I Don't Paint My Hive Boxes. Here's Why... 

Grandpa used to paint on a thin layer of perafin. He said it extended the life of his "Woodware"!

I used 2 coats of a stain/sealer, then i bought some crystal clear epoxy and covered it. uv and waterproof, always looks wet and shiny

I started out assembling my own boxes and coating them with tung oil, but I don't really have a good set up and it quickly became a pain in the butt. There is a guy here locally who assembles hive boxes and dips them in paraffin. It is really great equipment that is impervious to all the weather conditions Ohio can throw at it. It does cost me some $$ but I think it will be worth it in the long run. I decided pretty early on, I could be a beekeeper or a carpenter/furniture maker, but I couldn't be both! :)

Thank you for this important information living is Massachusetts myself I was having a hard time deciding on how best to protect my new hives and I feel your method is by far the most effective....

i used to live in MA and now i have family i visit there. i really like learning about how you raise bees. You seem to be doing it how i'd like to do it someday so i'm soaking in everything you share.

Just to let you know I'm going to try this stain. I looked everywhere in my area and no one sells it. I looked on Amazon and it doesn't have a good selection. I went ahead and contacted the manufacturer and ordered it directly from them,, it was cheaper and they processed it very quickly and said it will be here in 2 days. Thanks for the info. I'm going to try this and see how it goes.

Omg Vermont coatings is the best! Used it on all our new bathroom cabinets and it has held up with 3 kids. Regular polyurethane would never hold up!! Love that stuff

advice, when it's cold, doesn't mean there isn't any activity. They will soon resume their activity and you will have to add supers and check for swarm cells. If you fall behind one or two weeks you may miss some warms.

Cool! I like the idea of the Vermont whey stain :) Another reason hives are painted is to help your bees find their way home and help those virgin Queens return to the hive they left for their mating flight 🐝 maybe the kiddo would be into painting or wood burning some small images on the fronts of them. Anyhoo just and idea with my 1.5 cents ;) Glad you did this video!

I have a couple I put a water based red barn stain on just because I had some at the farm. It seems to be holding up and is super easy to apply compared to painting, 10 bucks a gallon. The others I put kilz 2 primer and then top coat with 9.00 a gallon mismatched paint. I make most of my stuff and try to keep it cheap because nothing is lasting too long in the baking sun and weather of the south. Nice video

My Layens hive has aluminum corner protectors just for the reason you mentioned about the end piece vulnerability. Horizontal Hives in general are less prone to dinging, but I wish I had seen this video before I painted my new hive yesterday!! It’d be nice to have a natural looking finish.

If I ever go into beekeeping, I am going to review all of your videos as my sole tutorial!

Thanks for the product review, sounds like a great product. I did Boiled Linseed Oil and bees wax in, mixed a crock-pot, brushed on. Worked well, but laborious and best applied on hot days.

I've done Tung oil for my supers, and it seems to work just fine for summer boxes. However the 2 brood boxes I did it with were wrecked after just 1 winter. The wood was moved so much bees could crawl into the gaps! For the rest I've just gone with the exterior paint that matches my fence color, and it was only $30/gal which has triple coated half a dozen 10 frame deeps without making much of a dent in the can. I'd like to try a more natural look again sometime, and that product you've had experience with looks like it might actually work pretty well. It'll be interesting to see how long it holds up especially with how much protection your boxes get.

dude im scaling my operation and you saved me a whole lot of money....... I have a sawmill so I was planning on using some cool hardwoods and oils, but now I am glad I watched this so I didnt just paint and subsequently doom all my boxes that were gonna be made from pin oak and other scrubby wood I have.

Thanks! My mentor taught me to melt beeswax and linseed oil. We melt it together in an old coffee can and paint that onto the raw wooden hives. It does not create a seal. But with repeated applications the wax does create a nice build up. It smells great and the bees seem to like it. Just a suggestion.

I have had great success with tung oil, thinned with natural gum turpentine 3:1. Agree its too thick to put on neat.

