Where to buy cedar?

[JohnRoss]

Hi all I have been trying unsucessfully to buy some cedar over the last week or so. I want to make 2 new hives and some supers. I am in the South East of Northern Ireland. I have tried six different timber merchants and none of them know where to get it. Does anyone know where I can get it?

 

[jallen]

Hi John have looked in to building with cedar and found it often cost slot more then then just buying a hive I ended up making mine out of pine it's cheap and once painted will last a couple of years joe

 

[whizzwheels]

I've had the same problem trying to find somewhere selling decent size pieces of cedar, it sometimes works out cheaper to buy the hive in kit form than trying to buy cedar wood and cutting it to size.
I have been able to get some off cuts of cedar cladding from my brother who works in the building trade which I have been able to make the odd bits out of.

 

[sandysman]

Try Palmer Timber. They are in the West Mids. I have just found their details on the web.
Andy

 

[JohnRoss]

Try Palmer Timber. They are in the West Mids. I have just found their details on the web.
Andy

Thanks, I just tried them, they don't do it either.

I have tried a few suppliers here in Northern Ireland and they have all passed me on to a few others who don't have it either. I was wondering if anyone has a definitive source of cedar?

 

[Winker]

I use 18mm WBP Ply, last 10 years if you give it a quick lick of bee friendly preservative. 1 sheet costs £25 ish and can make at least 6 supers, costing around £4 a super

 

[JohnRoss]

Given that the supers are only out for the summer I suppose I could make them from ply but what do you use for the brood box?

 

[Torq]

I think Morgan's timber on Promenade rd East wall Dublin stock cedar and only an hour and a half down the road.

 

[Winker]

Given that the supers are only out for the summer I suppose I could make them from ply but what do you use for the brood box?

same again Ply. WBP ply is Water/Boil/Proof. To be on the safe side you can aply water proof glue to all the open eges to givem them a seal, but theres no need

 

[Black Comb]

When I inquired last year Jewsons said they could get it but (as others have said) the numbers don't add up.

 

[Winker]

Given that the supers are only out for the summer I suppose I could make them from ply but what do you use for the brood box?

here is a BB i made from 18mm WBP Ply with a thorns cedar super on top

Here is a pic of a 12mm WBp Ply with a Thorns cedar BB on the botom

 

[The Cumbrian]

Can't help with a source of supply in Ireland but I must be lucky. Walked into our local timber merchant got enough cedar for a 44" long kenyan top bar hive (all parts including legs bars etc. sides and end 1" thick 12" wide) for 37 GBP

 

[Norvic_chris]

I use 18mm WBP Ply, last 10 years if you give it a quick lick of bee friendly preservative. 1 sheet costs £25 ish and can make at least 6 supers, costing around £4 a super

I use the same stuff -- 18mm exterior grade ply ("flooring grade" will do) and get it cut into the right-width strips by B&Q free of charge (the only reason for buying it there!). They work out really cheap and I use a low-odour microporous wood stain just to keep the damp off. So far they've lasted well but it's times-consuming! Happy building!

 

[Black Comb]

Can't help with a source of supply in Ireland but I must be lucky. Walked into our local timber merchant got enough cedar for a 44" long kenyan top bar hive (all parts including legs bars etc. sides and end 1" thick 12" wide) for 37 GBP

Interesting. Can you tell me which one please?

Peter

 

[Flatters]

I use 18mm ply for both BB and supers and 2x12mm ply for the rails. All edged painted with PVA glue. I get the sheets from local timber merchant cut to size free (460mm and 424mm wide). Some of 12mm pieces can be got from offcuts so a lot cheaper.

Also if you do get cedar watch the dust as I believe it is carsinogenic

 

[The Cumbrian]

Also if you do get cedar watch the dust as I believe it is carsinogenic

I get the impression from my cabinet making mate that no wood dust can be classed as safe from that point of view. Hence is vast aray of dust removal equipment and masks.

 

[shudderdun]

I bought my cedar from here http://www.silvatimber.co.uk/ think it was just a touch less than 3/4 " and not quite 5 7/8" had to join it to get the Super depth, have a look, you may be able to machine some of their sizes up to suit.

Hope this may help.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

Can't help with a source of supply in Ireland but I must be lucky. Walked into our local timber merchant got enough cedar for a 44" long kenyan top bar hive (all parts including legs bars etc. sides and end 1" thick 12" wide) for 37 GBP

Hi

where was that?

 

[Waxing]

If you look at http://www.cfanderson.co.uk/module/page-77/type_id-57 Andersons specifically mention timber for Beehives. Not sure how little they'd supply though. Somewhere on the site it lists the sizes available.

 

[The Cumbrian]

Peter & Nic I have PM' ed you.