Paint smell in new hives

[Patricia H]

I have brand new hives that I have painted on the exterior a fiberglass resin. I expect to receive 2 nucs this next week and I'm worried about the smell repelling the bees. The resin has dried and cured but I can still detect an odor when I bring the boxes indoors. Would putting some Lemongrass oil inside help? These are brand new never used hives. I don't want to transfer the frames from the nucs to inside the hives and have them all abscond because of the smell. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Vance G]

I would set them outside exposed to the sun or rain for that week if it were me with no cover at all.  Put the frames in a cardboard box and keep them out of the weather.   

[danno]

Humans can smell things in a few parts per million
Dogs can smell things in a few parts per billion
Honey bee's can smell in a few parts per trillion
They will be able to smell your epoxy on a warm day years from now.  As long as you didn't paint the inside you will be fine especially since you bought nucs and and they will have brood to take care of.   

[Santa Caras]

lemongrass oil could help. If you have some bees wax....try melting it and painting the inside of the hive with the wax.

[danno]

Dont put lemon grass in it.  All that would do is attract other colonies to the front door of your small nuc's.   Just air them out and stop worrying

[Intheswamp]

If a colony of bees can *by choice* take up residence in old automobile gas tanks I think you'll be fine.  I've read of several occasions where new home construction was halted because bees moved into a new cavity created during construction...all of that new wood, glue, insulation, wiring, etc., smell and they found it "homey". ;)

Like others have said, leave the lemongrass oil off and get the equipment outside in the sun and rain, that will do wonders.  

Excited yet?  :)

Best wishes,
Ed