, it is happy, happy, and reminds me of Granny Smith apples that make me happy, happy.  Have a happy and wonderfully more happy day, happy......such a good word!!!!!  Cindi