Tim Morris said
 "I am trying out the copper naphthate as a preservative for the first time"


An article in the July issue of WOOD magazine talks about PT lumber and the
fact that it will be banned in 2003 in the US.  Tim is not using PT but a
copper compound which is used as a wood preservative as is the copper
compound in PT.  The article describes the copper component in PT: "makes
wood rot resistant and stops some insects".  I believe that no part of a
beehive should be treated with preservative except the hive stand that comes
in contact with the ground but not with the bees.  Paint your hive
components (exterior only) with a good quality exterior grade paint.  They
will last for years.  The component of PT that resulted in the ban is
arsenic not copper but neither should be used around honeybees.  As the PT
label states: "do not use treated wood for mulch, cutting boards, counter
tops, beehives, animal bedding, or structures or containers for storing
animal feed or human food"


Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
80W44N