Poly hive musings.

[fatshark]

Hi fatshark, just a thought on this one, would it be possible to cut down the divider so that it's the same depth as the box and to add a central partition to the floor? Maybe the interlocking design of these boxes would make the whole thing just that bit too fiddly to justify? I've no hands on experience with these boxes but they do look the part (nice conversion solution too).

That might work but would be a bit tricky to make. For the central divider it would be straightforward. There are 'slots' to accommodate it moulded into both the body and the floor sections of the poly. However, since this is also a Langstroth to National conversion I would also have to have upper and lower end panels splitting the same way. Possibly beyond my limited wood butchery skills.

Welcome to the forum BYF ... my real interest is not to have stacked divided boxes. Instead it is to allow me to unite an upper divided box (for example in which two queens have been mated, checked for performance and then sold/donated/used to requeen a production hive) with a lower box that is undivided. If the lower is queenright and the upper two are not a standard newspaper unite would - within a few days - generate 12 frames which could then be moved to a standard National brood box.

This isn't a deal breaker, just something that might suit the way I tidy up colonies at the end of the season.

[fatshark]

Ha! I can't afford the life insurance premiums necessary to use a router ...

[fatshark]

Has anyone used thinned solvent-based exterior gloss paint on dense poly hives? I've been searching the interwebs and see Murray (ITLD in the other place) recommending 'gloss' paint but have managed to avoid almost all decorating in my life, so don't know whether all gloss is solvent based or not. Being mean I bought some Wilkinsons Evergreen external gloss - on special offer for about £8 - and hoped to use it. It is solvent based.

I'm half way through converting a MB Lang nuc into a 2x3 frame National and would prefer the entire thing didn't melt in front of my eyes when I paint it ...

[The Drone Ranger]

Hi Fatshark you do get gloss acrylic (water based paint)
Lots of fumes off the solvent based paints
High VOC I think that's Volatile Organic Compounds mean don't breath this
PVA might protect them enough ?
You can water it down thin

[gavin]

Don't paint it with lemongrass oil, that would be my hot tip for the night. Must take some pictures of the outcome of the drops that didn't get wiped on my jeans. Yes, they do use exterior gloss. I remember a conversation on the lack of effect of solvents but wouldn't like to give advice on the basis of a half remembered natter. The paint is usually sprayed on, which might reduce the solvent load. I just went for masonry paint as suggested by John Laidler of MB at the time.

[The Drone Ranger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75rKRXI87SE
This is a spray paint so would have more solvents in a can
Wonder whats in Lemongrass oil Gavin
Lots of window/door paint is Acrylic these days

[fatshark]

That's exactly the effect I'm trying to avoid. Looks like I'll be seeking a refund and going with the masonry paint again ... around here the colours are rubbish, brick red, black, magnolia etc. I've used the red, it's OK, but the tin is almost empty and I fancied a change. It's also matt and doesn't seem particularly hard wearing.

[gavin]

Try a pm to Murray on the other site. I know he's busy but he does like to be helpful when he can. I imagine that they use the same stuff as you've got, perhaps thinned for industrial-scale spraying (when the neighbours were out, I was told!).

[The Drone Ranger]

Nip into the DIY like B&Q I think they can mix any colour you like
It starts white and they just bung in the dye and start up the paint shaker thing
http://www.trade-point.co.uk/services/paint-mixing/
this sort of thing
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs...reservices.htm

[drumgerry]

What is it about masonry paint and pastel colours?! Or the alternative.....sh**e brown!

Just bought a tin of Dulux Weatherseal smooth masonry paint in washed out green. But I am going to thin it a bit and try to spray it! I'm told HVLP spraying doesn't create much overspray but we'll see....