Hello Ed !
        I am a beekeeper in Belgium, french speaking ! My english is very
poor ... excuse me !
 
Here we have usually a very mild and wet weather !
Painting or not painting hives is another beekeeper discussed problem ...
Decay is the first material problem for hives.  And it begins by the inner
side.
 
Ideally, you may use rot-proof wood : canadian red cedar is ok; it don't need
any painting.
 
Over here, beekeepers use a propolis solution in methanol (methyl alcohol) or
ethanol (ethyl alcohol) as inner paint : 2 or 3 coats, maybe more.  It is
more sure and regular than by the bees work.  On the outside, they use a
"lasure?" (I don't find the english term, but it is a paint "non-filmogene")
to allow wood breathing.
 
Actually, I use, not beeswax (because its rapid oxidization over 80 degres
C), but micro-crystalline mineral wax (from the Shell Petroleum Co, melting
point > 70 degres C).  The wax is heated to 120-130 degres C and you put
carefully the hive in for 10 min.  They fry as potatoes : water boils and wax
enters the wood.  Obviously you must get specific hardware, but here we are
some beekeepers to use it.  With this process, wood become perfectly
waterproof even in narrow slits, while it keeps its insulating properties.
 
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 Jean-Marie Van Dyck                    Medical School - Biochemistry dept
 B.P. 102                               Fax +32 81 72 42 72
 B-5000     NAMUR(Belgium)              email : [log in to unmask]
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