Greetings All, Ivan asked about various types of wood to make hive bodies from. Being a woodworker myself, I have had a lot of discussion about the subject with others, and have made a couple of discoveries about the different types of wood. First, most woodenware is produced from one of the pine species because it is easy to work, easy to find, and bees accept it readily. Another fine wood to use is of course cypress, but unless you order the bodies, or live near the swamp areas of the south, cypress wood is tough to find. Unless you have the proper equipment, you will wear out many of your power tools trying to work oak. Various types of cedar are mentioned often, but for use only as an outer cover or bottom board. Bees have a difficult time accepting it as a hive body. And no matter what you do, Eastern Red Cedar is very seldom accepted in any use in a hive. Hope that helps! Scott