Suiting up ... do you have problems seeing?

jeremy_c · June 19, 2009, 01:12:18 AM

Seems I have done a big no-no by not putting my veil on and not smoking my bees.

The problem I have w/wearing my veil is it makes it very difficult to see what's going on during an inspection. For instance, can you see an egg when your veil is on? I have no problem suiting up, it just has seemed to cause more problems than it solves, so far.

Jeremy

JP · June 19, 2009, 01:25:29 AM

I'd rather see you go veilless than go smokeless, but to answer your question, I don't have a problem seeing eggs with the veil on. I use the Dadant style jacket/veil combo.

...JP

Bee Happy · June 19, 2009, 01:32:27 AM

I do, the veil seems to pull the hat down in front. 8-)

JP · June 19, 2009, 01:34:56 AM

Quote from: Bee Happy on June 19, 2009, 01:32:27 AM
I do, the veil seems to pull the hat down in front. 8-)

I always wear a baseball cap under my veil, it keeps the veil in place and off my face.

...JP

Kathyp · June 19, 2009, 02:03:29 AM

i'd rather see you go smokeless than veil-less :-D.

some of it depends on what you are using. it also just takes some experience to focus through the veil.

i can't see eggs anyway unless i wear reading glasses and that makes me want to throw up when i walk around.

MustbeeNuts · June 19, 2009, 08:37:44 AM

I uise a handheld magnifier to see eggs. Smoke is usually on hand. Sometimes I skip the smoker, I have a full suit from dadant and see ok thru the veil. It pulls the hat down also but I just push it back up.

sean · June 19, 2009, 09:29:39 AM

It can be difficult at times to see the eggs with the veil on, one rule of thumb is to put the sun over your shoulder so some amount of light shines down into the cells. Oh, some glasses can help too :evil:

Natalie · June 19, 2009, 09:40:16 AM

I wear the hooded jacket style and don't have any problems seeing the eggs.
The veil or screen is pulled tight across the front so maybe that helps?
Find one that you really like so that you won't mind wearing it.

Bee Happy · June 19, 2009, 10:15:26 AM

no need to quote, thanks for the easy solution JP.

jeremy_c · June 19, 2009, 10:27:09 AM

Maybe I need to try a few different veils. I can see the eggs without a problem with my naked eye. However, putting on the veil makes this job pretty difficult for me. Or maybe I just need to practice seeing through the veil? It seems to me it's the screened material. For instance, we have one screen door w/a very dense screen pattern. I can look out it and sometimes it looks like it's raining and other times when it is raining and you look out it, you can't really tell if it's raining but opening the door or looking through a glass window it's obvious as to if it's raining or not. I believe the same thing is going on when looking for eggs through a veil.

Jeremy

Natalie · June 19, 2009, 10:37:15 AM

This is the one I use and I can see the eggs fine.

http://www.honeymoonapiaries.com/

Scadsobees · June 19, 2009, 10:43:55 AM

I can usually only see the eggs well if the sun is behind me, and I don't think that that is a problem with the veil.

Other than that I don't have any problems seeing. It takes a bit to get used to and figure out the best ways of using the veil.

Rick

rast · June 19, 2009, 10:48:24 AM

I have a couple of alexander veils That I use with a cap. I did staple the head bands up in them. I can see through the newer one better than the old one. I like them. The safari hat, folding veil, on my full suit does fall to low for me.

luvin honey · June 19, 2009, 10:51:18 AM

I don't wear gloves and I don't wear a suit, but on full inspection I always wear a veil :) I have long hair, and getting a bee stuck in it is too freaky to endure while holding a bar of brood comb. I can see the eggs just fine. I guess we all have our preferences. I don't mind getting stung anywhere except my head, so veil it is for me :)

wharfrat · June 19, 2009, 11:00:47 AM

Lesson learned the hardway........if you do go without a veil.....at least put on a pair of Safety Glasses!...those stings to the eyes are a beast...

JP · June 19, 2009, 11:04:40 AM

Jeremy, it sounds like you may just need to get used to seeing through the veil. Veils drive people nuts at first, but with time, its as though they're not even there.

Sun over the shoulder is helpful also, as others have mentioned.

Bee Happy, didn't mean to quote you, was just trying to address the falling veil issue. ;)

...JP

Bee Happy · June 19, 2009, 11:22:14 AM

lol, no I meant I didn't feel a need to quote the conversation - I figured you'd know what I was saying thanks for.

Robo · June 19, 2009, 11:49:18 AM

If your having trouble seeing eggs, use black Pierco, eggs stand out real well with it. It is the friend of many queen breeders :-P

Tucker1 · June 19, 2009, 12:05:40 PM

I have two problems with my veil. (My veil is part of my bee suit and looks like a helmet with a veil front, like a wind shield.)

1.) The veil often sit directly on my face. Being gifted with a large nose, my nose is always touching the veil. I've tried wearing a ball cap to keep the veil away from contacting my face, but that doesn't seem to work. I've give some thought to sewing in a flexible nylon bar across the front of my veil, hoping that it will keep the veil away off of my nose.

2.) I've found that trying to stick a finger full of fresh honey thru the veil ...... results in a sticky veil. (I suspect this is a simple cockpit error.)

As far as seeing, I don't have a problem. Especially, when I remember to wear my glasses.

Regards,
Tucker

Kathyp · June 19, 2009, 12:15:00 PM

http://www.mannlakeltd.com/ProductDetail.asp?idproduct=1744&idCategory=4

i have not tried this, but i have their jacket and love the hood. no problems with it on my face or seeing. wonder if this might be a solution for those who do not want a jacket, but want that kind of face protection?