Hive bodies, What type of Wood?

[dburgess]

What kind of wood should one use in
building hive bodies?

[Shadetree]

I just use #2 pine.

[Frohnho]

This is my first year but my bees seem to like my choice in wood. I used #2 eastern white pine for all the boxes and SPF 2x6 for the frames. I think the 2x6 was fir.

[Steve_in_NC]

Go to an old Ma and Pop saw mill and get some cypress. Its about 80 cents a board foot.

[Michael Bush]

I've made them out of scrap wood. I've used cedar, pine, 3/4" scrap plywood. But I'm cheap. I usually try to buy #3 pine if I can cull through the wood and find tight enough knots. It depends on what is available.

[BILLY BOB]

If you have under 10 hives go out and get the best wood you can find. Cypress is a good one you don't even have to paint it.

If you have more than 10 hives, use whatever you can find.

[Branman]

Is spruce acceptable to make hives with? Are there any types of wood I should avoid other than really pricey wood?

[Michael Bush]

Spruce will work. My guess is that pine is cheaper and lighter, but if you can get spruce cheaply, it's very durable and strong, and almost as light as pine.

[Branman]

somehow spruce is the cheapest stuff I can find here retail. I still can't really make it cheap enough to behoove me to make my own boxes yet.

[MountainCamp]

You will most likely not be able to find lumber at lumber yards at prices to allow you to build cheaper then you can buy pre-cut boxes for. Shipping charges can change that, thou.
If you want to build your own equipment, you will need to seek out a small local mill as a supply for lumber.
If you are in Atlanta, I would have to say that you'll have to take a drive to find a supply mill.

[SippyBees]

I can get cheap bandsawed cypress near me, but can anyone tell me if the bandsawed stuff is smooth enough for a hive body? Do I must plane it before I use it? I am assuming someone out there is familiar with a bandsaw finish.... it is pretty smooth, but not like a planed board though.

[Michael Bush]

I suppose it takes a bit more propolis to coat it. But bees coat the inside of of trees and that's a lot rougher. Cypress will last better than most anything and is lightweight. I would use it if it was available for a reasonable price. It's worth a couple of dollars more per box for the cypress.

[MountainCamp]

Rough cut lumber is fine. I use it all of the time. I take care of the outside with paint and they take care of the inside.