Gadgets

[itma]

A chap I visited once uses a frame lifter (a grabber).
He loves it.
But he does have (short lug) Langstroths and fairly big hands.

Good (totally flat face to the comb) dummy boards make inspection much easier.
A frame rest (double hanger thingy) might give you a place to (yes) rest a frame during inspection (or even change your grip).
But my suspicion is that opening and closing the hive might be tricky.

What you need is an eager apprentice or two.
See if your Association can supply you with a couple of beginners.

 

[Tabby15]

Thanks for the thoughts and good wishes. Still waiting to go in and having been four hours nil by mouth I am having a sense of humour failure! I wonder whether I can quantify inability to lift frames unaided into my personal injury claim ? On the apprentice front I think I need to get my teenagers engaged then or as you say find a willing helper for when husband is away.

 

[enrico]

Enrico

what exactly does not work with the Pa***s polynuc feeder . I cut a piece of plastic excluder to slide in the slot to keep Her Majesty out and painted the feeder with a few coats of gloss paint, sprinkling sharp sand on the final coat to give the bees grip. That together with the wooden float seems to work well and have had no casualties.f

As soon as they have used the feed they build wild comb in it. It is too wide, if it had been narrower they wouldnt have had the room to build the comb. I block it off completely now unless I absolutely need to feed them!

 

[Queens59]

QUOTE=Tabby15;341057]Thanks for the thoughts and good wishes. Still waiting to go in and having been four hours nil by mouth I am having a sense of humour failure! I wonder whether I can quantify inability to lift frames unaided into my personal injury claim ? On the apprentice front I think I need to get my teenagers engaged then or as you say find a willing helper for when husband is away.[/QUOTE]



Personal injury - my Husband had an idiot pull out of a side road straight into him, and it damaged his neck quite badly. His solicitor as part of the claim asked if he could do 'all enjoyments, hobbies etc'., as he had frequently pursued...the answer at the time was No and he gained a little in the claim due to this...Might be worth asking your legal help...

 

[Tabby15]

Thanks Queens. I fell over on a wet floor at work. No warning signs. So the claim is in hand - if you pardon the pun- assuming I survive the current starvation routine before I even get to surgery. Could do with some honey on toast.

 

[Dishmop]

I wonder whether I can quantify inability to lift frames unaided into my personal injury claim

Yes.
It has made a change to your life.

 

[peterbees]

T hornes heather honey press. So slow...

 

[poshpikey]

has anyone more experience of using a frame lifter

I have one really cranky hive where the tops of the frames are covered with bees and it is hard to smoke them down. I use the lifter on this hive (but not my others) and it works a treat. It makes it much quicker to inspect because I do not spend the whole time trying to move bees.

 

[VEG]

has anyone more experience of using a frame lifter

I have one really cranky hive where the tops of the frames are covered with bees and it is hard to smoke them down. I use the lifter on this hive (but not my others) and it works a treat. It makes it much quicker to inspect because I do not spend the whole time trying to move bees.

Try a plant sprayer and mist the bees with water they will move down.

 

[itma]

... I have one really cranky hive where the tops of the frames are covered with bees and it is hard to smoke them down. ...

Try a water mist spray.
Great gadget for under £1.
Now always in my tool tray.


// mustn't be distracted while posting!
Worth adding that you need to mist and wait a moment while they scamper out of sight.

 

[Easy Beesy]

Never seen bees move from a mist of water. The stop in their tracks, yes, but don't move as they do with smoke.

 

[VEG]

I have one hive that doesnt like smoke at all, the water mist sprayer moves them no problem.

 

[TBRNoTB]

Thanks for the thoughts and good wishes. Still waiting to go in and having been four hours nil by mouth I am having a sense of humour failure! I wonder whether I can quantify inability to lift frames unaided into my personal injury claim ? On the apprentice front I think I need to get my teenagers engaged then or as you say find a willing helper for when husband is away.

I think you are right about the teenagers, they may even take up the hobby! Am currently grooming a ten year old ( in the best possible way!) grandson hopefully to take over from the old f**t, he seems to be enjoying it!

 

[Polyanwood]

The most useless things are the things with incorrect beespace, like bee-o-pac and crownboards and dummy boards with bee space on both sides. The stainless steel section cutter is absolutely useless. The Thrns varroa inserts were useless too. I find the Pyns nuc a pain to clean.

Useful things; small j shaped hive tool, stanley knife, gaffer tape and estate agent board.

 

[SixFooter]

I have trouble with processing wax.
I bought a mould for making small blocks, but I cannot master it. Blocks are all different thicknesses and some do not take on the pattern on the inside of the mould properly. A lot crack and split.

I spent a few hours making a solar wax melter that didnt work. I have left wax in it for several hot sunny days without success. I tried drilling a hole in the side and pumping steam into it from a Wall paper steamer. That didnt work either.

My burco boiler when used for melting wax produces green coloured mess.

Candles made using my silicone moulds are rough at the top and vary in diameter along the length.

 

[SixFooter]

I have bought several smokers that failed in some way after a few weeks.
Just bought a Rauchboy, so lets see how that one lasts

 

[PBee]

I have trouble with processing wax.
I bought a mould for making small blocks, but I cannot master it. Blocks are all different thicknesses and some do not take on the pattern on the inside of the mould properly. A lot crack and split.

......

You could try washing the moulds in hot soapy water and drying just prior to filling. To stop cracking put some insulation over (but not in contact with) the filled moulds to slow down cooling.

 

[Suzi Q]

I love my Th****s etna smoker. I tried a bigger one, but it went out quicker and burnt twice as much fuel. Sometimes bigger is really not better.

 

[itma]

Never seen bees move from a mist of water. The stop in their tracks, yes, but don't move as they do with smoke.

Sounds like you might be drenching them.

Just a gentle puff of *mist*, above them, and they'll go down.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I have bought several smokers that failed in some way after a few weeks.
Just bought a Rauchboy, so lets see how that one lasts

Is there a model with a bottom lighting port?