Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: manfre on February 25, 2009, 07:46:13 pm

Title: New Hives Built
Post by: manfre on February 25, 2009, 07:46:13 pm
This past weekend, I built 10 frame medium hive boxes from left over wood. Along with outer cover and solid bottom board. The outer cover and bottom are made out of poplar from a dining table. I really like the look of the top, but I realize it needs to be weather proofed and I'm not sure what to use. I don't think a normal wood sealer would work with its existing finish. Any suggestions?


(http://backyardapiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/dsc_2947-150x150.jpg) (http://backyardapiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/dsc_2947.jpg)(http://backyardapiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/dsc_2948-150x150.jpg) (http://backyardapiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/dsc_2948.jpg)(http://backyardapiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/dsc_2949-150x150.jpg) (http://backyardapiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/dsc_2949.jpg)
Title: Re: New Hives Built
Post by: David LaFerney on February 25, 2009, 08:08:33 pm
This past weekend, I built 10 frame medium hive boxes from left over wood. Along with outer cover and solid bottom board. The outer cover and bottom are made out of poplar from a dining table. I really like the look of the top, but I realize it needs to be weather proofed and I'm not sure what to use. I don't think a normal wood sealer would work with its existing finish. Any suggestions?



Dewaxed shellac is a nearly universal primer/sealer.  If you put a coat of shellac on it you can go over that with pretty much anything you like - exterior grade spar urethane for example.  If you can't find "dewaxed" shellac, then just get regular shellac, put it in a glass jar and wait a few days for it to separate into layers, the top layer (I think - the wax is cloudy, the shellac is amber/clear) is dewaxed shellac.  However the truth is even regular (waxy) shellac will work 90% of the time.  Be warned though that even a high quality clear exterior finish like this will break down after a few years in the sun.  Then you can cover it with sheet metal.  :)
Title: Re: New Hives Built
Post by: manfre on February 26, 2009, 04:29:59 pm
Thanks. I'll give that a try. I was also considering cutting a piece of plastic to cover the top.
Title: Re: New Hives Built
Post by: Conchis on February 26, 2009, 04:50:13 pm
Nice work.  Those bees are going to be living uptown!!!
Title: Re: New Hives Built
Post by: David LaFerney on February 26, 2009, 05:58:39 pm
Thanks. I'll give that a try. I was also considering cutting a piece of plastic to cover the top.

I'm sure you know that you need to clean it really good and scuff it up a bit with sandpaper first.
Title: Re: New Hives Built
Post by: manfre on February 26, 2009, 06:04:20 pm
I'm sure you know that you need to clean it really good and scuff it up a bit with sandpaper first.

Hmmm. I didn't realize that. Scratching up the finish defeats the purpose of clear coating it. Further thinking makes me wonder if moisture would get trapped under the plastic cover and rot it out faster. I'll probably end up panting it.
Title: Re: New Hives Built
Post by: David LaFerney on February 26, 2009, 06:11:39 pm
I'm sure you know that you need to clean it really good and scuff it up a bit with sandpaper first.

Hmmm. I didn't realize that. Scratching up the finish defeats the purpose of clear coating it. Further thinking makes me wonder if moisture would get trapped under the plastic cover and rot it out faster. I'll probably end up panting it.

It doesn't defeat the purpose at all.  You always do a bit of sanding between coats for several reasons, but in this case the reason is to improve adhesion. It's exactly what you do to get a beautiful smooth finish. 
Title: Re: New Hives Built
Post by: HomeBru on February 26, 2009, 10:17:32 pm
Not so much "scratching up", but a little scuff-sand with 220 paper to take the gloss of the current finish. Minwax (and others) make a sprayable dewaxed shellac primer that it super for little things like this. I'd pass on spar varnish, its benefit is flexibility (because spars bend) so it's always getting dinged and gouged and never really "hardens". Go with a good exterior polyurethane after the shellac.
Title: Re: New Hives Built
Post by: Two Bees on March 02, 2009, 07:08:12 pm
WhooooooWeeeee!  Those are some fine looking bee hives you got there, Manfre!

Title: Re: New Hives Built
Post by: contactme_11 on March 02, 2009, 08:30:07 pm
I don't see an inner cover. Did you make one?
Title: Re: New Hives Built
Post by: manfre on March 03, 2009, 12:05:57 am
Homebru, I'll give that a try once the snow melts.

Two Bees, thanks neighbor.

contactme_11, My plan was to buy inner covers. The amount of effort to build them didn't seem justified given their low cost. I also don't have any immediate need for the rest of a piece of plywood, or space to store it. So far, I spent about $60 to build 2 outer covers, 2 bottoms, 10 medium boxes and a gallon of oops rack paint. I'm still well under budget.