Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: beepro on June 22, 2018, 09:44:25 pm

Title: who's cheaper than me
Post by: beepro on June 22, 2018, 09:44:25 pm
Hi, All!


I use a special waterproof paint to paint the thin less than 1/4" card boards to make my bottom and top hive covers.  Got the gallon paint from
a sale.   I've been using this paint for 2 seasons now without any issue on the bees.  These are for my nuc boxes only.  This is a
cheap way to make many covers out of free cardboard.   I use a utility knife to cut out these panels after painting them.   Tested to be waterproof after drying. 
So who has a more cost saving method to make bee equipment?


Special waterproof brown paint:

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOp-wkW2UGiJsXycm8SFQBkIt8rDjxY45GmmixJ

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOgqJpoCC9UppdlT0lyRswKoNCjNZZ3EHOT6eRT/photo/AF1QipMlPZUlhuuAqYD80mcH_6DsY0NSaQJ7MWedtcdz


Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: Acebird on June 23, 2018, 08:47:30 am
Links don't work for me.
I use to build cardboard airplanes and painted them with Painters Touch.  It is a water base paint that is not only water proof it is fuel proof and comes in all differrent colors.  The best glue to use is a polyurethane.  It will foam up in the flutes and make it brick hard.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7iZARAUZwLxqvV8b6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7kcgjudpzTQPY2Kz7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y1LK7iSptEsYEyc2A
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jRXS1JbjyQ8LbKtP9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/w645jcwhyFedivDX8
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: Beeboy01 on June 23, 2018, 04:47:03 pm
I'm using 50 year old boxes with more repairs than original wood in my yard along with some 20 year old frames along with a 50 year old Kelly reversible extractor. Still trying to figure out how to make my own foundation for cheap or free if at all possible. Using painted card board for bottom boards beats me by a couple feet at least. Heck it's a hobby and being thrifty is part of the fun. :)
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: iddee on June 23, 2018, 06:24:43 pm
Free isn't cheap enough for me. When I want bees, I charge 300 or more to come get them. I pay 100 for a new hive with frames and foundation, a hundred to a guy to do the removal, and I put a hundred in my pocket.

Final result, new hive of bees and 1 hundred plus in my pocket.
Is that cheap enough?
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: Acebird on June 23, 2018, 09:23:47 pm
That is discussing Wally.  Taking advantage of fellow beekeepers.  At least paint the boxes before you give them the bees.  Shees. :-)
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: iddee on June 23, 2018, 10:16:07 pm
PAINT. NOOOOOO  I'm too cheap for that. I use white wash.
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: Beeboy01 on June 23, 2018, 11:02:02 pm
I get my paint at the dump, they give it away to county residents, 5 gallons per day for what ever color you can load. Still looking for free lumber. ;)
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: sc-bee on June 26, 2018, 11:39:42 pm
PAINT. NOOOOOO  I'm too cheap for that. I use white wash.

Do you really white wash the outside of your hives? If so with a paint mix or lime?
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: iddee on June 27, 2018, 06:42:23 am
Just joking, SC.  I actually use ECO wood treatment.  https://ecowoodtreatment.com/

I dip the boxes and let them dry. Takes a minute per box and last for many years.
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: beepro on July 01, 2018, 09:36:26 pm
It is hot out there!   I manage to sneak in a few hours during the cooler part of morning to
waterproof paint my nuc boxes and thin cardboard covers.   They are now fully assembled.  All I need to
do is to make the bottom entrance for these nuc boxes out of the fence board.   For the nuc hive covers I bought the 3" cedar fence boards and then cut them
out to assemble with the fence screws.  I plan to cut thick foam boards to insulate the inside since it is rather hot and cold in our seasons.   With a 3" height cover, putting sugar
bricks and patty subs should not be an issue.

Hopefully within the next 2 days it will be done with the entire hive assembly.   And then make up the mating nucs ready for the queens from my homemade small
fridge incubator.

Fully assembled boxes and lids:  http://imgbox.com/F7yXXEUC
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: ed/La. on August 05, 2018, 05:37:12 pm
Lately I've been using 1x6x14 pine boards. About $6 after tax. Enough to build deep box and 8 frames with a little wood left over. With six screws and some nails for frames.  it probably cost $6.50 . Of course labor is free. For screened bottom boards I use less than 3ft.2x4 plus the hardware cloth and 4 screws. Few staples. About $4  For tops I use whatever is available or 1 inch foam with a brick or 2  With the hive parts dimensions being short free lumber is readily available.
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: Ben Framed on September 15, 2018, 05:01:01 am
Links don't work for me.
I use to build cardboard airplanes and painted them with Painters Touch.  It is a water base paint that is not only water proof it is fuel proof and comes in all differrent colors.  The best glue to use is a polyurethane.  It will foam up in the flutes and make it brick hard.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7iZARAUZwLxqvV8b6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7kcgjudpzTQPY2Kz7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y1LK7iSptEsYEyc2A
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jRXS1JbjyQ8LbKtP9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/w645jcwhyFedivDX8

Ace those are some really nice planes!!  Go a little larger on your next build and you can pilot them yourself!! In the cockpit!!
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: Ben Framed on September 15, 2018, 05:08:01 am
I'm using 50 year old boxes with more repairs than original wood in my yard along with some 20 year old frames along with a 50 year old Kelly reversible extractor. Still trying to figure out how to make my own foundation for cheap or free if at all possible. Using painted card board for bottom boards beats me by a couple feet at least. Heck it's a hobby and being thrifty is part of the fun. :)

Hello Beeboy01 I have a great tip for you if you want to make your own foundation, and great quality, cheap! Look on youtube. There is a man and his wife from Ireland  that produces farm type videos. He was also once a commercial bee keeper there.  The name of the channel is Way Out West.  He made two videos on this subject. I can't remember the title of the videos, you will have to find that yourself. He also has a unique way of melting wax. Well worth your time to look these up!! You will probably want thank me once you check these out!! They are that good!!
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: Acebird on September 15, 2018, 08:07:31 am
Go a little larger on your next build and you can pilot them yourself!! In the cockpit!!

I thought about it but then I got married again and the wife said no, to the plane and the motor cycle.  LOL
Title: Re: who's cheaper than me
Post by: Ben Framed on September 15, 2018, 12:14:28 pm
Go a little larger on your next build and you can pilot them yourself!! In the cockpit!!

I thought about it but then I got married again and the wife said no, to the plane and the motor cycle.  LOL
[/quote

😊😁. She wants to keep her husband safe and sound !! ✅