Beekeeping Gloves

[Peter Cox]

I think the biggest problem with leather gloves is the build up on them making them sticky.

I agree. I use goatskin gloves and have no handling issues but they do get a build up on them.
What do you wash them in that will remove propolis? Honey and syrup residue comes off ok with water and I believe there are no phermone issues as in 4 years I've never yet received a sting on them. However they do look grubby as the fingers are stained brown with propolis.

[biggles]

Originally Posted by Peter Cox

I think the biggest problem with leather gloves is the build up on them making them sticky.

I agree. I use goatskin gloves and have no handling issues but they do get a build up on them.
What do you wash them in that will remove propolis? Honey and syrup residue comes off ok with water and I believe there are no phermone issues as in 4 years I've never yet received a sting on them. However they do look grubby as the fingers are stained brown with propolis.

Hi
I use the mechanic soap from work. Its one of the gritty types. I wash them with the gloves on as if I was washing my hands. It get 99% of the proppolis off and stops them being sticky.

Pete

[Frithgar]

I use marigolds with the fingers cut off to the first knuckle. I find that I don't get stung through the gloves and removing the finger tips meant that I don't get gloves sticking to the frames and jarring the bees all the time. I get stung on average once every other week. I have a 2nd pair of marigolds on standby with fingertips intact in case I come to a hive and find it's acting unusually aggressive, I can take the out of my pocket and put them on, not had a need for them yet though.

[drstitson]

a mix of marigolds, gardening gloves, bog standard latex and proper surgical gloves.

[thundercat]

Generally, if it's sunny outside, the bees in my hive are calm, and you can use nothing, or thin nitrile gloves. It's worth pointing out that nitrile is 3x more puncture resistant than latex, so nitrile offers more protection.

If it's cloudy (and rain is due in a few hours time), then leather gloves are a must. However, rather than using them on their own, put a nitrile glove over the top. That way, any propolis goes on the nitrile gloves and does not ruin the leather.

Afterwards, you could clean the nitrile gloves with methylated spirits. That won't get rid of all of the propolis, but enough so that the fingers don't stick to each other.

[Monsieur Abeille]

Just started using nitrile gloves and think they're great, apart from releasing a small swimming pool when removed

[thundercat]

What thickness glove do you use?

[johnandyrob]

Iv just changed from lether because the end of the thum kept getting cought under the frames i now use cergical gloves ( whitch are about 30 years old so dont no what they are made of) under marigolds find i can feel more but it doesnt half get sticky in there