MATERIALS
Western red cedar lumber and stainless steel hardware make these hives a weathertite and long-lasting home for bees.
Western red cedar lumber is an incredible material and was used for millennia by peoples indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, and it is prized by woodworkers for its workability, weatherability, and its strength relative to weight…not to mention the intoxicating smell of freshly cut cedar. Plus, Western red cedar lumber is a superior insulator due to its low density relative to other woods.
The hive bodies, quilt boxes, and roofs are constructed from salvaged western red cedar. This material was harvested from the western Oregon Cascades and for various reasons (size, splits, or otherwise not suitable to be milled into dimensional lumber) it would have been destined for the slash pile or pulp mill.
Though it has not been graded, it is a tight knot material; and there are few sawdust packed insect trails. Whatever insect created these holes, they are long since active and I’ve used a wood hardener to ensure the sawdust remains stable.
The ¾” marine grade Douglas fir plywood used for the hive bases and hive stands is an exterior rated material and is manufactured in Oregon. It is made with fully waterproof glues, is a premium grade used for boat hulls (and beehive components!), and has not been treated with any chemicals to inhibit decay. I only recommend finishing/sealing the plywood edge and leaving the top surface raw.