Additive free, it is odourless, colourless and tasteless; but as a petroleum based product the purist would probably object.
If we think that petroleum based products should be avoided, then that would eliminate polystyrene boxes, paint (both oil and water based), creosote, and (heaven forbid) "old engine oil".
There is no doubt that most beekeepers care very much for their bees, and one of the most important things is that the bees have secure housing. It is, of course, beneficial to the beekeeper as well, because bees which are well provided for are more productive.
There is a choice for beekeepers today to use hive boxes constructed from plastic foam, instead of boxes constructed from wood. A choice could also be made to use timber such as cedar which contains natural preservatives. Both of these types of boxes come at a cost.
For those who want or need a more affordable alternative, cheaper species of timber such as pine are used widely. These cheaper varieties of timber have a disadvantage, in that they are not naturally durable, but need to have some form of protective treatment.
There seems to be a lot of variety in people’s choices, when it comes to providing weather-proofing treatments. Paint is the most frequently chosen option, but oiling, timber preservative, and even creosote have been mentioned recently on the forum. I would like to ask if there is good evidence that timber preservative chemical treatment, or creosote, are free of toxic effects on bees?
Painting or oiling certainly works, but this process needs to be repeated over the lifetime of a hive box. The initial painting takes time to apply the required number of coats, and it also takes time to clean, prepare, and apply paint when restoration is required. In any case, the cost of the paint (or oil, preservative, or creosote) as well as the time that it takes to apply that treatment needs to be taken into account.
There is another way!
I have made comments about the advantages I believe can be experienced with wax dipped boxes. I realise that each beekeeper has a choice. The choices we make are usually based on the information we have. To enable a wise choice to be made, we need to have suitable information. I have no vested interest whatever in wax dipping. All I want to do is provide information which may assist people to make a beneficial choice.
There seems to be a reluctance (and even opposition to the idea) of using wax dipping. As you can tell, I believe that it should even perhaps be the preferred method of preserving hive boxes. In my opinion, wax dipping does not cost any more by way of materials or time than these other methods. It does require the initial investment of a suitable wax dipping vat, but that does not need to be great unless large scale processing is required by a commercial beekeeper. Wax dipping preserves hive boxes more thoroughly than is possible with painting, and requires much less preparation and effort if re-waxing should be required.
There are people who wish to paint their hive boxes, even after the boxes have been waxed. I have found clear reference to the possibility and practicality of painting hive boxes immediately after they have been dipped, while they are still hot. I understand that oil based undercoat paint (and not acrylic paint) should be used in contact with a waxed surface.
