Tools for the apprentice

TheMasonicHive · August 02, 2008, 01:46:34 AM

Hey everyone!

I found a local beekeeper who is willing to let me help him for the next year and a half until I can get my own hive going.

I ordered my FIRST beekeeping supplies from Dadant today including:

1) Smoker
2) Veil (I already have a pith helmet)
3) Hive Tool
4) Canvas gloves
5) Frame Grip

If I am totally outfitting myself with all the proper tools to be an asset to another beekeeper, is there anything else I should get?

hankdog1 · August 02, 2008, 02:37:41 AM

you may want to consider a suit instead of just the veil it helps to make you more confident working the bees. also a must have is a head band of some sort of keep the sweat out of your eyes nothing worse then trying to work a hive and see with sweat running in your eyes and burning. Just curious about the name are you by any chance a traveling man?

charlescfry · August 02, 2008, 09:45:45 AM

My two cents...
1. Send back the gloves and learn to work the bees with your hands bare - you will have much better control and I learned that when I had better "feel" and control, I had fewer accidents like dropped frames. And accidents are what lead to bad experiences with the bees. So... save money on the gloves.

2. Skip the suit - the veil is ok as you gain confidence, and I admit that I HATE getting stung in the face. But I usually work my bees with no veil, suit, etc.

3. Buy a good Leatherman multitool and keep it on your belt. I use mine all the time for more uses than I can describe.

4. Buy or make a frame-holder so you can remove a frame and hang it some place secure to inspect it. I spent a couple years without one - then made one this year - and I would never be without it. It is so nice to be able to hang a frame, have your hands free, and inspect the bees at your leisure.

5. I keep a propane torch with me, and it has an auto-ignition on it. When the cotton-picking smoker goes out, I can relight it in a hurry. Overkill, but I think it is handy.

So... maybe this is worth two cents, but my total kit is pretty basic! Save your money and invest time with the bees!

JP · August 02, 2008, 10:50:17 AM

For a someone in your position I would recommend the jacket and veil combo from Dadant in addition to your veil that you can wear with long pants.

For very nice bees you still probably want to use a veil as you will be dealing with lots of opening and closing of different colonies that have different dispositions, the jacket and veil is for those colonies that are more aggressive.

A hive tool is a no brainer.

As mentioned a frame holder that you can attach to the side of a hive box and hang frames in can be invaluable, I use them, very very conveniant.

I would 86 the frame grip unless you really want it, just use your fingers.

Cancel the order on the canvas gloves. You may want to start off using latex gloves of some type, playtex living gloves, stripping gloves, etc... They offer protection and dexterity. After you get your feet wet you will want to go gloveless.

I only wear gloves when dealing with aggressive bees on cut-outs.

A propane torch is a great thing to have as it lights your smoker quickly.

One more thing and this is not a necessity but it may help you when you get home in front of the computer, a digital camera.

Take pics and study them, sometimes you will see things later on like eggs that you may not have seen otherwise, besides, its just plain fun to study and share pics with people like us.

...JP

TheMasonicHive · August 02, 2008, 03:41:09 PM

I know everyone says to get rid of the gloves. It is my intention to wear them extremely rarely! Only if the hive is very aggressive.

It seems like other clothing could serve as a bee suit.

I really want to take a confident approach to bees, not a frightened one!

On the point of the digital camera I am a photographer as is, so I've got some good equipment. A DSLR and a pocket digital which takes REALLY good video, so I'm excited to document my progress!

BeeHopper · August 02, 2008, 03:51:24 PM

As you gain experience, you will see yourself using less. Gloves that are thick at the fingers are a no-no, dropping a frame is worse than a sting on bare hands in my book, I use purple nitrile gloves exclusively. Frame grips were just plain awkward for me, they are spring loaded, so you have to keep a steady grip at all times, I gave mine away. We Beekeepers will always buy something we will end up discarding later.

Cheers :-D

sean · August 03, 2008, 09:48:59 AM

i would scrap the propane torch, an ordinary cigarette lighter works just as well(as long as you dont keep losing them like me) i have have never had my smoker go out once i have gotten it going and when i see ash coming up when i puff i know its time to reload it. I would also go with the cheaper gloves. Chances are you will only be using them for a short while so it would be worth the expense to buy the canvas ones.

Greg Peck · August 03, 2008, 11:18:21 AM

I like having some gloves handy just in case the bees get angry. It has happened a few times that I took to long in a hive or it started raining and the bees got mean. So I put on the gloves and saved a few stings. Not necessary but nice to have.
As far as frame grips I had one and after using it a few times it has not left the house. Not worth the money.

A hive tool is a must however I like the J type hive tool the best. I got one in a lot of used bee keep stuff and have not used the other style again since. It does everything the other one does plus it lifts the frames up without damaging the top bars.

I use a torch as well it is just easier to light the smoker with.

