I used to have a large plastic tub that I used to put all my beekeeping equipment in. It was useful because I had all my gear in one centralised location, that I could easily move in/out of my car. The tub became damaged from rough use and equipment fell out through the gaps. Now, quite often I forget things and all my gear is scattered.
I need a better system. I'm wondering, what do you beekeepers use to store your equipment? Do you have some sort of beekeeping tool box?
What is ALL? For me mine will fit in a heavy duty small plastic shopping basket or a heavy duty plastic milk/soda crate. But it is usually just in the back of the pick-up...
Other than the smokers, the stuff I use with my hands (hive tool, queen clip, lighter, ect) on is in a black bag that a skill saw came in.
>Do you have some sort of beekeeping tool box?
I have several of these:
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Old-Style-Merrill-Tool-Box-w_-Custom-Bee-Brush/productinfo/247S/
I makes nice stool to sit on, a nuc to put a swarm in and a toolbox...
michael, is the inside of that tool box rabbeted to accept frames?
I have a wind brake that is made out of pallets in a zig-zag arrangement. On top of the end one is a plastic mail box. My smoker sits on the slats of the pallet and is covered with a clear plastic pretzel container to prevent rain, snow, sleet and hail from deteriorating the bellows. I don't use many tools. The mail box is large enough to house a torch, igniter, brush, frame gripper, hive tool, mouse guards, and three or four entrance reducers. Sometimes gloves. I bring sawdust and rolled cardboard out to the hives for fuel.
http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/acebird1/Bee%20Tools/Beetools002.jpg
I have a presto pressure cooker pot for snuffing out burning fuel that is left in the bee yard.
i just use a wheeled yard tote. because i do cut outs and have a trailer setup with ladders and vac and tools. just keep the yard stuff in the small roller tool cart.
john
Interesting tool-box-hive there Michael.
I have quite a number of tools. Smoker, lighter, matches, gas canisters, pine needles, hive tools, brush, water spraying bottle, duct tape, pocket knife, hammer, cordless drill, screws/nails, mirror, fire-extinguisher, anti-histamines, gloves, suit, honey scraper, beekeeping journal, pen, plastic takeaway food containers for honeycomb, rubberbands. I'd imagine it'd continue to expand as my skillset and understanding improves.
Omni
Here is my homebrew bee tool tote. I was too frugal (pronounced "cheap") to go the Merrill box route.
Photos taken during final tweaking stage. Brush now has a dedicated compartment along inside wall. Center section has numerous containers for bandaids, queen marking equip, alcohol spray bottle, etc.
Spence
>michael, is the inside of that tool box rabbeted to accept frames?
Yes. The most important function of the toolbox, though, is as a stool so I don't hurt my back.
Quote from: Michael Bush on January 05, 2017, 08:55:38 AM
>michael, is the inside of that tool box rabbeted to accept frames?
Yes. The most important function of the toolbox, though, is as a stool so I don't hurt my back.
To stand on or to sit?
Sit.
I don't feel comfortable sitting while working bees. I made too many clumsy mistakes that require a quick exit.
>I don't feel comfortable sitting while working bees. I made too many clumsy mistakes that require a quick exit.
...and it takes too long to get up?
Quote from: Michael Bush on January 05, 2017, 08:55:38 AM
>michael, is the inside of that tool box rabbeted to accept frames?
Yes. The most important function of the toolbox, though, is as a stool so I don't hurt my back.
So if used for a swam... where is it vented?
Edited... I see the vent hole now :oops:
I screwed a box together using some 1/2 and 3/4 inch scrap plywood. It holds the frame perch, hive tools, hammer.pliers, brush, propane torch, smoker fuel and my smoker which I plug before storing. Gloves and veil get stored hanging on the outside of the box to dry out. I found a padded suit case handle which really helps when I am lugging the box around. It's a little heavy but all the materials I used making it was free so I can't complain. The hard part is making sure all the stuff gets put back in the box at the end of the day.
The supers, covers, frames and other wood ware have a corner in the shop under some shelving next to the extractor and uncapping sink. After all these years being a bee keeper I finally learned to keep it simple if at all possible.