Hivetop Feeders

[plapczynski]

OK next hive building question...

Those of you that build the hive-top feeders what holds up best?

Poly or Marine varnish or something else?

Thanks,

Paul

[Michael Bush]

Beeswax...

[crazytranes]

:lpf: After reading through MB's website, I understand (and agree with) his response. That is, of course, assuming that you have frames of honey set aside to feed to your bees.

Tickled my funny bone. That's all.

[plapczynski]

I don't get it...

[justgojumpit]

I make hive top feeders, and these you just paint. It's a migratory cover with holes cut in it to accept mason jar feeders. These work quite well, and they're more economical to make than the miller type feeders.

justgojumpit

[Brenda]

I think MB dips all of his woodenware in wax to preserve it.

[daknoodle]

I just finished my first miller type feeder and applied the poly last night. I used melted beeswax to seal it up and then sprayed a can of ploy in three coats. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9959001@N04/3439984607/in/set-72157616441011213/

I'll find out this evening if it holds water. :-)

Doug

[iwombat]

I would have used epoxy rather than poly. It'll be gassing out for months. Not sure how the bees are going to react to that.

If all the dead bugs in my fiberglass room are any indication, not well.

[daknoodle]

I hadn't thought of epoxy. Though that would be a lot to cover all the surfaces. I'm also considering using a hot glue gun on the next one to seal the joints.

[iwombat]

I'm wondering if we're talking about the same poly - polyester fiberglass resin?

[daknoodle]

No, polyurethane.

[iwombat]

See - us boat guys see the word poly and leap to all kinds of conclusions.

If I were constructing one, I'd use some 1" fiberglass tape for the seams and marine epoxy fiberglass resin over the whole thing. Again, I'm a boat guy.

Your polyurethane should be fine - sorry for the panic alarm.

[daknoodle]

haha, we all understand words based on how we are familiar with them. We call a box that the bees put honey in a "super" and everyone else around us just think it must be some "great" box. :)

[plapczynski]

Thanks all for the replies.

I am building a Miller type feeder. It looks like polyurethane is the best way to go.

Darknoodle - let's hear if yours went OK! :thumbsup:

[Michael Bush]

Actually, that is true. Capped honey is the best way to feed. But I meant melting beeswax and pouring it in the feeder and rolling it around in there to seal it up. I actually boil mine in the dipping tank and then use a "wax tube fastener" to run a bead in the corners after it's cooled a bit.