I used clear coat / varnish and it works great too. It keeps the natural color of wood.

There is a Japanese technique called shou-sugi-ban where charring the wood creates a very durable, natural protective coating. I wonder if this would work well for your hive boxes.

In SE PA we have clubs that wax dip our hive boxes. Reports from a NJ commercial beekeepers is his hives are going on 30 years. Mainly parrafin wax and/or micro crystaline parrafin wax with some resin added. 260-280*F for 10 minutes, cooks out wood moisture and replaces with wax. Our CCBA recently added 80-100# of beeswax beads to our last two was dipping sessions and it smells terrific. Down side $4 per item dipped. On my used painted gear I melt beeswax into the top and bottom edges to help preserve as those edges seem to rot first. What is the oldest hive you have with this product? Can you show how it weathers? I have been laser engraving / wood burning my new hive bodies this year to give some artistic flare. I can use the laser before (is best) and after wax dipping. Fun.

As a former long time log home coatings contractor: Find a locally available coating. It gets spendy to import coatings across state lines. Coatings will last 3-5 years. Black has the highest uv resistance, longer life. For example, permachink is my local coatings producer, available locally and cheap.

Hey Jim.....so here it is 4 years later and the outdoor furniture (two benches, two Adirondack chairs, 4 side tables) we treated with the Vermont Natural Coatings goop is holding up great! This was brand new, unstained virgin wood and it soaked up this stuff like a sponge. As you mentioned, it's important to put it on quickly and get that second coat on immediately before it dries. Just thought I'd follow up with a "real world" long term review. Thanks again. Bill

Cook your boxes in paraffin wax for ten minutes, when you pull them out paint with oil based(outside only). The paraffin soaks in and protects and as long as you don’t have disease problems they should last 20 years

I was able to order this at my local Ace Hardware in Rhode Island. Thank you for the tip

I like this approach better than painting for all the reasons you mentioned. Glad to hear that you've had good results in your first three years. How have your hive boxes done since this video was posted? Are your six year old hives still in good shape?

Great! I was looking for an alternative to tung oil - thanks!

Received our gallon this morning. Pretty stoked to try this stuff. One note to anyone considering this product: The manufacturer states that it has a shelf life of (1) one year from the date of manufacturing, not the sale date mind you. So if you pick up a can make sure that it hasn't been sitting around the store for an extended period of time and that you only purchase what you'll think you'll use before it expires.

Hi, I live in Quebec/Canada where we have -40 to +40°C. I started 3 years ago and I put Exterior Translucent Wood Stain by Saman on cedar wood. They said one coat is enough, but I did two. Last year, on pin wood, I decided to try boiled linseed oil, two coats too (I just do the exterior). This year, I bought a hive with wax coating to compare the efficiency. I like to keep the natural wood colour. Also, linseed oil and beeswax coating are smells bees like. As two of my hives have a chalet roof, I used a paint/primer 100% acrylic flat white exterior paint just to give a better protection on the top, made by Sico.

We have to paint down here or the boxes would disintegrate within the season. I use a primer/sealer coat and then latex on that. Works well through our rather extreme climate. But I'm always up for an experiment, so I might check out that stain (especially if it means fewer coats of stuff to do, as I just got another case of hive body parts to put out).

I will check at ACE and try it out. I’m putting my first hive together for this spring

thank you! great vids

Thank you!

This product as far as I know is not available in New Zealand and the cost of purchase and shipping from the U.S. is astronomical so will have to keep plaguing our paint people to get their act together. Nice video by the way and have subscribed.

Once upon a time farmers painted their barns with a mixture of milk and iron oxide rich clay. It did need to be reapplied on occasion but even with severe neglect many of those structures still have their original siding. So a whey based sealer makes perfect sense to me.

I wax my boxes. Hello from Fance, love your vids.

That was an awesome video I’m in the Catskills and just got two new double stack large hives and couldn’t find anything safe for them this is perfect. How’s it holding up still? Any changes or concerns with the product and your bees

darn, I've already painted mine for the season! - next year!

