Painting Bottom Boards

[leechmann]

I just made up some bottom boards. I am about to paint them, when I was wondering if I was supposed to paint the top portion that will be under the first deep super? Any thoughts?

[Shawn]

I painted mine white. The stuff on the botom really stands out. Sure wish the bees would keep it cleaner, looks dirty 

[ccwonka]

I have been told anything from PAINT EVERY INCH to IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.  I started by painting everything, now I just let them weather naturally.  I'll probably lose a year or two's service from the hives, but others have told me they last just as long with a natural "patina" as with a good coat of paint.

You'll get 50 different opinions on your yes or no question here, in the end, it'll be up to your preference!!

[Sean Kelly]

Soak them in copper naphthenate, then paint them.  They'll last forever if you do.  Painting bottom boards on the inside is ok.  Just don't paint the insides of your hive bodies.  Just make sure your hives are tilted forward slightly if you're not using screened bottom boards so moisture has a place to go and doesn't pool up inside.

Sean Kelly

[Saltcreek]

Yes, paint the edges where supers or bottom board meet. Water dripping down the sides will go in the crack between the bodies and sit. It won't dry fast which can contribute to rot. The water doesn't get inside the hive because the bees have propolized the inner cracks. Even better is wax dipping which I do to all of mine now, but that takes some cash outlay to get started if you only have a couple hives.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesdipping.htm

[slaphead]

Some of the old books recommend hive bodies be painted inside as well.  I think the plans for the 10-frame hive on Beesource suggest this to.

Why is this no longer recommended?

Thanks,

SH

[TwT]

my tops and bottom boards are painted top, bottom, side, all over! every thing else is painte outsides an around top and bottom edge's, nothing inside but Bottom Boards get wet when it rains and take the most abuse, so paint all of the Bottom Board.

[Tucker1]

I've painted my bottom board completely white (all sides), with two coats of exterior latex, after I had primed the wood. It seems to be holding up. I like the idea of using copper naphthenate before painting. Wood can take a real beating in eastern Washington and I'd like my hives to last a long time.

Where can you pick up copper naphthenate?

Regards,
Tucker

[JP]

Let me chime in here, if you paint interior components of a hive whether it be bottom boards or supers make doubly sure you've given adequate time for paint to dry and odors to go away. After several days of drying consider throwing some dirt on those interior surfaces to rid odors even more so.

I am not a fan of copper napthenate it smells awful for a very long time.


...JP

[BjornBee]

I paint all the sides of my bottom boards. I do not paint the inside of my boxes.

The most impact of hives going bad, is leaving unused boxes and equipment sitting outside in the weather. If a hive dies, bring it in a garage. Do not have a stack of stuff sitting outside "waiting" to be used. If the boxes have bees, or are stored inside or at least under cover, they will last many years.

[Sean Kelly]

I picked up my copper nap from our local home depot.  It was called copper green.  Good stuff but don't use it on honey supers.  Bottom boards, inner covers, and telescoping covers.  Soak it months before painting or using them. Sean Kelly