Wax dipping hive boxes (part 2)

I like to run my wax at 230f to 250f. My wax is a mix of 51% beeswax and 49% paraffin. Because of the high% of beeswax, I worry about darkening the wax by running it too hot. I could probably go with a higher heat (to cut down on soak time and boil the water out of the wood faster), but this works well for me. My average soak time is 12+ minutes. I don't have gum rosin in my mix like a lot of other people suggest. The gum rosin is essentially pine sap anyway. So since I am using pine wood for my boxes, it didn't make sense to me to double up on it. I have tested my boxes with cuts and observed them out in the rain. Water beads off them beautifully and the finger joints don't swell in the least. I did take half of this run and used an oil based white primer that allowed me to paint them and add that much more longevity to them. You'll want an oil based paint for at least an initial coat of you choose to paint them as wax and oil are similar components. It's sorta like making lotions and lip balms, you can mix oils and waxes just fine. Anyway, this us just what works for my limited setup.