Gloves - to be or not to be?

[heidip]

I have a question...I'm a new beekeeper this year and I've not been wearing gloves, which IS the way I prefer it..but it seems that at least every other time I'm in my hive I get stung on the fingers or the hands...and I still (after 7 stings since I started in April) swell real good for a couple of days...I did try to wear the gloves 1 time...and it was as expected...the gloves are so clumsy that they got stung about a dozen times...which of course meant aggitated honeybees! So it was an unpleasant inspection...I just wonder if anyone has tried any rubber or neoprene gloves or something that's tighter to the fingers and would offer some better dexterity and sensitivity than those clumsy leather beekeepers gloves (light colored of course)...I'm even wearing xs and they're still just bulky? I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions that you all may have! Many Thanks!

"Happy is he who hath the power to gather wisdom from a flower"

[Rich V]

I don't like using gloves and when I go without I get stung. My fingers swell up for a couple of days. I tryed the latex gloves but that dosen't stop the stings so I went back to the thin leather.

Rich V.

[shado_knight]

I just started in april this year as well. I don't wear gloves, & haven't been stung yet. The only protective equip I wear is a hat & veil. Yesterday I wore shorts & a tank top, cuz it's so hot. I use a smoker, & smoke myself down before going to the hive. I also go in the hive in the early afternoon, when most of the workers are out, & work the hive very slowly, and from the back, so as not to interfere with the workers coming & going. Works for me anyway, though i'm sure the day will come when they will attack! LOL :shock:

[BMAC]

Speaking of being stung and not stung.  Earlier this year when I helped the local commercial farmer I would have many bees climbing all over my jeans.  Some would sting.  I even had the unfortunate experience of having a couple get up my pant leg..  Anyway once the summer heat started rolling in the ticks and chiggers become so bad here you would have be covered with them just after one yard.  We use Deep Woods Off bug repellent and it seems to work pretty good keeping the bees off the pants, shirt and head.  Food for thought.

I would only suggest using it for those parts of your body that dont go in the hive though.

[BeeHopper]

I have a question...I'm a new beekeeper this year and I've not been wearing gloves, which IS the way I prefer it..but it seems that at least every other time I'm in my hive I get stung on the fingers or the hands...and I still (after 7 stings since I started in April) swell real good for a couple of days...I did try to wear the gloves 1 time...and it was as expected...the gloves are so clumsy that they got stung about a dozen times...which of course meant aggitated honeybees! So it was an unpleasant inspection...I just wonder if anyone has tried any rubber or neoprene gloves or something that's tighter to the fingers and would offer some better dexterity and sensitivity than those clumsy leather beekeepers gloves (light colored of course)...I'm even wearing xs and they're still just bulky? I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions that you all may have! Many Thanks!

"Happy is he who hath the power to gather wisdom from a flower"

I use Nitrile gloves one size smaller for a tight fit and excellent dexterity, not to protect from stings, but from the messy propolis in the hive.  :D

[randydrivesabus]

what mil gloves?

[mark]

your getting stung with the gloves and without tells me you need to be slower and more careful working the bees OR your bees are just too aggressive.  i made sure the gloves i use fit well even if i need to turn them inside out and stitch the fingers tighter in the tips.  some fingers are just too long if i don't do this.

[CraigW]

I started in April as well but, I do wear gloves, the clumsy bee gloves.
The only time I have a problem is when I go to pick up a frame so I use a good pair of pliers that works great.

If my fingers can't get it the pliers do, I just make sure I have a good grip. I have seen gloves get stung but I haven't had the dis-pleasure of it yet.

[fcderosa]

I wear gloves all the time, as a jeweler I can't afford to lose work with swollen fingers.  Get some good quality cowhide gloves - soft and pliable, and fit to your hand.  Good gloves make a world of difference and make working with them so much easier.  Also work slower.  My girls are use to the gloves and don't get agitated with their use. :lol:

[Brian D. Bray]

>>The only protective equip I wear is a hat & veil.

How daring a naked beekeeper.  Getting stung on your fingers should be the least of your worries.  LOL  :)

[kensfarm]

I'm a neebee too..  I initially used a pair of Nitrile gloves from Brushy Mountain.. wasn't too long before they ripped at the finger tips.  

I bought a pair generic gloves from the grocery store that you use to wash dishes.. they are bright yellow..  thicker.. and cover halfway up your forarm.

[heidip]

I have heard of other people using dish gloves...I'll give that a try...also up here a lot of the beekeepers don't smoke the bees...we just spray them with the HBH...and it's been working fine..but I think now that they have good stores of honey and we're in a nectar dearth here...maybe it's time to start with the smoker...I do go very slowly and methodically when I'm in the hive, it just seems that they like to walk on my hands, maybe it's because I get the HBH on my hands while working...some times they just go merrily on their way..and other times, they just like to remind me who's boss...I really appreciate all of the feedback! Thanks!

[Apis629]

It's rare for me not to use gloves when I open a hive.  I usually don't bother wearing gloves if the hive is small, say, the size of a nuc or so.  If it's too hot, I'll skip the jacket and just go in jeans, a t-shirt, gloves and a veil.  Do I have to make it any clearer, Brian D. Bray :lol: ?  I can't stand stings to my fingers but, anywere else (ankle, leg, back, arm, etc.) they're no big deal.  I've actually found that I aggitate more bees when I don't wear gloves in the larger hives.  I usually go over them with a magnifying glass, just to count stings per hive.  It usually doesn't get above 2 :) .

[Jay]

If you don't want to wear gloves (I only wear them when I do building removals) try smoking your hands before you work your bees. Not wearing gloves allows you to have more tactile response and therefore crush less bees. Less bees crushed = less alarm pheromone released! :D

[heidip]

Thank you I will use my smoker on my next visit...Thanks! heidi

[Summerbee]

I don gloves whenever I delve into my hive, i.e. go down to the brood chamber.  If I am feeding them sugar water or just checking the honey supers then I don't .  I have only been stung a couple times wearing gloves (on the glove). Mine are a size Medium, mens,  it is like having socks on your hands.  I kind  of stitched them to fit around the fingertips and hands.  But then they get hot and sticky.   I just can't win, can I? :)

Oddly enough I find that I am stung mostly on the shoes and ankles.  I started ducttaping my pantlegs to my sneakers.  Another beekeeper reccomended knee high cowboy boots to keep bees out of your pants and socks.  I'm on the lookout for old ones for cheap price. It Sounds like a good idea  - anybody tried it?

[Jerrymac]

It Sounds like a good idea  - anybody tried it?

Tried what? You mean people wear something other than boots :shock:

[Apis629]

I've been known to check bees in socks and sandles.  Usually, I'll wear my sneakers.

[rsilver000]

Something else to keep in mind, if your gloves get stung, smoke the area around the sting to mask the pheramones released during the sting.  You will get much less aggitation in the bees.
Cheers,
Rob

[Davzbeez]

If I am going into the brood area, I wear thin leather gloves that I have stitched the fingers tight on.  I also tuck the bottoms of my beesuit into my army boots.  I have  not had a problem with bees getting into my pants! :D