The new beekeeper equipment chosses

[Brooklyn]

Thank to everyone's help on this forum. I have almost finished my first equipment list. So hear goes.

1 Bee Brush . I think it will come in handy
1 manipulation Cloth. not sure why
2 10 frame Entrance reducers.
1 10 inch Hive tool .
100 5 5/8 crimp wire small cell wax foundation. I am looking for all wax no wire? I am going to visit the Fat/Beeman he should have what I am looking for.
108 6 1/4 Grooved top and bottom frames.
1 Pro stainless steel Smoke engine w/shield and finger shield cone top.
12 6 5/8 Commercial Cypress supers . I am going with ten frame only because you can get more stuff made for the ten frame then you can for the eight frame.
2 Bottom Boards Cypress Commercial
1 Frame perch. don't know why
2 Migratory covers Help keep the hive cool all wood no metal
2 Vertical Slatted Racks. Help keep the hive cooler less work for the bees so they can make more honey. Also might help with swarming.

I am still up in the air on what type of bees and were to buy them. I will be going with nucs for my first year.

So what do you all think? any equipment out of line? Do I have to much or not enough?

Please let me know

Brooklyn

[Sparky]

Are you dead set on the grooved top and bottom frames ? I think it was mentioned by a couple of experienced beekeeps that if you bought the wedge tops you could use the wedge as a starter strip to give the bees a guide to build their own wax. You could also save some money and buy 1/3 that amount of foundation because of using the starter strip frames and just a couple of frames with foundation per box.

[mudlakee]

Get more than 1 hive tool, Trust me.  Tony

[David LaFerney]

I don't know.  I just finished my first year and I never did get a hive tool.  I still haven't seen one that I think I would really like.  I've been using a hyde brand painters tool that is excellent for most things, but I've also got this mechanics tool that is like a heavy ice pick with a hook on the end that I really like for lifting frames.  I'll probably have to make one myself to  get what I want. 

[Michael Bush]

>1 Bee Brush . I think it will come in handy

They are.  But a large feather from a goose or turkey works better.

>1 manipulation Cloth. not sure why

I have one.  Used it once about nine years ago.  Never got it out again.

>2 10 frame Entrance reducers.

Any old board will do.  I wouldn't buy them.

>1 10 inch Hive tool .

I prefer the Italian hive tool from Brushy Mt or the KW tool from Walter T. Kelley.  I gave away all the regular ones.

>100 5 5/8 crimp wire small cell wax foundation. I am looking for all wax no wire?

Dadant has all wax and no wire in deeps.  Perhaps in mediums.  I haven't looked lately.  When I was using the small cell wax it only came unwired in deeps and I cut those in half and ran two horizontal wires to make mediums:

http://www.bushfarms.com/images/Foundation49.jpg

> I am going to visit the Fat/Beeman he should have what I am looking for.

He should.

>108 6 1/4 Grooved top and bottom frames.

If you intend to use wax foundation you'll either need to wax it in with a wax tube fastener or buy the wedge top frames.  If you buy the wired wax foundation, you'll need the wedge top frames and probably the split bottom depending on exact dimensions of the foundation.

>1 Pro stainless steel Smoke engine w/shield and finger shield cone top.

That should work.

>12 6 5/8 Commercial Cypress supers . I am going with ten frame only because you can get more stuff made for the ten frame then you can for the eight frame.

I can't think of much I can't get for an eight frame.  Plastic top feeders.  I think that's it.  Between Brushy Mt. Miller Bee Supply and Betterbee I think you can get anything.  As for cypress, I think pine works just as well in supers.

>2 Bottom Boards Cypress Commercial

I'd get three.  You never know when you will need to do a split to avoid a swarm or you'll catch a swarm.

>1 Frame perch. don't know why

I sold mine because I never used it.

>2 Migratory covers Help keep the hive cool all wood no metal

Nothing wrong with the ones with metal on them either.

>2 Vertical Slatted Racks. Help keep the hive cooler less work for the bees so they can make more honey. Also might help with swarming.

They won't hurt.  But they are unnecessary.  You won't notice much difference.  I'd save my money.

>I am still up in the air on what type of bees and were to buy them. I will be going with nucs for my first year.

If you can find local queens, I'd go with that.  Otherwise it probably won't make that much difference between one commercial southern reared queen or another to start off.  Race is not as important as locally adapted queens.

Assuming you are starting two hives, I'd have enough on hand to make three hives in case of swarms etc.  Try to have a few extra supers around and at least one empty box just for manipulations where you go through every frame looking for a queen etc. and you can work from the existing box to an empty box.

Of course, I'd make my own tops and it would be cheaper and, IMO, better:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm

I'd go with eight frame boxes:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#lighterboxes

You'll need some kind of feeder.  I converted the bottom board:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#bottom

And some kind of protective equipment.  I prefer a jacket two sizes too big with an English hood and regular leather gloves tucked into the sleeves.  That way the gloves are easy to get off and on.  If you have any heat to deal with then I prefer the Ultra Breeze jacket.

[indypartridge]

>Bee Brush. I think it will come in handy
>Frame perch. don't know why
Some beeks use them, some don't. Certainly not essential.

>manipulation Cloth. not sure why
This is one I'd definitely pass on.

>10 inch Hive tool
Consider a Maxant or Italian type.

>I am going to visit the Fat/Beeman he should have what I am looking for.
Listen and learn. I've heard good things about his bees.

>I am going with ten frame only because you can get more stuff made for the ten frame then you can for the eight frame.
That's changing rapidly. If you think you'd like 8-frame equipment, get it.

>Bottom Boards Cypress Commercial
>Vertical Slatted Racks
Consider screened bottom boards instead.

>Migratory covers Help keep the hive cool all wood no metal
Metal works just fine.

>I am still up in the air on what type of bees and were to buy them.
Buy local, if possible. If you're gonna to talk to Fat/Beeman, consider him as a source.

You'll need at least a veil, maybe gloves. I just wear old white shirts I get from the re-sale shop.

[treebee]

 I'll add my .02 worth. I have only been keeping bees this year and have two hives going strong into winter. When the locals found out I was keeping bees the calls for swarms and cutouts came from all over and I decided to make a couple of nuc boxes to take with me when I go to see a swarm or cut out.they seemed to save time and a second trip on smaller swarms or easy to get at cutouts By the looks of my calls I should bee able to move up to ten hives this spring with out ever buying bees or queens and I should have all feral and locally adaptive queen bees. The nuc boxes will be well used this spring. John

[Scadsobees]

Brave, asking a bunch of cheap beeks their opinions!  I do agree with what is said above.... :-D

I've considered a frame perch, but never bother spending the money.  Unnecessary but nice.  It nice for setting frames aside, especially if you want to take pictures.

I agree about hive tools, I just I think the italian tool most, but I also use the basic 10 inch tool as well.  2 is nice, I can use either when I misplace one (very common occurance!!).

As far as foundation goes...if you have crimped wire foundation, I think that you will NEED the wedge style frames, but I'm not 100% sure.  Going with wax foundation I think I'd go with that anyway.

I think the manipulation cloth is to cover most of the top of the hive when pulling frames to keep them calm.  If its cheap go ahead, but if not then I'd think a piece of canvas or tarp would work just as well.

Other that the rest of what I think is just my preferences and there are a variety of opinions and they are all just as good so I'll refrain any further. :-D

Rick