Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: tlynn on January 27, 2009, 09:14:52 pm

Title: colors to paint
Post by: tlynn on January 27, 2009, 09:14:52 pm
For my first hive and supers I painted them white.   I have some porch enamels and exterior house paints I'd like to use up and am wondering if I should use the dark colors, like battleship gray or brick red.  The thought is dark colors may create unnecessary summer heat here in FLA.  Is this a consideration?

I tried spar varnish on 2 premium grade nucs and they came out looking really nice.  The other boxes are commercial grade and the wood was milled pretty rough, with a lot of bark filled knots.  So those I decided to paint those.  Anybody use varnish? 
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: Greg Peck on January 27, 2009, 11:23:02 pm
If you still have some white paint that is the same type as the darker colors you can mix them to make it a little lighter. I did this with some dark blue I bought from Lowe's messed up colors selection. It worked out great, nice light blue. Just make sure you are not mixing oil based with water based ....
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: BjornBee on January 29, 2009, 07:38:05 am
Yes, color will make a difference with heat. In florida, I would keep the paint color on the light side. Nothing wrong with white.
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: tlynn on January 29, 2009, 11:52:34 pm
Thanks...forgot about paint stores for mistints.  That's a good idea.
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: mathispollenators on January 30, 2009, 06:36:32 am
Yep mistints in paints we know a few that paint their hives with it around here.  :-D They have some of the prettiest pastel colored hives ever. :-D I feel the different colored boxes also help cut down in drifitng bees too.  They reconize their pretty house better.  I may be stupid in that but I still think that.
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: BjornBee on January 30, 2009, 08:38:01 am
I feel the different colored boxes also help cut down in drifitng bees too.  They reconize their pretty house better.  I may be stupid in that but I still think that.

I'm stupid that way too.....  :-D
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: saskbeeman on February 08, 2009, 09:07:30 pm
Typically bright red and orange will attract drifting bees if used in the brood chambers, especially after moving or unwrapping.  Using yellow, blue, black, and white aid the bees with orientation.  If you're not fond of white, Tremclad aluminum makes a nice looking box that will reflect the heat.  I typically keep my brood chambers pastel 'cool' colors.  As for my honey supers, anything goes  :-D .
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: steveb on February 11, 2009, 06:18:36 pm
If white does not suit you then pastels are the next best thing.  I try to stay away from the red spectrum as that starts to leave their visual spectrum and becomes like grays and blacks.  I like to go to the other end, blues, greens etc. as that is better differentiated by insects.
Steve
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: Kathyp on February 11, 2009, 07:24:01 pm
i agree with both the lighter colors and the oops paint.  another consideration might be whether or not you need your hives to blend into surrounds. 
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: JP on February 11, 2009, 09:00:43 pm
All white is just plain boring. Oops paint is what I use in mid range hues, could always make them lighter with white like Greg said.


...JP
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: doak on February 11, 2009, 09:29:29 pm
I like the bull frog green color, But I use any other light color.
Latex exterior flat. drys quick and can put 3 coats on in the same day.
First time I use three coats, then as soon as they start showing signs of weathering, 2 or 3 yrs. one or two coats.
I also try to use (spell check) when I think about it. :-D :)doak
Title: Re: colors to paint
Post by: DayValleyDahlias on February 12, 2009, 02:02:36 am
I bought "Mythic" brand non-toxic paint in the color "Honey Pot"!!  Yay