Propolis stain

[Davepeg]

I am receiving a new top bar hive tomorrow and in the past we have always used white paint to coat the hives.  But I have heard about using a stain made from propolis and alcohol that works really well.
Has anyone tried this method?

Peggy

[BMAC]

no but I can see how this would work really well considering proprolis isnt bothered by water. 

[dlmarti]

Does proprolis dissolve in alcohol well enough to make a stain out of it?

[BMAC]

Does proprolis dissolve in alcohol well enough to make a stain out of it?

I would think so, you need to use 90% pure alcohol.  That's how I made my propolis tincture.  However once the alcohol evaps off the propolis is still sticky.... 

I personally would not use propolis in a stain for the hive, but rather dip the entire hive with the wax stuff they sell at Mann Lake.

[trixyb]

I know a beekeeper that mixed propolis and acetone to make a stain.  He did the inside of his supers and his frames.  He claimed the bees were drawn to the smell and found the new equipment more inviting.

[ooptec]

Hey,

I made a not bad finish dissolving some propolis and beeswax in turpentine.

Soaked into wood well and dried hard

cheers

peter