Buying kit..

[jenkinsbrynmair]

the whole thing is less than three inches long - you want something that you can hold in the hand - not the bee!

 

[Millet]

I get you now I would personally prefare a nice sharp set of small scissors but then again i have never clipped a queen..

 

[Hivemaker.]

the whole thing is less than three inches long - you want something that you can hold in the hand - not the bee!

Very similar to the ones I linked to in post number 8 of this thread, except they are sold as queen clippers.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Very similar to the ones I linked to in post number 8 of this thread, except they are sold as queen clippers.

I missed that - would have saved me taking the photo!

 

[dpearce4]

I use these

http://www.wilko.com/accessories-and-tools/straight-nail-scissors/invt/0348228

 

[Into the lions den]

Queen clipping done with Tesco embroidery scissors........holes large enough for the fatter fingered staff members (ok...me!)

Hive tools...Swienty stainless spring steel (very good and never bend even when seriously abusing them) and bought by the box they are about 2.00 each. Red painted ones....there are cheaper but they can bend when prising apart full Lang deeps in the wooden hives if too well stuck together.

Had a stack of Mann Lake blue painted ones too. They were also excellent.

J hive tool not allowed here, so these are all the classic shaped ones.

My favourite hive tool in recent years was actually a freebie.....absolutely splendid quality give away with Apiguard by Vita.

When younger I had a monster hive tool I brought back from a ship.....a hand held deck scraper. Weighed at least two pounds and gave me a right arm like Popeye....but nothing resisted it. Went to hive tool heaven many years ago.....stolen by the hive tool pixies, which plague us almost daily.........always thought of electrifying a hive tool to wipe out the sneaky little blighters.

 

[BMH]

How come the J shaped tools arent allowed?

I find them much easier to prise the frames apart?

Does it cause too much damage or something?

 

[Into the lions den]

Does it cause too much damage or something?

They are misused by some staff when I am not about. The J end is a comb ruiner as they sometimes use it like a hook, and has been know for them to accidentally kill the queen using it under the lugs.

Also we have had cases in the past of wrist injury using it. Its considerably more likely to cause you to twist your wrist due to its slightly asymmetrical construction. With claims lawyers always waiting in the wings these days to sue you at the drop of a hat if you have not taken reasonable precautions, not to mention anyone injured here gets sent for private physio and the bill for sore backs etc tots up. (Never been sued for a hive tool related injury btw)

It does not have a nice sharpenable butt end....which is just the business for rapidly clearing off burr comb etc.

Its just faster and more efficient as well, to use the classic shape one.

 

[BMH]

hmm, very interesting!

I think my frame removal technique may be slightly suspect!

 

[Swarm]

Don't use the J as a hook and don't lever upwards to free a frame as both the downward and upward force can damage hive or frame. If you hold the tool horizontally, the J can be slipped into the gap between the top bars. The turning action will then only apply pressure between the opposing faces of the top bars, causing no damage at all. Using the tool in this way will easily prise apart even the worst propolised frames (and easier still if you use DN 5's).
The chisel edge of mine is wider than I'd like but there again, I've never found any tool brilliant at scraping the top bars because the bees always want to get in the way.

 

[Brigsy]

Isn't that the point of a J tool?

 

[Swarm]

Isn't what the the point of a J tool? The beeks I've seen all lever the frame upwards which is the quickest way to damage hardware.

 

[BeeJayBee]

The beeks I've seen all lever the frame upwards which is the quickest way to damage hardware.

True, and they carry on doing it that way until they try to lever out a heavily propolised frame and break of the lug, which is quite easy to do with long-lugged national frames.

 

[Brigsy]

I see. I'm new to this.

So the j tool isn't for hooking upwards? I have misunderstood it's use. Thanks.


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[madasafish]

True, and they carry on doing it that way until they try to lever out a heavily propolised frame and break of the lug, which is quite easy to do with long-lugged national frames.

And not a problem with short lugged Langstroths..

 

[Swarm]

If you lie the tool flat over the top bars and just slip the end of the J between the top bars, rotation applies the pressure horizontally. The propolis seal is cracked this way >> instead of this way ^^.

 

[mbc]

My current favourite hive tool is the little mini one sold by thwornes, its less likely to fall out of a pocket and tempt those pixies!

 

[Brigsy]

If you lie the tool flat over the top bars and just slip the end of the J between the top bars, rotation applies the pressure horizontally. The propolis seal is cracked this way >> instead of this way ^^.

I understand. Thanks. The same movement can be done with the curved end of the other sort I suspect.


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[bontbee]

Yep.

 

[Brigsy]

Thanks.