How do you treat your gloves

[Margaret Elisabeth]

I wash my leather gloves on my hands with washing soda and soap flakes. Washing soda first then soap flakes. Then a good rinse and leave to drip dry. I now only use them with a really stingy lot. or if someone comes to watch what i am doing as it give reassurance and stops the nervous sweating that can promote the alarm response. I use a standard sterile glove and sometimes household gloves on top. didn't stop one getting my knee on Saturday.

 

[REDWOOD]

I use leather gloves most of the time (thin kid leather for my bees) and the buggers get through them but not so bad as nitrites (bl**dy Welsh bees)

 

[alldigging]

I worry about nitrile gloves.

I use them at work and they don't seem very sting resistant to me.

They're not sting proof, but neither are other gloves.

The idea is you can feel when you're touching bees so you can avoid squishing them. And then you don't get stung.

 

[Jeff Buzz]

Nitrile gloves for me bees only sting if you squish them but they also sting through ordinary gloves.
I have to look after 25 colonies and I dont have the choice to check them on a sunny day and the bees sometimes get miffed they hit my hands but very rarely sting.
I do have wrist gauntlets that can be washed regularly and gloves just go in the bin.

Advantages

Clean hands
Hygiene
Disposable
you can feel what you are doing

Disadvantages

Cannot think of any

Tried big gloves only thing they are good for is your confidence.

 

[margob99]

Marigolds over thin gardening gloves. Smoke my hands every time I work the hive. Replace the Marigolds regularly.

Interestingly, I took my gloves off yesterday, to take close up photos at the entrance. The bees zoomed in on my bare hands like absolute demons; luckily they didn't sting me, but it was a close call

 

[alanf]

A couple of years back, ITLD said long green nitrile gloves were what they issued to their bee farm workers. Like these: http://www.justgloves.co.uk/13760_-Nitrile-Gloves/Flock-Lined-Nitrile-Gauntlets.html Nitrile is just a shortened form of the synthetic rubber material, it says nothing about how thick or long the gloves are.

These are around a pound a pair, plus VAT and post (highish for one pair but reasonable for a dozen). A pair lasts a few weeks of hobby beekeeping, dip in washing soda while wearing to clean. They're cheap enough that you can have a pair for each apiary (and keep the thin disposables for other apiaries).

I don't know how many read the original post or have spoken to Murray through other routes but I'm increasingly seeing them in use. Not 100% sting proof (what is?) but long enough to go up your sleeves, hygienic and good compromise between sensitivity and robustness. I tried the Lakeland flock gloves and while they were fine a couple of times, maybe my hands are wetter than most but the thicker flock started to whiff a bit, even after a rinse in washing soda. I have no connection with the supplier or manufacturer, the same (or similar) are probably available elsewhere, I just haven't found anything better.

 

[lorrick]

Back to the question, put them back on and wash your hands as you would usually, dry without heat and nourish with what swarm said neatsfoot oil

Thanks
Redwood

 

[Erichalfbee]

Like these: http://www.justgloves.co.uk/13760_-Nitrile-Gloves/Flock-Lined-Nitrile-Gauntlets.html

I use marigold bathroom gloves which appear to be very similar but more robust.
I soak them in washing soda and wash them in the washing machine along with a normal clothes wash every time I use them. They last me ages

 

[drstitson]

proper surgeon's gloves - with nitrile on top.

ditch the leather; collects sting pheromone.