We're proud to offer lumber options that are not only ideal for housing bees but environmentally conscious and long-lasting.
Our wood options are FSC® certified. That means they come from forests that are strictly audited to promote growth, protect ecosystems, protect indigenous right, support surrounding communities and prohibit illegal logging. We don’t compromise our environmental standards when we source our wood, and we don’t compromise quality either. Western red cedar, sugar pine and douglas fir are stable, long-lasting woods that provide excellent insulation for bees. They are harvested just a few hours from our mill in the Pacific Northwest. Whatever wood you choose, you're choosing a hive that is not only kind to the bees, but kind to the environment. Below are some key points about each wood option.
Western Red Cedar
Our kiln-dried, FSC® certified western red cedar is our premier wood option. Although this premium cedar costs more, it has many advantages: excellent strength for weight, natural rot resistance, and a beautiful glow. Kiln drying ensures consistent moisture levels to minimize warping and cracking. If cared for correctly, a western red cedar hive can last decades. We usually leave our hives unfinished to weather naturally to a grey patina, or alternately you can seal them with a coat of pure tung oil.
Douglas Fir
Douglas fir has the highest strength to weight ratio of all North American softwoods. We use the highest grade of FSC® douglas fir for our hives, meaning no knots appear anywhere. The lumber is kiln-dried, making it incredibly stable and less prone to warping or shrinking. Douglas fir won't chip, splinter, or split easily—it's one of the hardest softwoods available! It can handle repetitive action from the prying and cutting of hive tools. With superior fastener holding (once screwed together), your boxes will remain solid. Douglas fir is widely available throughout the pacific northwest. We don't have to go far to get this durable, sturdy lumber, keeping our material miles low. Also, douglas fir has greater resistance than pine, making it a long lasting choice for your yard or apiary. Treat the outside with natural tung oil for even more longevity!
Sugar Pine
Our kiln-dried, FSC® certified sugar pine is our value wood option. Pine is slightly heavier than cedar and it doesn’t last quite as long. Even so, sugar pine is a very stable wood with few, infrequent knots. It’s strong, durable, and provides great insulation for bees. Sugar pine trees grow very straight, are dimensionally stable (meaning they resist warping, shrinking), and process beautifully through our machines with minimal tearing or cracking, making it the ideal pine species for bee hives. It can be painted or sealed with a coat of pure tung oil.
CNC Precision
We produce thousands of hives at our Portland mill using a keenly precise CNC (computer numeric control) machine. This machine allows for unparalleled precision in crafting each piece of each hive we produce. Our skilled woodworkers ensure that each piece fits together seamlessly, so by the time it gets to you, it’s easy to assemble. We work hard to ensure the consistent quality of all components.
Our wood options are FSC® certified. That means they come from forests that are strictly audited to promote growth, protect ecosystems, protect indigenous rights, support surrounding communities, and prohibit illegal logging. We don’t compromise our environmental standards when we source our wood, and we don’t compromise quality either. Western Red Cedar, Sugar Pine and Douglas Fir are stable, long-lasting woods that provide excellent insulation for bees. They are harvested just a few hours from our mill in the Pacific Northwest. Whatever wood you choose, you're choosing a hive that is not only kind to the bees, but kind to the environment. Below are some key points about each wood option.
Western Red Cedar
Our kiln-dried, FSC® certified Western Red Cedar is our premier wood option. Although this premium cedar costs more, it has many advantages: excellent strength for weight, natural rot resistance, and a beautiful, natural glow. Kiln drying ensures consistent moisture levels to minimize warping and cracking. If cared for correctly, a Western Red Cedar hive can last decades. We usually leave our hives unfinished to weather naturally into a grey patina, or alternately you can seal them with a coat of pure tung oil.
Douglas Fir
Douglas fir has the highest strength to weight ratio of all North American softwoods. We use the highest grade of FSC® Douglas Fir for our hives, meaning no knots appear anywhere. The lumber is kiln-dried, making it incredibly stable and less prone to warping or shrinking. Douglas Fir won't chip, splinter, or split easily—it's one of the hardest softwoods available! It can handle repetitive action from the prying and cutting of hive tools. With superior fastener holding (once screwed together), your boxes will remain solid. Douglas Fir is widely available throughout the Pacific Northwest. We don't have to go far to get this durable, sturdy lumber, keeping our material miles low. Also, Douglas Fir has greater resistance than Pine, making it a long lasting choice for your yard or apiary. Treat the outside with natural tung oil for even more longevity!
