Personal Tools & Equipment

Grant F.C. Gillardgillard5@charter.net

The Most Essential “Tools”

• “Knowledge is power”• Bee Magazines and Supply Catalogs• Books• www.youtube.com• www.beesource.com• www.honeybeesonline.com • Bee clubs• Mentors and sage advice

Bee Hives

• Talk to suppliers, compare prices• Service and follow up, not just price• Learn the “lingo” and jargon• Ask five beekeepers = ten opinions• Attend workshops for assembling• “Beginner’s” kits helpful for first time• Tend to have stuff you might not need

Personal Equipment

• “Man Up” -- just take it like a “man”• “Suit Up” -- wear protective clothing• “Shut Up” -- bees sting! What’s your beef?

What do I need?• Personal safety• Back problems? Back brace?• Confidence and ability to work the hive• Pacify the bees - smoker• Ability to pull out sticky frames, separate

sticky boxes (propolis)• Removal of frames of honey• Perhaps a tote to keep everything together• B.O. and Deo

Protective Clothing• Veil, some with hat or helmet

Draw string (not bee proof)Zippered (bee proof)

• Long sleeve, white shirt (Oxford cloth, $12)• Waist-length bee coat• Full size overalls, bee suit (yes, they’re hot)• Duct tape for ankles and wrists• Gloves • Sturdy shoes• Clothing Tub (plastic tote)

Lookin’ Good Don’t Count

Dress for Success!

Opening the Hive• Hive Tool (various kinds) pry-bar• Extra hive tool (in case you lose one)• Screw Drivers don’t work• Smoker and lighter, matches (water proof)• Bucket for smoker “fuel” (anything that smolders)

Newspaper, Cedar pet beddingBurlap, wood pellets, pine needles, bark

• Frame grip, optional, but necessary with gloves• Bee brush, optional (flick, don’t brush)• Frame spacer, optional, for nine frames

Hive tools

Smokers

Bee Brush“The Bristled Flicker”

Frame GripReally necessary if you use gloves

Frame SpacerDrawn comb – nine frames per box

Frame Perch

Miscellaneous• Queen marking equipment• Notebook for record keeping

– What I did, what I saw– What needs to be done next time– What I need to bring with me

• Rubbing Alcohol 91%

• Baby Wipes

Minimum (?)• Veil• Smoker• Hive tool

Also handy to have:• Tool box or tote for all the little gadgets• Tool box with hammer, nails, screw driver,

pocket knife or box cutter or utility knife• Out yards: pruning shears, grass clippers

If you travel to an “out yard…”

• Keep all your tools in the car/truck• Keep all your tools in a tote for ease of

stowing, and so you don’t forget anything• If you only have one yard, consider a

temporary shed to store stuff at that location.

• Alternatively, set up two brood boxes, no frames, top and bottom to act as a “dummy hive” to store tools.