Pine or Cedar hives?
Should you choose a pine or cedar hive? Cedar is much more expensive to buy than pine, so is it worth spending the extra money on a cedar hive?
Cedar is particularly suitable for use outside as it shrinks less than many other timbers. It has a lower density and because it shrinks less is more stable, so less inclined to warp.
It is also one of the world's most durable woods and is resistant to moisture, decay and damage by insects. Cedar is a soft red timber with a distinctive and pleasant smell. One of the perks of making beehives is bringing the timber home and enjoying the scent as we drive! When we make your hive we keep the shavings from the hand-planing to fill the quilt box. It is the pungent aromatic oils in the timber that are believed to deter insects - but not bees!
Much of the Western Red Cedar available in the UK is imported from Canada but we're working with a supplier in Dorset who source and fell FSC timber on local estates.
Because cedar is a more expensive option, some people choose pine. As pine is not as weather resistant we coat the pine hives with linseed oil several times before applying a final coat of linseed oil mixed with bees wax. We use larch for our "pine" hives which is durable and copes well with being outdoors.
We use the same timber supplier for both larch and cedar.
Our pine an cedar hives are made to the same exacting standards and include the same components.