I was wondering if anyone has used redwood for supers and what their experience was and if it is alright to use, my uncle gave my father a whole unit of finger jointed, I dont know if the glue that hold the finger joints together is harmful and they are already primed 2"x12"x20'. They were given to him about three years ago and they still looks like new, my father told me today that i could have the unit if I want to build supers and frames and I think its a great idea I just wanted to make sure it was alright to use for the bees also I was curious do frames have to be tapered on their side rails like they are when you purchase them or can I just cut out that step if i make them my own I plan on only running 9 frames in a 10 frame super so there will be more room between frames but maybe it wont be enough room, any information would be helpful
2 x 12? Can you get them cut down to 1 x 12? And on running 9 frames, only put 9 frames in a box after they are drawn out. New frames will have too much bee space and they will start combs in between the frames. And I think redwood would be fine as boxes. At least the price is right for the wood.
i can cut them down but there are groves about 8 grooves in them about a 3/4 inches deep, which i would use that fall off for frames, the wood was supposed to be for a department store and the grooves were intended for shelving but the order was canceled or something, thats why we ended up with it, but yea nothing will go to waste i made a bottom board out of it today, its one of the pretties bottom boards I have ever seen and free.
Red in color or are they painted?
it is redwood but it is primed grey
will it matter much the supers being 9 1/4 instead of 9 5/8, its only an 1/8 inch difference.
Bees will fill a 1/8 inch gap. Glue it shut tight. The bee space is too close. Cut spacer piece to go between the boxes, and glue it to the short box.
built frames and supers out of the redwood, they turned out really nice, I will have to post a couple of pictures
Would love to see pics, especially the frames.
pictures of my foundationless frames and one of the supers I made.
(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x424/ronwhite3030/IMG_0767.jpg)
(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x424/ronwhite3030/IMG_0763.jpg)
(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x424/ronwhite3030/IMG_0762.jpg)
(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x424/ronwhite3030/IMG_0761.jpg)
(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x424/ronwhite3030/IMG_0760.jpg)
(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x424/ronwhite3030/IMG_0765.jpg)
Very nice frame construction. Ive built some hive bodies etc, but never have dove into the frames themselves..yet. They look great
Sweet. Very sweet.
Very nice. Wish I had the patience and skill to work wood that well.
Wow! Almost to pretty to use! Great work!
The honey they put in the super will be much prettier then the frames, but yea I agree they are pretty.
:mrgreen: Looking good ;)
Brushy charges .67 for theirs. I'll gladly pay you .70 for yours. Lol. I like them
Nicely done!
Those units look real nice,don't ever let a cabinet guy build Bee boxes. I've got some black walnut I was thinking of using just kidding the quality of your work is great looks like you have a nice shop there also.
where are you from in northern california bellavista?
Very nice work. So much better than the stuff that I slap together!
Hi Ron I'm 6 miles east of Redding. Did you have some hives survive into winter? I didn't medicate for anything this fall I guess CCD got mine this time. Maybe we will have a spring this year and will be able to get off to a early start.
I have a hive and a nuc going into winter. we will see how things go, I could tell bellavista as your name kinda gave it away is this your first year keeping bees?
Nice work and great loking timber. Did you make the frame ends or buy them and just make the top and bottom rails?
I made the frame ends, I made everything.
I've read somewhere it was used in the past, poultry incubators were constructed of redwood too. nice work!
hey wd have you used chat?
Heres a small piece from California State Beekeepers' Association (http://books.google.com/books?id=UclJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=red+wood+bee+hive&source=bl&ots=LG3bYeOIGM&sig=PHBeTWSNwDx_qDOdrxn6nsdvNxI&hl=en&ei=oLv-TOfQHYz4sAPdrLCwCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFAQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q&f=false) - 1918 - courtesy of google book results about the use of redwood hives. If ya look theres more out there on the subject. no, I haven't been in chat
Hi Ron This was the second year, different problems both years. I hope to beat the odds with numbers and different methods top bar, African, ware etc. Just kidding sort of. I don't know what the heck I'm doing. I thought for sure The New Carniolans were going to be the answer. I will try at least one other hive style next spring what have I to lose.
If you have questions just let me know and I can give you advice and what not, hopefully get you a few hives living through next year.