painting poly

[SteveJ]

Just got my first poly hives from Pains. What do I paint the inside of the feeder with? I've used PVA in the past on my wooden feeders, will the same work here?

SteveJ

 

[thorn]

Why paint the inside? The bees aren't worried about interior decor.

 

[VEG]

stops them leaking over time

 

[Alabamaeee]

If you are talking about the new National Size Pains feeder I painted mine inside with gloss paint and they worked out fine, but on the ramp up to the slot where the bees come in to access the syrup I sprinkled sand on the gloss.

Just check that your gloss paint does not react with the foam. I used water based gloss.

Another point. Search the forum and you will find a thread with info on modifying the feeder to stop bees drowning in their hundreds. The bottom of the feed area is far too open and allows the bees to get in to the main syrup area and drown. This happened to me last year and I had to resort to a quick fix with straw and twigs. This year I will be adding fine mesh plate to the bottom to prevent drowning.

EDIT - some info here http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=26805

 

[parkranger]

few coats of gloss paint with sharp sand thrown on the penultimate coat to allow grip. This allows easy cleaning of the feeder and stops mould (although only possible when unpopulated).
I always insert a piece of plastic queen excluder in the slot between brood and feeder to prevent queenie going for a swim.

 

[Into the lions den]

Insides of feeders best done with acrylic water based masonry paint. The bees can grip on it and it prevents syrup getting in between the beads and setting up mildew as it slowly leaches through the poly (also stops it getting heavy!).

Gloss that DOES react with the poly is best. Sounds counterintuitive but it is so. This type of paint is in a layer that is very very thin, and bonds with the surface layer by this process and does not eat it away. This is then there virtually forever and never needs repainting. All bets off however if you chuck more thinners in the paint than is specified by the makers for the mode of application used.

Over the last few days have been persuaded by our secretary to start regular tweeting mainly for the interest of our members (BFA), and in some of the pics taken 1st Jan you can see poly boxes painted 14 years ago and have never needed even a touch up. (The boxes with the recessed panels over much of the face rather than the ones with the simple handholds are all 14 or 15 years old and painted in 1999 or 2000). If you want to have a look its on '@calluna4u' .

 

[Norfolk]

.......... I used water based gloss......

I never knew such a thing existed.
Any particular brand or do they all do a version ?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I'm sure dulux satinwood is just such a paint

 

[REDWOOD]

cars are now painted with water base paints

 

[tidymeup]

I have always had problems with poly feeders if you get any holes I the paint and the syrup gets underneath it separates the paint from the poly.

Never had a problem with acrylic based masonry paint on the exterior but I can only comment from 4 years.

Next time I will try an etch, if I paint plastic bumpers etc on a car or fibreglass I need to have an etch otherwise the top coat won't last. Just didn't want to melt the poly.

 

[itma]

I never knew {water based gloss} existed.
Any particular brand or do they all do a version ?

Look for "low odour" gloss.


Its a good idea to paint the inside of all expanded polystyrene feeders before use.
Of course the inside of the hive boxes don't want painting.


To produce the textured finish on the beeways, something I've read about, but not tried, is sprinkling salt grains on the wet paint. After the paint dries, the salt can be washed away, leaving a surface with indents.
Anyone tried it?

 

[johnandyrob]

I paint both the outside of the boxes and inside the feeders with masonary paint. The picture is of a part of a poly box I ran over with a car it proves how durable poly can be

 

[tidymeup]

Very durable indeed just don't drop a full super on a corner. It disintegrates and your left with a mess.

Not sure how a cedar super would survive as I haven't done that yet.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I dropped an MB super with spun (thank heavens) frames and it broke.