I'm suprised no one has mentioned varnish.  I'm plagued with dry rot
on my hand-me-down hives, especially on Guam, so I use spar varnish
or external polyurethene on the horizontal surfaces - the mating
surfaces between hive bodies and the rabbets - and end grain on the
box joints.  Those are the areas which hold moisture and dry slowly.
I also varnish the overhanging ends of the frame top bars on Guam.
Dan


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