A veil with a sweat shirt or two and two layers of jeans work just as well as a bee suit. However a bee suit is much easier and cooler then the extra clothes. You probably dont need one but it is something that you will probably want to buy at some point.

randydrivesabus · August 03, 2008, 12:02:10 PM

i wear nitrile gloves almost all the time when working bees because when i get stung the sting area swells up and i like my hands to be fully functional for beekeeping and other activities.
bee jackets with built in veils are very handy...easy slip on and off.
sweat band is an excellent suggestion even though i still don't have one.

BenC · August 03, 2008, 01:38:41 PM

Photographer? If you care for your gear then yes get the gloves. I'd recommend the nitrile ones. Do your work and when you want to take a picture strip them off. It'll keep the propolis from getting on your hands and then transferred to the camera equipment. Those canvas ones might give you confidence but they don't help with dexterity and that's when bees get squashed and angry. Get a full suit or at least the jacket/veil combo whether you think you need it or not because at some point you will- Either for yourself or if someday you need to appoint a deputy they have a funny way of insisting on full armor. Forget the frame grip, too much hassle. Get a second hive tool, at least one will always be lost. Other things to have handy when venturing out (especially to the more remote beeyards) are: first aid kit, knife, cellphone, water, 2pc Rainsuit and change of socks etc.

Michael Bush · August 03, 2008, 02:13:56 PM

I don't use beekeepers gloves. They are too hard to get on and off and cost too much money. I just buy soft leather driving gloves (usually buckskin or doeskin) and tuck them into the sleeves of my jacket with zip on veil.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnewbees.htm#protective
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnewbees.htm#equipment

I definitely LOVE the self igniting torch for lighting a smoker...

rast · August 03, 2008, 03:09:35 PM

Seeing as how I am missing the end of one thumb, it made it difficult to lift out and maintain control of a full frame of comb. I made my own out of a pair of vicegrips. I clip on the center of the frame, break the frame loose with a hive tool and lift it out with the vicegrips. Haven't dropped one since. Also very easy to spin around to look at the other side of the frame.

bmacior · August 03, 2008, 03:43:54 PM

I like my frame grip. I use the bee gloves and they are really clumsy. :( I would love tobe rid of them. But being allergic to bee stings, I am leery about not wearing something on my hands. Can the bees still sting through them? How about spraying OFF bug spray on your hands. I heard that keeps the bees off. Would the spray wear off onto the frames?

Barb

jojoroxx · August 03, 2008, 09:44:31 PM

Quote from: bmacior on August 03, 2008, 03:43:54 PM
I like my frame grip. I use the bee gloves and they are really clumsy. :( I would love tobe rid of them. But being allergic to bee stings, I am leery about not wearing something on my hands. Can the bees still sting through them? How about spraying OFF bug spray on your hands. I heard that keeps the bees off. Would the spray wear off onto the frames?

Barb

PuhLeeeeese do not use OFF -bug spray - anywhere on your body, especially when you are going to be intimate with your bees. ;)

I too was not happy with the regulation bee keeping gloves; they are clumsy and create more trouble than they prevent. Being a gardener, and an athlete, I have found that using the higher end ($20+) full finger, gardening or mountain biking gloves, is the best for me. (They also have similar styles at the auto parts store, as folks might use them when working on their rigs or for motocross.) The offer a superbly nice (& tight ) fit w/impenetrable nylon/brushed leather. Sometimes the girls will glom onto the suede, but they haven't managed to sting me through them yet. I also smoke my hands/body frequently as I work them..

I've also used latex gloves, problem with those is my wrist might peak out -ouch! :'(

Kathyp · August 03, 2008, 09:58:18 PM

don't dump the gloves until you know how you will react to stings. you won't get much done if your hand is swollen up like a melon. MBs soft leather work gloves with the elastic wrist are great. i have no problem with the canvas gloves. it's all in what you get used to. also, i second the jacket with zip veil. comfortable and keeps the bees out of your face. mann lake has one that was under 50 bucks. if you do cutouts or swarm catching later, you'll be glad for it.

the minimalist idea is fine, right up to the point where you end up with 20 bees trying to get down your shirt and up your nose. then it's not so fun anymore.

nkybeekeeper · August 04, 2008, 12:35:49 AM

As a first year beekeeper and complete novice, here's my two cents:

- get the suit. you can work more confidently without worrying about getting stung.
- wear the gloves. take them off when you are confident in working with the bees.
- get one of those long lighters made for lighting candles and bbq's. you can reach way down deep in your smoker if you need to.

charlescfry · August 04, 2008, 06:16:08 PM

get some sort of frame stand - i made one in 15 minutes and it is nicer than the ones than hang on the side of the hives, but either way a frame stand lets you rest a frame somewhere, have your hands free, and be able to look and study the frame. Sometimes it seems like you need 5 hands to do everything, never enough places to put things down, etc. The frame stand is so nice in giving time to look and think and observe.