Should I use glue on my woodenware? (Please say "No.")

[beee farmer]

the few seconds and few cents it takes to squirt some waterproof glue in the joints its a fantastic investement returning many fold in the long run.... I promice.

[TwoHoneys]

With glue and paint, repainting regularly, 20 t0 30 years.

Without glue, but with paint, 10 to 20 years.

Without glue or paint, 1 to 4 years.

It's your choice.

Iddee, you left off the one I'm most interested in! What's the prediction on glue but no paint? If it's 10 to 20 years, I'm going with it.

And, someone please tell me about applying this boiled linseed oil/beeswax combination...I think I like the look (and the smell) of it. But is it more or less work than paint?

[BjornBee]

How many boxes we talking about?

Been discussing this for two days, in some attempt to "save" some time. I could of had the boxes glued AND painted by now.  :-D

If you have no time for paint, I think you should skip the discussion on linseed and beeswax.

At this point, time is a factor and money is not, or at least it has not been mentioned. And there seems to be no concern with protecting any "investment". So perhaps next time, you should flip the priorities, and order boxes already dipped or painted, thus saving the time used in evaluate all the other time consuming factors.

I bet factoring the hours of discussion, then the actual time used in applying whatever it is you decide, will be way more costly in both time and money, as compared to just buying the boxes already glued, painted, dipped, or anything else this discussion may bring forth.

Me....I have lots of time over winter. So time is not the issue. But I hate to spend money on something I can do myself. So I buy cheap, do the work myself, and have money to spend elsewhere on more important things.

[iddee]

No paint is the killer. I had to use a bottom board this year that had been stapled and glued, but not painted. The first rain made it swell until it pulled the staples and opened cracks large enough for the bees to use as entrances.

[beek4018]

Would glue in the future, but don't stress about those you didn't do.  Some will break or fall apart regardless, and you'll have to rebuild anyways.

Keep an ye on the glued vs. unglued an make your own assesment over time about the value/importance of using glue.

I'm new at this, but it seems that building, and fixing are all part of the fun and regular work involved in beekeeping.

[Atomic]

"Not that there is anything wrong with that"

Anyone want to guess the tv show that is from.

On a scale of 1 to 10, that is a one, which is as easy as it gets.

It's from Cheers.  "You mean that time we were with those two stewardesses in the closet..."

I plan to glue and paint or apply some sort of sealer.

[tecumseh]

an Iddee snip..
'No paint is the killer.'

tecumseh:
and the more moisture you might expect at your location the faster the killin' gets done.

might I suggest you consider dipping (cold or hot) the hive bodies.  this give them a fairly natural look.

[AllenF]

I think white paint gives bee hives a more natural look.    :-D

[BjornBee]

"Not that there is anything wrong with that"

Anyone want to guess the tv show that is from.

On a scale of 1 to 10, that is a one, which is as easy as it gets.

It's from Cheers.  "You mean that time we were with those two stewardesses in the closet..."

I plan to glue and paint or apply some sort of sealer.

Seinfeld....... ;)

[winginit]

Bjorn you are the master of your game.  :-D

Soup anyone?