wooden ware question

[pembroke]

do anyone of you use treated lumber for bottom board? I am using SBB and have found the bottom rails have deteriorated some from insect travels and burrows. Would like to use treated lumber to eliminate this problem. Concerned about bees coming in contact with treated lumber on inside of hive . Will paint outside of bottom board rails,etc. All comments are appreciated. Pembroke

[Ski]

Interesting thought, because the screened bottom boards I purchased are painted all over, so the ones I built I painted all over inside and out but I still used untreated wood. My thinking from your question would be to use treated wood that has been dried out for a few months because what I get at Lowes is very wet, and then paint it. It should last a long time.
Note: I do not paint the inside of the hive bodies.

[Ross]

Just tack a couple of treated strips on the bottom of your SBB runners.

[Dave W]

I use Ross-style :) "treated runners" too.

[brooksbeefarm]

The only treated part of my SBB is the runners on the bottom (to keep from rotting out). No treated lumber goes inside my hives. The EPA makes them change treating chemicals in the lumber sometimes and we don't know what it's doing to our bees. IMO any chemical not tested for bees is bad and sometimes tested chemicals turn out to be bad. Jack

[pembroke]

so I take rotted rails and saw off the bad part and add treated lumber to bottom of rails?? Good idea. Thanks. Pembroke

[Let_it _Bee]

Cedar could be a better alternative for your situation.

[James R]

Grahams Bee Works offers a SBB made with composite runners. Material used like composite decking.

[B. Haning]

I built my screened bottoms out of 2 x 3 cedar fence rails. No rot or bug damage so far.

[pembroke]

lots of great ideas. Thanks. Pembroke