glove fingers to long

[rgy]

What does every body do about that?  Makes picking up frames difficult and kills a lot of bees.  Has any one else cut down the fingers and resewn or made your own gloves?  I have done both and wondering if there may be a small market for bee gloves that actually fit.  I know I would not get rich but at least cover my time and help out fellow beeks.

[BeeMaster2]

This may not be for you but my answer is to not wear any. I did wear gloves when I started and the gloves just piss off the bees. I took more stings with all of the protective equipment than I do with none. Slow down, place fingers carefully and don't breath on your bees. My biggest concern is "not dropping a frame or box" with no protection. Also don't work in your hives right before, during or after it rains. I once swiped my had across the top of an open box. 7 bees stung that hand so fast that I only felt 1 sting and had to look for the stingers to scrape them off the back of that hand and it wasn't until the next day, after the swelling went down, that I found the last 2 sting marks on the palm of my hand. I rarely get stung and when I do it is almost always because I crushed a bee with my hand. If you do get stung, step back and cover up the sting with some smoke.
Try wearing the thick dish washing gloves. I read where a lot of people on these forums like them. They do sweat in them but the bees have a hard time holding on to sting you.
Good luck.
Jim

[rgy]

I used to work them with out gloves but unfortunetely my immune system is going the wrong way with bee venom.  I'll have to post the picture of me in the ER.  Hand is the size of a softball,   I thought it was going to pop.  Face was not much better.  50 mg of Benadryl intraveinious realy puts a buzz on!

[AliciaH]

rgy, what happens if you go down a size?  I know the fingers are probably tighter, but some materials will give a bit over time.  Have you already tried that, too?

[Hemlock]

I know some people use those Nitrile, Latex, & kitchen gloves around the bees.  They say the bees cant sting through them.  The gloves might be more form fitting.  Hotter though.

[Kathyp]

the leather glove shrink some when you wash them.  you might try that.  leather also stretches so a little smaller glove to start with is better i think.  i got the goat skin gloves and really like them.  a little more expensive, but thinner and hold their shape better also. 

another alternative is a good pair of gardening gloves.  those are great around home, but i don't use them for cutouts or swarms.  had to many bees find their way up my sleeve. 

i am in your boat.  i can't take the stings.

[Martin]

i only use gloves on ocassion. if you have a local welding supply store get some tig welding gloves they are made of goat skin. they are thin and fit almost like nitrile gloves to allow the welder a good "feel". BUT the girls when mad can still get you. they do have a big cuff but you can put them on 1st and allow your suit to seal the cuffs.

[Scadsobees]

I started out with canvas gloves, they worked well but not stingless.  I also got a pair of leather gloves, a bit tight, but the left hand index finger is about an inch too long, so I get the effect you are describing.

I tried the nitrile gloves for a short period of time, and they work well with more feeling, but they get sweaty.  Those fit like a ...well... a glove! :)

The nitrile was my gateway glove in order to go glove free, and now rarely need the gloves and would rather not use them at all.

[rgy]

I shortened the fingers on a pair for my partner and I found a pair of leather gloves at Menards that had short fingers so I sewd on the sleeve extention to them.  I was wearing the nitrile for a while but I realy preferred no gloves at all but that is no longer an option.  I have an industrial sewing machine so the leather is no problem for me to sew.

[Sean Kelly]

Try the goat skin bee gloves.  I found that the fingers were better fitting, little tighter than the cheap cow leather gloves that came with my very first "kit" from Mannlake.

[BlevinsBees]

I first started with big heavy leather gloves, went to thin goatskin gloves to those yellow dishwashing gloves to nitrile gloves to no gloves. I  learned rather quickly though that when I do a cut out with saws and jackhammer,  I go back to the heavy leather gloves.  :shock:

[Michael Bush]

I buy the "doeskin" or "buckskin" gloves at the hardware store.  I tuck them into the elastic sleeves of my bee jacket.  You can try them on before you buy them, and they don't cost nearly as much and they are easier to get on and off.