Coating for hive top feeders

[dave beeman]

I need some help with the idea of a coating inside of my feeders. I have used candle wax which will crack and break loose. I have tried bees wax and the bees will take the wax out. I am thinking of trying water-base poly urethane. I don't know if it is safe after it has cured. Any help would be great.

[rwlaw]

Are you trying to make a wooden feeder waterproof? If you are that's pretty chancy being it's a hive top eh?

[Motown]

Polyurathane will work, make sure your put on three coats. Hay it works for Millar and Brushy Mountain. I made a feeded base on models I purchased from them.

[dave beeman]

Thanks guys. The feeders seem to fall apart from the inside out. Yes, I am trying to make them water proof so they will stop leaking. We are talking about a big mess when they are filled.

[slickbrightspear]

walter kelley used to sell a food grade polyurethane don't know it they still do

[Dave W]

A plastic liner in home-made shell works well.

As long as wood expands and contracts, trying to make joints waterproof is a waste of good "beekeeping" time.

[sc-bee]

The guy I got mine from just uses exterior or marine grade plywood on bottom. I believe marine grade. Seals joints with silicone. No paint or anything on inside.

They stay together and don't leak. He says he has some he has had six years.

[ronnyclif]

epoxy coating from walter kelley co.

[beemandan]

As said before, epoxy coating. Sold by Kelley, Rossman, Brushy Mtn etc. It's called Camcote. Its food grade. Whenever I've used it I used disposable brushes....cleanup would be a major chore. The feeders I coated with it some years ago are still leakfree.

[pom51]

Has anyone looked at BM plastic hive feeders they work really well and you don't drown the bees and they are on sale now.I purchased 2 last year and 14 more just this week they also have them for nuc but have to make a specila feeder box for them.