Poly painting

[ericbeaumont]

There are some "advisers" who insist that paint...should be masonry paint

The trad recommendation is masonry but as JBM said, options are elastic.

I'm using up gloss orange from the bathroom job and gloss pink leftover from my daughter's bedroom skirting boards. Neighbours put out tins of good stuff - round here it's Farrow & Ball - and I've 5 litres of Dulux Weathershield that's been sitting in the cellar for 30 years, so is real Weathershield, not the current mix that doesn't sit flat. Check out DIY sheds and paint suppliers for end-of-line stock.

You may be interested in the paint choice of the biggest UK beefarmer, Murray McGregor, or ITLD as he posts here: Murray uses gloss for the exterior and masonry for the feeder. He found that gloss fuses well with the poly and lasts longer, and he's used poly longer than all of us.

Main aim is to choose something waterproof that bonds to the poly and doesn't cost too much.

PS: advisers is stretching it; there are so many ways to achieve one aim that you must be your own advisor and treat all incoming info. as food for thought.

 

[Murox]

Or try aerosol spray painting your poly hive.

 

[ericbeaumont]

Could do, Laurence at BMH does that, but time and cans must make it tiresome.
This is how the Aussies do it, and no reason why it couldn't be done on a smaller scale.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Excuse this question but am new here. There are some "advisers" who insist that paint for polly hives should be masonry paint, is that incorrect in your experience?

More important to use a paint that doesn't melt big holes into the poly.

 

[Boston Bees]

More important to use a paint that doesn't melt big holes into the poly.

Such as?

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Such as?

I tried spraying polystyrene with car paint in my teens. It did not go well

 

[Antipodes]

Such as?

Dimethyl ether as a propellant will eat holes, from my experience... mind it could be one of the other ingredients.

 

[pargyle]

Masonry paint has a tendency to peel off more.
I use Cuprinol shades or a Ronseal similar type garden paint.

Or even the Middle of Lidl Garden paint when it is in store - half the price of Shades and it does a fine job ... I managed to pick up a few tins of the dark grey that nobody liked at the end of the promotion for £1 a tin... mind you I also bought a tin of the Sage green that was hidden under the dark grey that nobody had noticed ...

 

[user 819]

Not seen it in MOL in my local store.

 

[pargyle]

Not seen it in MOL in my local store.

Ahh... got confused ... just looked at a tin in the garage ... it was Aldi - not Lidl ...

https://www.aldi.co.uk/garden-accents-paint/p/702675336849200

 

[Bear]

Yes, the recommendation is that you should paint the inside of poly feeders - anywhere that the syrup will touch, effectively. Masonry paint is perfect. Otherwise the syrup will seep into the poly. That might not do any harm, but then again it might - I have seen a video of an unpainted Paynes nuc with extensive mould on the outer face caused by syrup leaking through the integral feeder, for example, so clearly it can be an issue.

You can see the difference in the pictures. I read also you should add a bit of sand to help the bees climb the walls after they’ve been painted.

 

[madasafish]

I used Hammerite Garage Door Paint in 2016. on my Paradise Honey poly hive. Looks as new.. Expensive.

The later supers painted with masonry paint flake in parts.
Now I just use Garden Shades or Wood Stain or whatever I can buy cheaply.

 

[BoStor]

I ended up getting a cheap end-of-line tin of Gloss and had a light green colouration added.
After two coats, it looks very well sealed and with no obvious odour so think it should be ok.

 

[madasafish]

In the bleak midwinter - The Apiarist has a section on paint half way down

 

[Erichalfbee]

In the bleak midwinter - The Apiarist has a section on paint half way down

Thanks just had a look. The Hammerite paint looks good.

 

[madasafish]

Thanks just had a look. The Hammerite paint looks good.

Cheapest is Ebay for Garge Door Paint

 

[Swn58]

Poly feeders should be painted inside with food-safe paint.

Just gloss then?

 

[Swn58]

Or try aerosol spray painting your poly hive.

I'm buying an airless sprayer for this years hives and nucs. I did read that white gloss was recommended for feeders......no painting of inner brood boxes or supers. I also read that Gloss 'melds' better, with gloss garage type paint. I find that mat masonry paint chips off quite easily as it sits on top of the polystyrene too much. I will be 'tweeking' a few things this year I think.