Too cool! Thank you. Your videos are so lite and pleasant, the music you choose is too. Good man!

Vino would you be able to have a look at the mini poly queen mating nucs this year ? Im curious about them and think youd be honest about their design/practicality :)

Thanks for teaching, again!

my friend use epoxy coating,it will last for 25 years...it is expensive but it will last longer then regular paint..

We use latex paint for years and it works great. But we also do not throw the boxes around like some do.

Coat them with beeswax. Lol

Just in time for Lunch! Thanks!

Linseed Oil does a pretty good job as well and is relatively cheap.

Dang. Already painted my hives... and I’m picking up my Nucs in 2 days. Keeps up the great work.

I painted mine with two coats of Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Exterior Multi-purpose Water-based Primer and two coats of different colored top coats about 25 yrs ago and they still look new.

I am thinking of using the Poly-Whey for my hives when and where do you use color paint or milk paint.

I've heard that birch wood with the bark still on it is a natural protection against bugs, fungus, and mold.

Aye I live in Hudson valley in NY we sure have had some crap weather this spring! Terrible for my bees

what do you use to wrap your hives? and how thick is your wood wall? and what wood is it?

I dip the edges and seams of the new (assembled) hive body in very hot beeswax, for about 10 seconds each dip. This year I'm thinking of simple coating the whole box in beeswax (if I have enough wax!).

Most Excellent. Thank You!

That time of the year again. Found a local supplier in Indianapolis, In, USA. Wow 5/17/2022 $37.00 a quart in stock. Indianapolis, Indiana, USA (more if I have it shipped)

I’m looking for a suitable protection for my hives and l came to the conclusion to use pure Tung oil. The research l’ve done says to give a 1:1 coat mixed with terps as a first coat then add a third more oil. The final coat is pure oil. Would it still turn black doing it this way?

very awesome video. We are barely reaching spring hive maintenance season here in central Maine. It can't get here soon enough.

I live in Northwestern Massachusetts so I understand the kind whether we are having all too well. This is also my third year as a beekeeper as well. I have been painting my hive boxes but I think I will look into this product. Thanks for the information and for sharing.

I've been looking for something like that. Thanks for helping me remember where I seen that at. I've been researching a bunch of different things that won't be harmful to the bee's. Thanks again.

I really enjoy your videos and I honestly wish you did get the things that you use as you seem to really enjoy them! I do have one unanswered question though, instead of paint what do you use to color your different hives? (Like the resource hive) I'm not at all involved in beekeeping I'm just legitimately curious, oh and thank you!

Could I apply the Poly Whey stain & then when it is dry paint my boxes if I'd like colorful hives? Or would that potentially make the hives retain too much heat? (I'm picking up my 1st ever hive set up next week).

Hey Vino Farms, have you tried lifetime wood treatment? Wonder how the two compare, seem very similar. I totally agree with you on painting boxes.

Can I use wood grain sealer anchor seal and would it be safe?

50 cent oops paint at the Home Depot. People bee painting hives for over 100 years.

Just ordered a gallon. Do you have a quiet box yet? I’m putting one together to move frames around.

How does it look on wood after ages? Need something for wood fence that is less flammable (live in fire area)

I like the look thanks for the tip

Nice find, I think I will look around for something like that here at my ACE hardware...great tip

Hi what type of qeen is balboa stinger or vigor?

Is all natural tung oil a good coating for beehives?

What about Thompson's WaterSeal Waterproofer Plus Wood Protector, Clear ????

How often do you have to reapply this product? Or is it a one time thing?

Starting beekeeping in spring of 2020.. Have equipment on order to start with 1 or possibly two hives and Italian Packaged Bees. Love watching your vids! Very informative for the NUBEE. Have you considered the Apimaye hives? Would be interested in your opinion. Kind of pricey but the features might be worth the extra $$$.

Very interesting video.

