field bee

[chocho_h]

Hello, could anybody tell me how can i impregn..
my beehives. With what?

[power napper]

Hello chocho-h
Are you asking what to use to lure a swarm to you hive?

[chocho_h]

No, with what can i "paint" my hives

my english is not good, i'm sorry

[stonybrook]

Hi Chocho,

You can go to any of your larger stores that sell house paint. Here in the USA I go to "wal-mart" or "home-depot". Go find the "paint guy" there and ask him where they keep the returned paint (wrong colours, etc..). Pick yourself out any "exterior latex" (house paint is generally this) paint you want. You can pick out any colour you like. (however I personally wouldnt use black in a hot area!)
The "return paint" is usually sold at an extreme discount. (like they almost give the stuff away because it is basically useless to the store:)


Most beekeepers paint the outside of the woodenware only. I only paint the outside, and leave the bare wood showing on the inside.

Make sure the paint is completely dry before placing the painted items back onto a live hive.


Happy painting!


-t

[Michael Bush]

Most any house paint for the outside will work fine for painting a hive. The bees will coat the inside. Some people use parafin and dip them in it. I usually use nothing or boiled linseed oil.

[stonybrook]

Michael,

Do you heat the woodware or the oil or just paint it on at room temp?

tnx

[Michael Bush]

I just do the boiled linseed oil like paint at room temp. I try to lavish it on the end grain.

[chocho_h]

Thank you

[Dan Williamson]

I seem to spend a long time painting my equipment. I first put on a coat of oil-based primer and when dry I put a coat of exterior latex. I use a brush and 4" roller. It does a great job. I'm hoping that the extra time I spend painting with the oil and then latex will add to the life but only time will tell.

I just finished painting 35 meds, 6 covers, bottom boards, inner covers (edges), pollen traps, solar wax melter, queen excluders, 12 nucs with lids, bottoms etc.... I'm getting tired just typing it... smile.gif It took me longer than I expected it would. I just hope it lasts longer than I expect it will.... smile.gif

Dan

[Michael Bush]

That's why I use nothing on a lot of them. smile.gif It's the least possible amount of work.

[BeeBear]

>> It took me longer than I expected it would.

Now there's the understatement of the day. I'm actually surprised that none of the equipment supply companies offer painted equipment for sale. It would be ridiculously expensive but I bet that there would be a market in the hobby segment.

[Michael Bush]

They sell prefab equipment, so I don't see why they don't sell it painted. An assembly line with sprayers would sure make short work of it.

But then they'd have to offer an assortment of colors. smile.gif

[BeeBear]

>> But then they'd have to offer an assortment of colors.

Considering the target market, you're probably correct. Borrowing from Henry Ford and saying, "Any color you want as long as it's white" probably wouldn't fly.

I'm thinking that the suppliers don't want to make the significant investment that would be required to crank up a paint line without knowing that they could sell enough to make money. And they're probably right. I do wonder how many hobby beekeepers have enough extra cash to splurge on woodenware that could literally come out of the box and into the field.

[Michael Bush]

Mann Lake, Brushy Mt and I'm sure others have assembled boxes with assembled frames. Painting is easy compared to assmebling all those frames and boxes. smile.gif

I suppose you COULD do all white and just say they are "primed" with white and you can leave it white or paint it some other color. smile.gif

[BeeBear]

I buy assembled frames but unassembled supers. To me, the cost differential for the assembled frames is worth it. I think I deal with the supers better simply because they're bigger and somewhat less sensitive to the fact that I'm a klutz.

I wonder though . . . I think I probably spent more time painting supers than assembling them. Of course if the temperature had been a bit higher so that the paint would dry, that would have helped.

PS: Michael, your private mailbox is full.

[Michael Bush]

I didn't know it could fill up. Thanks. smile.gif