Using Lifetime Wood Treatment on Bee Hives
When I got back into beekeeping, I decided to do several things differently. Armed with hindsight, I undertook simplifying everything. I eliminated different sized components (I’m using all mediums for supers and brood boxes), and I’ve stopped painting my equipment. I hate painting, so this has made my beekeeping all the more enjoyable. What, you may ask, am I doing? I’m using an interesting product called Lifetime Wood Treatment. It doesn’t make the hives traditional white, but even the laziest among us will find it easy to use, and best of all, it’s a natural product that doesn’t leave behind toxic residues.
If you decide to try this product, you’ll be dubious: It goes on like water, has no immediate effects, and doesn’t have much of a smell. Here’s what it looked like immediately after the application:
As you can see, nothing happened. Besides looking a little wet, everything seemed as it was.
Now look at the equipment after being exposed to the elements for a few weeks:
The coloring was uniform, the wood seemed protected, and that watery mixture did indeed have an effect.
When you order the treatment, it will arrive in a small packet as a powder. The powder is mixed with water and then applied to the wood with a brush. I made my solution with distilled water (per the suggestions on the packaging). I also made too much. As you can see from the picture below, two hives (2 bottom boards, 4 mediums, 2 outer covers, and 2 entrance reducers) didn’t take much, and I sloshed it on liberally. In powder form, the treatment would practically last forever; mixed with water, it should last several months and perhaps longer if you use distilled water.
After the application, I let the components dry for about three days before I put them outside.
That’s all there is to it. You don’t have to be particularly careful, it goes on with minimal effort, and it works. Since the hives aren’t white, you might have to provide a little more shade during the hot times of the year, but I haven’t noticed any negative consequences. The hives don’t stand out, which might be beneficial if you’re afraid of vandals or thieves.
May 18, 2008 • Beekeeping
4 Comments
Hi Christopher, just got done reading your article about using Life Time Wood Treatment on your hives. I’m in West Central Florida and am converting my in ground pool into a fish pond. I plan to cover about 25 per cent of the pond with wood walk ways/decks. Don’t want to use the pressure treated lumber and am wondering if the LifeTime stuff is suitable. My lumber would not be in water but would be a few inches away. Here in Florida un-treated wood outside rots in a year or so. Hope your experience so far will help to enlighten me.
Keith on November 7, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I think this product would be suitable for what you’re wanting to do. I went out and made a detailed inspect of my hives, and the wood still looks perfect. The hives have darkened a bit more since I took the photos. I’m thrilled with the results thus far.
If I’m not mistaken, I think the Lifetime website makes mention of using their product on or near docks, which would be a situation more intense than what you’re describing.
Christopher on November 9, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Hi Christopher,
I was just wondering how well the LifeTime wood treatment was holding up? Has the wood gained a silvery patina at this point? It sounds like a great product.
Thanks for the update.
Kerri on July 8, 2009 at 4:34 pm
All of my woodenware is in great shape and holding up well. The equipment has taken on a silvery look and darkened a few more shades, especially the hives that are in the sun for most of the day. I intend on doing an update to this post in the near future to document my current observations.
I still highly recommend this as an alternative to paint.
Christopher on July 8, 2009 at 11:45 pm