What do you think of apimaye hives?

Question........would this be OK to apply this to a solid bottom board ?

I'm curious, are you making your boxes or purchasing the kits?

Can you please make another video PLEASE I'm waiting anxiously

Hopefully it will warm up for you soon! My box is jamming! I'm in NC. I tried splitting my hive last year (didn't go well). Hopefully they'll do better this year. Love the videos and tips!

I use a product called eco wood. Seems very similar.

I am at 50 hives. Will have to try this. Glad to know about the 2nd coat thing.

There are also a few traditional ways: 1: Old beekeepers around here used to boil theyr hives in bees wax. I'v heard that this worked really well but wax is expensive so most beekeepers rather sell the wax nowadays. 2: Propolis. A solution of propolis in alcohol can be used. It also works well but has to bee renewed regularly and (like wax) propolis can be sold for more than paint costs. 3: Lineseed oil was also commonly used and works well (if renewed from time to time) It can be quite cheap if you find the right seller (filtered oil for painting is best, non filtered for animal feeding (e.g. horses) is cheapest) Downside: takes a looooong time to dry (sometime weeks) It needs UV-radiation and oxigen to dry. The first layer should be pure, a second layer should be mixed with natural pigments. Darker pigments better protect the wood from UV-radiation. Lighter pigments work better if you don't want the hive to overheat in the summer. I like Iron Oxide. It's non-toxic and unexpensive. Thouroughly boiling the oil before use is the traditional way to make it dry faster...but still slowly. (It won't penetrate the wood as deep as unboiled oil though. A good alternative for the second layer) PS: Only wax or propolis should be used on the inside. It's your bees home...they don't like unfamiliar chemical human stuff around. But the old bee keepers told me that the bees do this part themselves if you give them a few seasons time.

Do this video again in 3 or 4 years. What tears up my boxes are bees chewing their way out. Ever hear them gnawing?

I was thinking of doing bee farming in the Philippines, I wonder how surfboard wax would work out there.

Eco Wood treatment is quite a bit cheaper, comes in powder form you can mix yourself in a tub and dip woodware in to protect all sides. Treatment lasts for years and completely safe.

I use i mix of raw organic food linseed oil and beeswax. Linseed penitrates deep into the wood and brings the beeswax with it 2 to 3 coats makes it waterproof. You just reapply it once a year. Its food grade no worries about chemicals or paint chips getting into your honey.

Hi do you use metal on you outer cover

Can you paint on top of it once it's coated?

The hives have to look different to the bees or they may drift.

Paraffin is best for wood. Boil the wooden parts in paraffin and it’s the best for bees too. Inside and outside. Twice if you want for base parts

My Tung Oil experience has been great! Great looking boxes and easy to use. Nothing gummy or messy in my situation. Recoat time is a little long...about 24 hrs. Wonder what happened to you Tung oil experience? Thanks for the cool product info! I’ll try that stuff if I can find it in MN

What about varnish couldn't it be a good alternative?

Whats your opinion of Thompson's Water Seal? and not sure why you dont fill the staple divots with wood filler first.

Hey Jim, know if you can use this on Cedar wood? Also a lot of people in the UK use cedar wood boxes and the impression I had was that you wouldn't need to paint them due to the natural oils in the wood?

Your “awnings”...if I went into my local Home Depot what would I ask for to buy some of these? I have been using plywood with metal roofing for my rain protection. Very heavy and cumbersome to lift on and off. Your awnings look much better and much more user friendly. Thanks!

Vino how long does it take you to paint one deep box?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t your double nuc boxes painted purple and Orange?

I never realized you live in mass I live southern nh. Great video and may have to find some in my area, I even need something for my porch. Thanks

Do you still do this to your new hives? How has it held up throughout the years? I'm considering doing this instead of painting but not sure

This feels like the calm before the storm - the storm being a flower explosion.

I like it in theory, but I'm paying less than 10 a gallon for mis-tints. I don't care if my boxes are orange, or blue or pink.