In a message dated 9/22/98 8:52:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
 
> I have been offered  some hard wood supers with the  incentive  that
>  they will last longer than  pine  supers that  last only  2 -3 years
>  in  our environment.
>
>  I would be interested to know  whether the  group thinks that  hard
>  wood supers that  "should last " 5 - 10  years would be a better
>  investment for the  hobbiest and if so  how much  more should they
>  pay.
 
   I know nothing about Australian woods, so probably should keep my mouth
shut. But beeing somewhat compulsive, I can't.
 
   Around here pine will last 15 -20 years, if you keep bees in and termites
out. In northern USA, some supers will last a lifetime. I used to have some
from New York that were made around the turn of the century, but South
Carolina sun baked the life out of them, and I haven't seen any of these
lately, so I guess they've all been culled.
 
   Pine supers that are stacked up without bees to dry them out will have a
much shorter life. Cypress, especially heart wood, is preferred for bottom
boards, though expensive. Termites rarely bother it and rot is very slow of a
problem. In some areas cedar is used likewise.
 
   I don't set my hives on the ground if I can help it. I find free pallets,
and let them rot instead. The bees are healthier too.
 
   A pine pallet on the ground is only good for two years on average. Our
termites LOVE pine.  Oak will go double to triple that. Rot is much slower and
termites too.
 
   BTW, is hobbiest the superlative for hobbyist?   My congratulations!
;o)
 
[log in to unmask]     Dave Green  Hemingway, SC  USA
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