Paint inside the hive

[WP4FL]

Hello everybody, just a newbie question.
  I read that one should not paint the interior of hives, the problem is that I read it after painting my whole hive with exterior paint.

     My question: Could this cause a problem to the health of the hive?  

                              Thanks in advance.

[bassman1977]

When the hive heats up you (and your bees) could expect fumes.  Could cause the hive to abscond or kill them, depending on the chemical composition of the paint.

[Apis629]

I heard that the greater danger is that the paint would trap moisutre causeing a premature rot in the wood.  One thing that you could try if you haven't installed the bees yet is to sand out most of the dry paint.  Did you use a water base, oil base, or latex base paint?

[Finsky]

No idea to paint inside. It is easy to clean inside walls with flame. It need mere wood.

[Colorado Beekeeper]

well then I won't paint mine! :D

[Michael Bush]

I wouldn't paint it.  But if I had some that were recently painted, (assuming no lead in the paint)  I'd let them air out well and use them.

[Finsky]

When you clean inside wall with gas flame, resin and wax goes into wood. It gives protection what wood needs.

[WP4FL]

Did you use a water base, oil base, or latex base paint?

          Latex Paint.

   Thanks guys for all your help, but I already have that hive working right now, so I realy do not know what to do.

                    Thanks.

[Michael Bush]

>I really don't know what to do.

Leave them alone.  :)  They'll do fine.

[Finsky]

so I realy do not know what to do.

Paint faintly outside with latex. It is idea that moisture from walls goes out.
Do nothing to inner walls.

I painted my wooden boxes 40 years ago. There is still same latex on outer walls.

[latebee]

Paint technology has come a long way in the past decade. I prefer some of the newer breathable stain-sealants on the market. On the other hand I have heard of some beekeepers dipping thier entire hive bodies in HOT parrafin to kill pathogens and also to preserve the wood. Recently acquired some  hive bodies that are at least 75 years old and still going strong with what appears to be minimal care! From past  experience over a few years I would definitely advise AGAINST oil based paints as they really do trap moisture in the wood and lead to premature failure of the hive body. But due to climate differences and temp extremes in your area-do as the romans do and follow the succesful beekeepers in your region. I think you will find that they paint the out side only,with whatever they prefer.

[asleitch]

Use an open mesh floor and you'll ahve no problems. The open mesh stops any condensation forming.

Adam