Painting the new hive

GerryL · March 25, 2007, 06:09:46 PM

I just got my Hive together (my one and only first hive. ) I am about to paint it. Do I paint the Bottom board, entrance reducer and the aluminium telescoping cover as well as the hive bodies?
Thanks for your knowledge.

Kathyp · March 25, 2007, 06:13:26 PM

i painted everything that was exposed to the weather. i did not paint the inside, or the frames or the inside of the cover. everything outside and the bottom board got it.

Kirk-o · March 25, 2007, 06:15:22 PM

kathyp has good advice kirk-o

Michael Bush · March 25, 2007, 06:24:52 PM

Or don't paint:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#stoppainting

Or wax dip:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesdipping.htm

Or just paint the parts that are exposed...

TwT · March 25, 2007, 09:26:34 PM

BB and tops I paint both sides (all) , hive bodies I paint just outside plus the top and bottom edges, I do not paint inter covers or anything that goes inside the hive, I also don't paint entrance reducers but I don't see were that would hurt anything

Sean Kelly · March 26, 2007, 01:50:22 AM

When I paint my hive, do I need to use special "bee hive" paint like they offer at Mann Lake or is it okay to just use something from home depot?

<>< Sean Kelly

Brian D. Bray · March 26, 2007, 01:54:58 AM

If you have left over paint laying around use that. As long as you don't use real dark colors like black or purple you should be ok.

Sean Kelly · March 26, 2007, 02:26:05 AM

Quote from: Brian D. Bray on March 26, 2007, 01:54:58 AM
If you have left over paint laying around use that. As long as you don't use real dark colors like black or purple you should be ok.

I have lots of white indoor house paint from last summer. Should be okay then? Why not dark colors, can the bees not find their home when returning? If we can use plain ol paint, then why do they sell special bee paint? Is it any better or are they just trying to trick the new guys out of our hard earned money thinkin we actually need it? :-)

<>< Sean Kelly

Brian D. Bray · March 26, 2007, 02:48:12 AM

Dark colors draw the heat. If not properly ventilated the hive can get too hot and you'll have bees bearding on the outside of the hive in an effort to retulate the internal temperature instead of working.

annette · March 26, 2007, 02:57:21 AM

Welcome to beekeeping. I started my first hive ever last april 2006. I have learned so much already and you have come to the right place for advice. Good Luck

I use regular outside paint. latex paint white color to reflect the heat away from the hive. They get really hot in the summer so you want to use a lighter color. Two coates will be fine. Paint just outside the boxes. Never inside. Do not paint anything the bees will come into contact with. So the cover should be painted on top only. do not paint the entrance reducer, do not paint the bottom board inside.

Let us know how you do with the hive

Sean Kelly · March 26, 2007, 03:28:47 AM

Annette,
Thanks for the info! I'll definately use that house paint I have. I'm on a tight budget and that will really help. I was wondering about the entrance reducer, glad you told me not to paint it. I'm really excited about this new hobby. Have been fasincated in beekeeping for a long while now and cant wait to get started!

Brian,
Makes sense about dark colors. I wanted my hives white anyway cause it looks nice.

Way cool guys, you rock! Thanks for the help!!!

<>< Sean Kelly

Michael Bush · March 26, 2007, 08:57:46 AM

>I have lots of white indoor house paint from last summer.

No. Exterior. Try the paint store, they often have mis-tints they will sell very cheap.

Devbee · March 26, 2007, 10:05:29 AM

I am also getting my first hive this year--it is coming in less than 2 weeks!

I decided to use a kind of wood stain (I think it's called Timber oil) on my supers because the pine wood looks so good that I didn't want to spoil it.

Here is what it looks like:

I put them outside just yesterday to make sure the sun and weather eliminate any fumes. So that is another option to think about. Good luck! I am excited to be a new beekeeper, too.

Zoot · March 26, 2007, 10:40:59 AM

Sean,

Advertising "Special bee paint" is simply part of the effort to cover as many products as possible under the umbrella of propriatry. Lots of industries do it. I painted my hives last summer but see no need to do it this year or ever again. As long as the hives are in a well ventilated, well drained location they should last indefinitely. I have worked on old houses in England (13th, 14th century) where various exterior wood elements have endured for hundreds of years by virtue of being shielded from standing water. Of course it helps to use good quality wood (heart wood, salvaged old growth material, cedar, etc) as a lot of commercially available wood is fast growing, poor quality, literally sponge-like.

There's even a good argument that by using poor wood and a film sealant type paint (all latexes) you can actually hasten - if there is a lot of moisture present - the deterioration of your wood by trapping the moisture inside the film.

Sean Kelly · March 26, 2007, 12:13:46 PM

Quote from: Zoot on March 26, 2007, 10:40:59 AM
Sean,

Advertising "Special bee paint" is simply part of the effort to cover as many products as possible under the umbrella of propriatry. Lots of industries do it. I painted my hives last summer but see no need to do it this year or ever again. As long as the hives are in a well ventilated, well drained location they should last indefinitely. I have worked on old houses in England (13th, 14th century) where various exterior wood elements have endured for hundreds of years by virtue of being shielded from standing water. Of course it helps to use good quality wood (heart wood, salvaged old growth material, cedar, etc) as a lot of commercially available wood is fast growing, poor quality, literally sponge-like.

There's even a good argument that by using poor wood and a film sealant type paint (all latexes) you can actually hasten - if there is a lot of moisture present - the deterioration of your wood by trapping the moisture inside the film.

Yeah, I live in the Seattle area. It rains alot here. If you don't paint wood in western washington, it'll rot. I like the stain idea like Devbee did! Looks really nice. If I don't figure out where I'm going to buy my bees after April, I'm wont keep any this year anyway. Unless I do mail order... but that's in another post. :-)

<>< Sean

Zoot · March 26, 2007, 02:24:52 PM

Yes, Devbee's boxes are beautiful. I may actually try a stain on a couple of mine just for the heck of it, Sikkens Cetol 1,2 &3. I used it on the exterior cedar of my home and have some left over. I would never buy it for hives alone due to it's expense but it's weathering properties are unmatched. I know that living where you are poses challenges to any sort of exterior wood treatment. Good luck!