Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

I downloaded beehive plans from beeSource.com and they say to paint inside and outside of hive with at least two coat,s of paint,except for frames.I used latex exterior water based paint to try and avoid using anything toxic.I am thinking it would be alright to use enamel on the outside.So any ideas or thoughts will be appreciated.
Carl

I never paint the interior of the hive. There just is not need of it IMO. The bees seal it for themselves.

Don't bother with the inside.  Primer and two coat the outside for longevity.  Enamel if you want but miss-colored latex paint at the home store is as good quality as anything else and MUCH cheaper.

p.s- water based paint has as plenty of chemicals in it too. 

That's what you get for going to beesource.

NO, you don't paint the inside. Outside only. Bees will totally seal the inside with propolis.

 :-D

Quote from: iddee on February 19, 2012, 05:06:28 PM
That's what you get for going to beesource.

NO, you don't paint the inside. Outside only. Bees will totally seal the inside with propolis.

            Id have to agree this is the site for knowledge and practicality in my opinion very knowledgeable and helping senior  beekeepers

No need to paint the interior, the bees will eventually cover the interior surface with propolis.  However if you've already painted it with latex, I wouldn't worry about it.  The bees will eventually seal that over with propolis too.   

As for the exterior, I have used both and don't see a big difference in my climate.  However the latex brand I was using is very sticky ...I guess the technical term is "blocking".  This can result in latex gluing boxes together if you paint the mating surfaces.  In that regards, enamel is better IMO.

And with painting the outside of your hives, always remember that most any exterior paint will work and free paint is better.

I never paint the inside.  I seldom paint the outside...

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

Enamel makes a perfect vapor barrier.  I think I would use an oil base for the exterior until you save enough wax to dip them

If you use cyprus or ceder wood there is no need to paint the hives.

I use cypress for my home-built and throw on one coat of exterior stain on the outer surface only.

outside only.  oops paint from Home Depot or the like.  Portland has a paint recycling station and i can get latex paint in 5 gallon buckets pretty cheep. 

if you really want to protect your investment in your woodenware paint it. all wood, even cyprus & cedar will last longer when properly painted. the cyprus that is available today will not last as long as the old growth lumber milled in the 18th & early 19th century. i've reworked 75-150 year old cyprus doors & windows that were still sound because they were properly maintained & painted. i milled the components for a victorian style porch in the 70's using the best 1/4 sawn cyprus heartwood available. the owner let the paint deteriate & that porch is now falling apart. the original porch that we duplicated was old growth cyprus & lasted over 100 years. if it's paint been maintained it would still be there. i also had some blocks of cyprus that were leftovers from a job that were stored outside uncovered. they were stacked on cribbing with no ground contact. in 3 years they were rotting. they had been primed with latex. a lot of lumber, like a lot of other things these days is not up to the task. i would use an oil base primer. for the finish coat oil base or exterior latex will do. there are some high quality exterior latex paints available these days. go to a paint supply & ask what they have on the screw-up shelf. suppliers will sell botched color jobs or never picked up paint for a fraction. i bought sherwin williams best $40.00 per gallon paint last year for $3.00 per gallon. one thing that i do do on the inside of hive bodies is caulk the inside corners shut to deny hive beetles a place to hide. i also run a bead of silicone under metal frame spacers when i install them & wipe off any excees afterwards so that hive beetles cannot hide under them.

Thank you everyone lots of info and i do appreciate all replays.And i have a couple friends that have painting business and they keep me supplied with all the hi quality paint that i can use.Now i have to close and build second hive.

Kathyp  Is that paint from the Portland recycle station called Metro paint?  I saw some Metro recycled paint from Miller Paint and was wondering if it would be any good for painting beehives.  I wouldn't mind hearing your experience with it.  Some people claim it puts off a lot of fumes do to lots of paints mixing.  How long have you been using it and what do you find.  Hopefully it is the same paint.

I have started using ecowoodtreatment.com It is easy to apply and is made from naturally occurring plant substances (not that they can't be harmful under some circumstances. Gardeners supply carries it but so does Sherman Williams. If your local store doesn't have it ask them to call Eco Wood for the inventory # it is in Sherman Williams system. I use a garden sprayer and spray it on the boxes hives takes about 60 seconds a box. I also use it on my raised beds. It gives the wood a silver/grey patina that I like so much I am probably going to use it on my log cabin that I am building. According to the manufacturer wood shows no or very little deterioration after 60 years in ground contact.  
I have to disagree with those who say not to paint or treat at all. I use pine for everything from my cabin to my garden and out buildings. Pine today will deteriorate pretty quickly (3 yrs) if left unfinished.  

it is metro paint.  sometimes it smells stronger than other times.  depends on the brands mixed.  i use it all the time.  i have even used it in the house. never had a problem with it.  i buy the latex in the 5 gallon buckets and use it on whatever....i get it right from the center down on swan island.