Cypress for hive building.... want some?

timfromtang · 18-03-2021 4:45pm #1

Hi All,
I am a long time lurker on this forum, i post regularly though on the forestry and woodcraft forums. I've a sawmill in the yard and such..

I have some 3 tons or so of nice Cypress logs. I understand that the timber (heartwood only) is very rot resistant and nicely scented, and that it is widely considered suitable for hive building.

Would any of you like some boards for hive building?
What sizes will suit?
I am planning to build some Warré hives with some of it.
It would be a shame to see such nice wood end up as post and rail fencing or suchlike.

tim

Flipperdipper · 18-03-2021 7:11pm

Hi Tim, I'm hoping to build two or three new hives, national, this year to replace the couple that I have. It would help to know what county you're in, I'm in Wexford, if you're close I'd definitely be interested.

timfromtang · 18-03-2021 7:17pm

Flipperdipper wrote: »

Hi Tim, I'm hoping to build two or three new hives, national, this year to replace the couple that I have. It would help to know what county you're in, I'm in Wexford, if you're close I'd definitely be interested.

I'm in Westmeath. What board sizes would typically be used? I'd say shipping might be easy enough.
tim

Flipperdipper · 18-03-2021 7:28pm

225mm X 18mm for brood box and 150mm X 18mm for the supers.

timfromtang · 18-03-2021 8:24pm

Flipperdipper wrote: »

225mm X 18mm for brood box and 150mm X 18mm for the supers.

What length are the sides of the boxes? boards can be supplied in a multiple of this length to minimise waste.

Planed or plain sawn?

tim

Flipperdipper · 18-03-2021 9:48pm

timfromtang wrote: »

What length are the sides of the boxes? boards can be supplied in a multiple of this length to minimise waste.

Planed or plain sawn?

tim

2 x 460mm and 2 424mm long, these dimensions are for national hives which I use, there are lots of others in use. I know people who use planed and others who use sawn. I don't think the bees care much either way.:)

timfromtang · 20-03-2021 1:53am

Flipperdipper wrote: »

2 x 460mm and 2 424mm long, these dimensions are for national hives which I use, there are lots of others in use. I know people who use planed and others who use sawn. I don't think the bees care much either way.:)

Multiples of 1 meter length boards would suit so,
thank you very much,
I'll go ahead and saw some in these sizes and stack em to dry
tim

victor8600 · 25-03-2021 12:34pm

For you information, plans for some of the popular hives (with dimensions) are available at Dave Cushman's website. For example, the National hive brood box dimensions are http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/natbrood.html

Thud · 30-04-2021 9:23pm

Only seeing this now Tim, did you sell all the boards?
i see you built a hive yourself, any pictures?

timfromtang · 01-05-2021 4:18pm

yes we built a warre hive, i've lots of cypress available.
very busy with other forestry work at the moment, I'll be sawing more cypress in the next few weeks.
tim

Cypress for hive building.... want some?

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