Comments on: Paint and Finish – Warre Hive Construction Guide

By: Jordan

Jordan — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:06:00 +0000

I live in alaska and the mornings can be chilly, even in the middle of summer. What do you think about painting the hive black? Would it get too hot inside? I can place my hives where they get the morning sun but is shaded in the evenings.

I just thought painting it a dark color would help give them a boost in the mornings but not sure if it would get too hot. It sure would help in the spring and fall too. Maybe someone with more experience has the answer!

Thank you in advance,
Jordan

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:51:13 +0000

Nick: First of all many thanks for this beautifull manual. Currently I’m constructing my own Warré hive. I would like to finish the hive with linseed oil and I received a leftover from a friend. However it seems that pure lineseed oil does not dry. What do you add to the lineseed oil to let it dry properly?

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 29 May 2009 04:38:00 +0000

chad – Yes, I can. There is a great frame design at http://warre.biobees.com/denis.htm Denis is a beekeeping in France and he developed a half frame which is the best frame solution for the Warre Hive that I have seen.

By: chad

chad — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:58:24 +0000

do you no how to build frames for your bee hives if so can you help me

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:17:31 +0000

Laura – I like to use 2 coats of linseed oil on my hives. I just leave my cedar hives bare without paint or finish.

Both latex paint and linseed oil work well. Do not use shellac or varnish on your hive. It prevents the beehive from breathing.

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:14:58 +0000

What sort of paint do you use? Just latex exterior? For a nude covering, what’s best – lynseed oil? I just read something on the warre yahoo group that painting the front of the hive white is a good idea, so that bees can more easily see the high contrast with the opening of the hive.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:07:39 +0000

Keith – I am keeping warm…although the temp is around 25F and there is snow everywhere. Maybe that is warmer than Illinois!

The Warre Hive is smaller than a Langstroth, but that makes for easier handling. It is a lot lighter too when you have a box full of honey. The package bees I hived last spring did well in the Warre. Good luck with the frames! Send me some photos if you want, and I will post them!

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:03:59 +0000

Hope things are warmer out west than here in Northern Illinois, Nick. Just completed a trial bottom section of the Warre Hive and by the measurements it seems small compared to the hives used commercially. How’s your packaged bees acclimating to this small size? I’m going to try and make the removable frame since I got the okay from our state inspectors office.

Thanks and Happy Holidays