Perhaps it is just me but could somebody please tell me they have this issue as well. In 100 years somebody with a metal detector is going to find countless hive tools around where I have bees. I seem to need to attach my hive tool to myself with a string because I always set it down someplace while I am working on the hives and then can't find it. I don't know if I knock it off of things and it falls on the ground in the weeds or if I just set it on the ground and lose it in the weeds but I never seem to be able to keep it in my hand for an entire hive inspection. Please tell me that I am not the only person with this problem.
Sorry, you are the only one. :grin: :grin: :grin:
Ok did you believe that.
I had problems with weeds and decided to use a weed and grass killer (at night) to knock down the weeds. After the grass died off I found two of my tools. I have not lost a too; since. -Mike
Here's my favorite hive tool:
http://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1102
And it comes with the hole you can tie the string through...
I bought a dozen from Brushy Mt. back when they had them. I think I can still find six. I didn't use the string method...
Buy one a month and lose one a month for years to come.
Buy a dozen and never lose another one.
Yours truly,
Murphy
I think the sand around here eats all kinds of tools. :grin:
I try to always put my hive tool in my back pocket. If I don't put it in my pocket, I end up playing hide and seek.
Jim
>Buy one a month and lose one a month for years to come.
>Buy a dozen and never lose another one.
>Yours truly, Murphy
Sounds like Gumperson's law to me. "The probability of anything happening is inversely proportional to it's desirability."--Gumperson's Law.
Murphy's law is: "If anything can go wrong it will".
By buying a dozen you reduced the UNdesirability of losing them so you decreased the probability of it happening.
Eric, sort of along the lines of what Jim said; I had some new beeks over at my place from our club. Our president was there as well. He said "Gary, Can I make a suggestion?" I said sure, "Put your hive tool in your pocket".
I'm still trying to master that feat. Great idea though.
I cant even keep it in my hand when I know its in my hand........ It always mysteriously winds up on the tailgate, or one of the hives top across the yard, or in the grass.............. I try to keep one at every yard, and 2 in the truck. Still, believe it or not, I have found myself glaring at the ground cussing with none in my hand................. :cry:
Its a good thing I have to go to Waverley for work in the next few days I can pick some new ones up at Dadent. It does make me feel better knowing I'm not the only one with this problem. Sawdust I never use my back pockets... I am sure some shrink would trace it back to my childhood when I sat on something bad... I don't remember what it was but I have never used back pockets since.
Buy or make an apron. Make pockets that are for each tool you carry. When you finish a colony inspection drop the tool in the apron pocket where it is handy to carry. Also the apron keeps propolis off your clothes.
Don't lose the apron.
I've have the long two j hook model for seven years now, I make sure it's sterilized and in the door pocket when I leave.
It's between arrival and departure that sometimes drives me batty. Can't understand why the hive tool disappears from the time I put the lid on one hive and go to crack another. There it is setting on the spare box in the van or somewhere else that's just as stupid. They have legs!
> I make sure it's sterilized...
Really? I'lll bet there is not one documented case of a disease being spread by a hive tool...
Well, I know it's paranoia MB but I've been mentoring a couple 2nd year beeks ( I guess you can call it that cause they didn't learn anything but how to put bees in a box and yes, they do die over the winter). Sooo, working closely with them (like how to pull frames right LOL), the bees are not from me from me and their equip is handme downs, to err on the side of caution yada yada. Besides I'm finding it a lot nicer working with a tool not all crusty with propolis.
I am kind a allergic to stings, with some of my bees I wear a full suit. I will put the hive tool and propane smoker lighter in one front pocket and a bee brush in the other. I am still using the original on all three. I have had to hunt them once in awhile. I do try to clean my hive tool a couple times or so a year.
Now I do have my hives on concrete slabs or decks, not in the grass or on dirt.