Sugar Pine
Our kiln-dried, FSC® certified Sugar Pine is our value wood option. Pine is slightly heavier than cedar and it doesn’t last quite as long. Even so, Sugar Pine is a very stable wood with few, infrequent knots. It’s strong, durable, and provides great insulation for bees. Sugar Pine trees grow very straight, are dimensionally stable (meaning they resist warping and shrinking), and process beautifully through our machines with minimal tearing or cracking. Sugar Pine is the ideal Pine species for bee hives. It can be painted or sealed with a coat of pure tung oil.
CNC Precision
We produce thousands of hives at our Portland mill using a keenly precise CNC (computer numeric control) machine. This machine allows for unparalleled precision in crafting each piece of every hive we produce. Our skilled woodworkers ensure that each component fits together seamlessly so by the time it reaches you, it’s easy to assemble. We work hard to ensure the consistent quality of all components.
Stainless Steel Screws
Screws vastly improve the strength of your hive, with or without glue. We specifically include stainless steel screws with each hive for optimal strength. While it may seem like a small detail, stainless steel screws will last much longer and ensure a stronger hive than a typical nail and glue construction.
Stainless Steel Screws
Screws vastly improve the strength of your hive, with or without glue. We specifically include stainless steel screws with each hive for optimal strength. While it may seem like a small detail, stainless steel screws will last much longer and ensure a stronger hive than a typical nail and glue construction.
Strength Without Glue
We designed our hives to have plenty of strength without glue (including wood glue) because we prefer to keep our hives chemical-free. While we don't deem it necessary, you may still decide to glue your hive. If you buy an unassembled hive you can easily add glue as you screw the pre-drilled components together.
Unassembled & Pre-Drilled
Because we use kiln dried lumber, all of our components are pre-drilled. We use precise rabbet or our propietary comb joint on most of our parts, and are able to offer unassembled hives to our customers. Unassembled hives reduce costs because they simplify storage and shipping. Building your hive also allows you to decide whether to use glue or other materials to add strength. We also provide all screws and hardware, along with detailed instructions to guide you through assembly.
Unparalleled Top Bars
A tidy foundationless hive depends on quality top bars. They are one of the most important factors in colony and beekeeper success. This is why all of our top bars feature wedge comb guides that add bar strength, promote straight comb attachment, need no pre-waxing, and avoid the use of chemical-laden foundation.
Unassembled & Pre-Drilled
Because we use kiln dried lumber, all of our components are pre-drilled. We use precise rabbet, finger joints or our propietary comb joint on our parts, and are able to offer unassembled hives to our customers. Unassembled hives reduce costs because they simplify storage and shipping. Building your hive also allows you to decide whether to use glue or other materials to add strength. We provide all screws and hardware, along with detailed instructions to guide you through assembly.
Unparalleled Top Bars
A tidy foundationless hive depends on quality top bars. They are one of the most important factors in Top Bar Hive colony and beekeeper success. This is why all of our top bars feature wedge comb guides that add strength, promote straight comb attachment, need no pre-waxing, and avoid the use of chemical-laden foundation.
Customer Service
We provide assembly instructions with every hive we ship out. Whether you have a question about the status of your order, assembly, or anything bee-related, you’re just a click away from support.
Successful beekeeping starts with education and we want every beekeeper to be successful. That’s why we makes strides to continually release rich and informative videos, researched articles, and blog posts.
Our videos are produced with beekeepers and bee-enthusiasts in mind. Sometimes reading about bee behavior or beekeeping practice isn’t enough to fully grasp the wonder, beauty, and impressiveness of bee biology. With our videos, real-life bee footage, and expert advice we help pull the whole picture together.
We want to ensure our customers are happy with their purchase, and confident about raising healthy, successful colonies. We take a couple different measures to promote these goals, including beekeeping education, resources, and customer support 6 days per week. We update our blog and social channels regularly with helpful information and tips. Be sure to follow us!
