I was encouraged by a couple of seasoned beeks at Bud6 to take the gloves off when working with bees. Mike, Dallas, and a couple of others suggested it. Even ol' Bud himself talked to me coming back from a swarm. I could tell Bud was being real serious for my good and I appreciated it and took it to heart.
I encourage all glove wearers to try to do without them. Like the guys were telling me, when you're gloveless you can tell when a bee is between your fingers and the frame and therefore you can avoid squishing it. Because once it's squashed the alarm scent starts filling the hive and that spells trouble.
But I'm bewildered. You're going in the hive bare handed. They know their hive is being broken apart. Soft flesh is in their face and 'bout all they do is crawl over it. Why don't they sting? Smokey hands? Hive scent all over hands?
Smoke on your hands do help. I smoke myself heavily. Especially when I am working without a veil.
the blue nitrile gloves really do work. i double them up because i tend to rip them and you do sweat buckets in them, but they are a good compromise for me.....at home. the few hits i have gotten though them have been minor. like getting stung though your jeans.
That was exactly the advice I was given by a beek. I took the gloves off and within about 3 seconds had a sting on the hand. For sure you can feel the bees better and are more aware of when you are squishing them (the pain is a dead give-away). Now I get about 10 stings, mostly to the hands, when inspecting.
I often shake my head sadly and wonder why I ever paid him any heed. Do you still have your gloves on? Then it's not too late to forget what Bud told you!!
Once you have removed your gloves, believe me, it's a downwards spiral and the ones on the tips of your fingers will really make your eyes water.
Lone
Since I swell up pretty bad after a sting I've started using thin latex gloves (like nurses use)...this helps keep the stinger from staying in my hand. I always seem to be holding a frame when it happens and cant put it down to remove the stinger...by the time I check the movement of the glove seems to have taken care of it and I never find them. Works for me. If I didn't swell..I'd probably work without them though.
After multiple inspections I've only got stung three times. Two were because I was flipping the frame to view the back side and pinched the bees, who reacted accordingly. The other one was just a plain out "I'm gonna git ya!".
I like to use my bear hands to pack the smoker real tight. By the time I am done they are real smoked up. I very seldom get stung in the hands. Quite often I see the bees dart out of the hive and either hit my hands or almost hit my hands. But very seldom sting them.
Besides smashing bees, another thing that triggers hand stinging is speed over the hive. One swipe over the hive and you will be sure to take a few stings.
A glove full of stingers really irritates a hive every time you reach on to the hive.
Jim
I'm only a second year beek, but have yet to be stung on the hand. A few to the face unprovoked really.
Right before I open them up I give myself a couple whiffs of smoke then hit the hive. Seems to work well.
Early this spring they were a little testy. But no stings.
Look on youtube for "cody reeder" he just uploaded a video of a top bar hive inspection. When he goes to oull the first frame, he is imediately covered in what looks like half the hive. Really neet to see.