Pariffin Rosin For Raw Wood Boxes vs. Priming Painting

[Jen]

I have six new unfinished boxes that need to be used maybe before winter. I have an array of wooden ware, I like the parifin/rosin boxes better than painting. But I buy the parifin boxes already dipped and ready to go. Does anyone have experience with paraffin/rosin treatments?

[Jen]

I'm bumping this post up to hopefully get some answers 

[Lburou]

Jen, I would go with the dipped boxes if they were available locally at a competitive cost. 

[Jen]

Hi Lou, the raw wood boxes I just purchased come from an 85 year old beekeeper in our area. His boxes are beautifully built and sanded. I want to continue buying my wooden ware from him, I request them unfinished.

It seems the trick to a good paraffin coating is to dip the entire box into melted paraffin. So I would need a vat for that.

When dipped into that vat of hot paraffin, the wood grain opens up and lets the paraffin soak deep into the wood.

So now, I'm getting into something potentially dangerous. And I would only be doing a few boxes a year.

Seems just painting on the paraffin is will result in peeling.

[Bakersdozen]

Jen, since you had received a reply, I moved your original post to General Beekeeping and deleted your duplicate post.  It was probably more appropriate in Do It Yourself, but we will see what riverbee and Riverrat's reactions are. 

I didn't respond to you post because I was unfamiliar with what you were posting about. 

[Jen]

Thanks Baker, this question is a timing thing, need to use my new raw meds now, need to get them coated. So was hoping for some answers quickly. Thanks for helping!

[Lburou]

YouTube has several good videos on wax dipping.  You need to 'cook' the box submerged in the hot wax for quite a while.  When the wood temperature rises enough, you remove the box from the wax and the wax is absorbed as the wood cools.  That is the way I understand it.  It is an expensive process to begin.  Also flammable, be smart. 

[Jen]

Hey Lee, I just hung up from the company in southern Oregon that paraffin dips their hives, Shastina Millwork, they said that they will dip my 6 boxes for $2 a box. Bingo!

Thru my own research I was afraid that it was too big a process for my small apiary. Thank you, always appreciate your advice 

[Riverrat]

Bill Vinduska and candy Rogers of vinduska apiaries in kansas dips all their boxes Bill has the vat but unsure if he is still doing it as he has cut back on his beekeeping and downsized

[LazyBkpr]

Nice find Jen. someone else that will dip for you.. If I had that option i would definitely use it over painting!

[Lburou]

I have about ten hives from Shastina Millworks.  Their pine is strong, but a bit heavier than most other big producers of woodenware.  $2 per box seems fair. 

[riverbee]

jen,
i don't have experience with paraffin or dipping boxes.
first off, over time the bees manage to wax the insides of any box (and propolize) just give them time to do it. a little help to dipping them wouldn't hurt.
2 bucks a box, that seems fair, might have to do it again at some point?

painting boxes? i don't paint boxes, as you said they peel. pine has knots that sometimes will 'eek' through the paint or any stain. these knots need to be sealed, and oftentimes undercoats of whatever do not seal these.  i use something similiar to parafin to seal the knots, and use a good primer and i STAIN my boxes. i use either waterbase or oil stain. works for me, no peeling paint, and don't have to stain them again for some time. less work.......
good luck, let us know how it works out for you.

[Jen]

Thanks every one. Problem solved.

Actually it's a paraffin, wood resin mixture. I love how it feels, it has a bit of grip to it.

[apisbees]

I have seen it done and it is a way of protecting boxes in areas that have high humidity. Australia and New Zealand uses dipping to protect the boxes other wise they rot in 5 years. Dipping protects all sides from absorbing moisture. The box needs to be submerged and the wood allowed to heat up so it absorbs the wax into the wood. In Australia they paint the super with paint while the wax is still hot to make the box white and so it absorbs less heat from the sun so it keeps the wax from melting out of the supers in the hot sun.


Unless you have large number of boxes to dip I do not think it is practical to build a setup for dipping. If there is some one that has a dipping tank in your area then pay them to dip yours for you.