Author Topic: Painting hive components  (Read 5122 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline tedh

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1346
  • Thanked: 65 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Henry County, Iowa
Painting hive components
« 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
Share that which you have an abundance of.  In doing so both the giver and receiver are enriched.

Offline Jen

  • Platinum Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10175
  • Thanked: 240 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Upper California
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #1 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)
There Is Peace In The Queendom

Offline tedh

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1346
  • Thanked: 65 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Henry County, Iowa
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2018, 03:58:14 pm »
You forgot to mention Iowa.  But I wont hold it against you; point taken.
Share that which you have an abundance of.  In doing so both the giver and receiver are enriched.

Offline Jen

  • Platinum Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10175
  • Thanked: 240 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Upper California
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #3 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...  ;)
There Is Peace In The Queendom

Offline Wandering Man

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1839
  • Thanked: 175 times
  • Gender: Male
    • Life Lessons from dogs, bees and others
  • Location: Victoria, Texas
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #4 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):





Never argue with drunks or crazy people

Offline Jen

  • Platinum Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10175
  • Thanked: 240 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Upper California
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #5 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.
There Is Peace In The Queendom

Offline riverbee

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 8924
  • Thanked: 410 times
  • Gender: Female
  • ***Forum Sponsor***
  • Location: El Paso Twp, Wisconsin
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #6 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!
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
Forum Sponsor

Offline tedh

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1346
  • Thanked: 65 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Henry County, Iowa
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #7 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
Share that which you have an abundance of.  In doing so both the giver and receiver are enriched.

Offline riverbee

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 8924
  • Thanked: 410 times
  • Gender: Female
  • ***Forum Sponsor***
  • Location: El Paso Twp, Wisconsin
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2018, 07:21:09 pm »
........... :D :D :laugh:
i keep wild things in a box..........™
if you obey the rules, you miss all the fun.....katherine hepburn
Forum Sponsor

Offline neillsayers

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2173
  • Thanked: 197 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Arkansas Ozarks, U.S.A.
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2018, 07:41:25 pm »
pink boxes may lead to gentler bees. :) :)
Neill Sayers
Herbhome Bees
USDA Zone 7a

Offline Lburou

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2284
  • Thanked: 315 times
  • Location: DFW area, Texas, USA, growing zone 7a
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #10 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...  ;)
Lee_Burough

Online Bakersdozen

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 4511
  • Thanked: 482 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Olathe, Kansas
Re: Painting hive components
« Reply #11 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