Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Do-It-Yourself Plans and Prints => Topic started by: tedh on January 17, 2018, 01:57:28 pm

Title: Painting hive components
Post by: tedh on January 17, 2018, 01:57:28 pm
Hi Everybody.  I've built several brood boxes and supers along with the other hive components and am getting ready to paint.  I have a gallon or two of semi gloss barn red and about as much semi gloss white on hand.  Is there a problem with using the barn red?  I'm wondering if it might not make it extra hot in the hive with the solar gain this summer.  I could try mixing the white with the red and come up with some shade of pink but that might end up a bit dark too.  Maybe I'm over thinking this.  Maybe my concern is justified.  What do you think?  Thanks, Ted
Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: Jen on January 17, 2018, 02:27:53 pm
Hi Ted, 10 hottest countries in the world where honey bees live: Mexico, Somalia, India, Sudan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait,Iran, Algeria, Libya ~   ;) 8)
Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: tedh on January 17, 2018, 03:58:14 pm
You forgot to mention Iowa.  But I wont hold it against you; point taken.
Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: Jen on January 17, 2018, 07:38:03 pm
 :D :D :D

Hope you get a snap shot of your painted hives what ever you decide to do. Ya know? An Asian perspective would be Awesome. Dragons and lanterns painted on the sides...  ;)
Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: Wandering Man on January 17, 2018, 11:22:59 pm
We get pretty hot in South Texas.  The bees didn't seem to mind the colors this past Summer.

And then there is always this scenario (which I think you see more of than we do):


(https://thumb.ibb.co/nANVrm/2017_12_08_Snow_4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nANVrm)


Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: Jen on January 18, 2018, 12:04:56 am
We have a small commercial lumber mill about an hour from our town. It makes awesome bee boxes and hardware. I think I like the parifin dipped boxes they make.
Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: riverbee on February 22, 2018, 05:39:52 pm
nice pix wm!

ted, i really don't think it matters.......gotta love barn red, maybe lighten a bit with the white. it has been traditional for all to paint deep hive bodies in white or pastel colors, especially for those in southern climates so that the heat i guess is reflected, keeping the colony cooler. darker colors would be advantageous for us northerners in winter months, absorbing and retaining heat longer.

i typically use lighter colors just cuz that's what i was taught to do, ya know eons of older beeks. some of these older beeks about flipped or laughed at some of the colors of my oops painted medium boxes..... with that said, one or two years or more i had to scramble for deeps and used old deeps that had been painted a very dark purplish blue color. (i use these boxes for fall feeding with pails on).  my hives are not in full sun, but can say i really didn't notice any problems associated with overheating.  also, trees aren't exactly white, or wherever bees decide to swarm to in houses, and some areas, pretty hot.  bees can do a pretty good job at heating and cooling their environment.

if you are concerned about it use the white and mix in the barn red til you get a lighter color? or maybe just use the barn red for medium boxes?
mine are all sorts of different colors.

perhaps keith will chime in, the guy is an encyclopedia on keeping bees!
Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: tedh on February 22, 2018, 07:06:02 pm
Mixed the white and barn red.
I'll  post a pic at some point but suffice to say we stand fully behind breast cancer awarness!  Ted
Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: riverbee on February 22, 2018, 07:21:09 pm
........... :D :D :laugh:
Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: neillsayers on February 22, 2018, 07:41:25 pm
pink boxes may lead to gentler bees. :) :)
Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: Lburou on February 22, 2018, 10:31:40 pm
Hi Ted, 10 hottest countries in the world where honey bees live: Mexico, Somalia, India, Sudan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait,Iran, Algeria, Libya ~   ;) 8)
...And Texas...  ;)
Title: Re: Painting hive components
Post by: Bakersdozen on February 23, 2018, 05:42:36 am
I have painted bottom boards and telescoping lids red red.  But I kept the landing board and hive bodies white.  The red was for me.  I keep thinking about how bees aren't attracted to red flowers.

One good thing about your Breast Cancer Awareness hives, it makes a good story.  Beekeepers love a good story like fishermen.  :D