Good morning:

In the U.S., the large bee equipment suppliers generally use fir or white
pine.  Rossman apiaries sells cyprus boxes, that is rot resistant like
cedar, but harder.

You can usually buy cedar hive stands.

I've seen beautiful, double-walled hives made of cedar in the NW.  But,
I've never seen a commercial operation use cedar, and I wouldn't either --
too soft, too easy to break, and too expensive.  For a hobbiest, who isn't
using heavy equipment or always working in a hurry, cedar would be good
because of the light weight.

However, I've always wondered - I wouldn't think that one would want to use
aromatic cedar - has anyone tried?  I'd suspect that the bees might leave.

My guess is that the wetter climate  in the U.K. may be the reason for
using cedar.  But fir or pine with a coat of paint hold up well.

Jerry

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