Joe D
Wont keep you from misplacing them but I have in the past painted things with blaze orange spray paint that had a tendancy to get set down and "disappear"....wont stop you from temporarily misplacing it but it sure is easier to find when it ends up on the ground.
>I have in the past painted things with blaze orange spray paint that had a tendancy to get set down and "disappear"
I started doing that when I was doing concrete work. It wasn't so hard to find tools laying on the deck when I was a carpenter but laying in the dirt they get hidden pretty easily. Florescent orange does stand out better even when half covered with dirt or laying in the grass.
I went out and bought a pair of canvas pants, (think that's what there called). They have a couple pockets on the outside thigh. Tool fits perfect and easy to slip in/out. I sometimes leave it on a lid, but easy to grab, since I inspect down the line. Still have my first one, but I do have more, (for sale), but if I lose it. I will have another.
Haven't lost mine yet but my ground is not weeds but cacti. i carefully look where I put it. lol
>I went out and bought a pair of canvas pants, (think that's what there called).
They are carpenter's pants and the reason for that pocket is to put your folding rule in. I haven't seen a carpenter carry a folding rule since I was a little kid... but the pocket is still there.
While I am working the hives, there are only two places I will ever allow myself to put my hive tool. It is either in my hand, or on the lid of the hive next to where I am working. When I enter or leave the yard, it is in my chest pocket. It just "feels" wrong to put it anywhere else. I haven't lost one yet, but it's only been 3 years. The other week, I did find a friends hive tool sitting on the stand beside one of my hives. He put it down during an inspection, and it grew feet and walked on him.
HI all,
I put down some cheap green indoor outdoor carpet, no mowing and tools are easy to find.
Gene
I haven't lost a tool yet, but...I have forgotten to zip my veil when I flipped it over my head, a few times. Try moving a hive a night, with your veil unzipped. The girls walked right up and in, and I had a good time. Things that make ya dance.
I try to always have it in my back pocket. But then I'm about to get heat stroke and feeling dizzy and get into the minivan to leave and it pokes me... Since I have the hooked Italian one, it doesn't poke a hole in my seat anymore... but still...
Quote from: Michael Bush on September 09, 2015, 03:37:13 PM
I try to always have it in my back pocket. But then I'm about to get heat stroke and feeling dizzy and get into the minivan to leave and it pokes me... Since I have the hooked Italian one, it doesn't poke a hole in my seat anymore... but still...
I don't know about the heat stroke but I can't stand things in my back pocket.
My friend Billy use to carry his hive tool in his back pocket. He did this until he cut a big gash in has truck seat. He then attached pockets to his jacket sleeves and clams that is the best place for him as he can always feel the tool's weight. -Mike
I couldn't find mine the other day as I was going to work my hives. Everything else was right where I left it except the hive tool. The wife had grabbed it to use as a paint scraper on the front porch... :angry:
Quote from: Hi-Tech on September 10, 2015, 03:31:11 PM
I couldn't find mine the other day as I was going to work my hives. Everything else was right where I left it except the hive tool. The wife had grabbed it to use as a paint scraper on the front porch... :angry:
Look on the bright side, at least she was scraping paint! :wink:
Better her than me :cool:
When I was a kid we used my father's hive tools for everything. It's a wonder he could ever find one. He did have quite a few as I recall and he was just as guilty of using it for things not even remotely related to bees.
I bought a couple of the same hive tools that m. bush posted the link for & a couple of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161679901971?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I put used carpet down around the hives in my out-yard & covered it with sawdust so it would look a little better to take care of weeds. I also leave 2 hive tools on top of the hives in each yard now. no more walks back to the truck or house to grab forgotten tools & no holes in truck seats. I also leave a hive tool in my shed with stored hive boxes so it's handy when I'm pulling boxes to use in the yard. before doing this I tried keeping tools in the ruler pocket on carpenter pants. I was always misplacing them around the house or truck or forgetting to bring them to the hives.
I'm still missing at least 2 tools somewhere in my storage shed or workshop.