Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: paus on August 18, 2017, 06:47:58 PM

Title: painting occupied hives
Post by: paus on August 18, 2017, 06:47:58 PM
I want my wife to be gone when any painting is done around my place, for obvious reasons.  I want to paint some occupied hives.   May I open this can of (paint) worms.  I never heard of this and I can think of lots of scenarios  But I have no experience on which to make a decision.   
Title: Re: painting occupied hives
Post by: eltalia on August 18, 2017, 10:09:44 PM
Having done stenciling because I had to at that time I have
never tested applying much more than that limited amount
of acrylic paint. I could only suggest trying the idea on a
small nucleus... let us know how that goes?

Cheers.

Bill
Title: Re: painting occupied hives
Post by: Joe D on August 19, 2017, 12:31:02 AM
Over here it is hot, would figure it is in Texas to, you have bearding and bees here and there over the outside of the hives.  They would get paint on them which I can't think it would be good, and they may not like you painting their hive with them in it and get after you.  Do you
have boxes you can change out and then paint the hives with them empty.  I bought some hives one time that some of the brood boxes were bad I built some new one and replaced the bad boxes before moving.

Good luck, with whatever you decide,

Joe D
Title: Re: painting occupied hives
Post by: M3RLIN on August 19, 2017, 05:36:34 AM
You can do it with spray paint as long as wind not blowing into entrance. It's redneck and not good practice but it works. Also your supers will join together with paint and tear when you unstick them.
Title: Re: painting occupied hives
Post by: little john on August 19, 2017, 05:37:07 AM
Quote from: paus on August 18, 2017, 06:47:58 PM
I want my wife to be gone when any painting is done around my place, for obvious reasons.
Are you thinking that she'll then draw up a list of other stuff that needs a coat of paint ?  :smile:
FWIW, I only ever paint during a swap-out - that way the box can be checked over at the same time, propolis build-up removed and so forth.  And - if any hairline cracks have developed, then these can be treated with waterproof glue.

Painting during a swap-out also enables the box edges to be painted - not everyone does this of course - but if you do, then rub some beeswax onto the edges when it comes time to replace the box - this will stop the edges sticking together.
LJ

Title: Re: painting occupied hives
Post by: M3RLIN on August 19, 2017, 05:37:27 AM
*quik dry spraypaint
Title: Re: painting occupied hives
Post by: Acebird on August 19, 2017, 10:14:20 AM
I would not do it.  Paint is toxic until fully cured.
Title: Re: painting occupied hives
Post by: tycrnp on August 19, 2017, 08:32:05 PM
I wouldn't do it either.
Title: Re: painting occupied hives
Post by: little john on August 20, 2017, 05:35:28 AM
My bees appear to love paint:

(http://thumbsnap.com/t/P1IhFnTd.jpg) (http://thumbsnap.com/P1IhFnTd)

(http://thumbsnap.com/t/KyUfYsc8.jpg) (http://thumbsnap.com/KyUfYsc8)

[click the above images to enlarge - this is a new image host I'm trying-out]

This young lady found a nice chewy bit of xylene-based latex paint to take back home as an alternative to tree gum.  Must have been re-decorating, I guess.
LJ