I am going to build some top-feeders using the design on this website, and I hope someone can tell me what kind of glue/sealant I can use that will be strong, waterproof, and totally non-poisonous to the bees, and which wont leave toxins in the wax or honey. Thanks.
Hello,
Nail or screw it together then use bees wax to seal it.
Billy Bob
I would recommend using a polyurethane glue similiar to "Gorilla Glue". You might be able to get away with a Type II glue. In either case I agree with Billy Bob and would use melted wax (I used regular parafin wax)to seal the inside of the box areas. I also used spray shellac to seal the box areas before applying the wax.
I used parrafin wax bought at the hardware store. It used to be used in preserving jams. I Coated the inside with 2 coats of good varnish (Marine) and then I heated the wax in a double boiler situation and poured the hot wax into the feeder and swirled it around. (I set a coffee can of wax into a pot of boiling water.)The glue was a long way from the bees by then. At first I drowned a lot of bees. I redid one group of feeders by adding a 45% slope from the bees side downwards and covering with screen wire. Other feeders I just lined the feeding slot with screen wire. I'll let you know later what worked best.
I used Titebond II glue, it is USDA approved for food contact, also its waterproof. To seal I used spar urethane and parrafin. They had no leaks on the first try and the bees love it. They went from eating almost 1 quart a day with a bucket feeder to over 2 quarts a day with the miller feeder.
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