Hi there BeeShack,
Thanks for your message! Its a Cedar Hive and had two coats of 50:50 Citric Turpene/Tung Oil before a final 2 coats of straight Tung Oil.
The initial dilution is to encourage good penetration of the mixture.
Like you - I was reluctant to paint over such a wonderful grain but in Australia with its generous doses of UV, I am aware that I’m fighting a losing battle and it will eventually ‘Grey off’. That being said - I’ll try to keep it pretty as long as I can.
Though it will be three stories of WRC - you can get an idea of what my hive came up looking like after Tung Oil here: Hive Base & Screened Bottom Board Modification Idea
Cheers & Good luck!