My start-up wish list

[BeeJayBee]

I'm planning a wish list, hoping family will co-operate, and help spread start-up costs a bit. Will it be okay to add various questions to this thread to keep everything in one place?

First off is the clothing, which seems the least expensive place to start.

I thought white bee suits were better because bees are less attracted to white, and I thought dark colours were a bit of a no-no because dark colours get warmer in the sun, and bees like warmth - but there's quite a range of colours and patterns to choose from, so it looks as if the white might be a tradition, from when fewer colours were available. Does it really matter what colour you choose?

Also, because I prefer separates to an all in one suit, and to lessen the chance of a gap at the back, would a pair of painters-type cotton drill (canvas?) dungarees and a jacket/veil be a reasonable combination?

 

[margob99]

I thought bee suits were white, because you sweat buckets inside them in the summer, and white reflect light/heat while darker colours absorb them, making darker suits hotter to wear.

I've found (to my cost) anything skin-fitting, like jeans etc, beestings can get through; the best is to wear loose fitting clothing. And layers.

I would say, if you are just starting out ,don't spend too much. Buy a jacket/veil combo and add loose fitting trousers. You have to see if you are going to stick to beekeeping in the long run ...

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

I thought white bee suits were better because bees are less attracted to white, and I thought dark colours were a bit of a no-no because dark colours get warmer in the sun, and bees like warmth - but there's quite a range of colours and patterns to choose from, so it looks as if the white might be a tradition, from when fewer colours were available. Does it really matter what colour you choose?

Also, because I prefer separates to an all in one suit, and to lessen the chance of a gap at the back, would a pair of painters-type cotton drill (canvas?) dungarees and a jacket/veil be a reasonable combination?

Whites fine, and the most popular, but it does show the dirt easily. Personally I prefer a nice sage number.

You'll want any sort of double protection on the legs, ie something over your normal trousers. All bee suit suppliers will sell you their own elasticated product but if you prefer to go elsewhere shouldnt be a problem as long as there are no gaps between trouser and jacket*


*EDIT - or between trouser and sock

 

[Winker]

First off is the clothing, which seems the least expensive place to start.

My Suit from BB Wear was more expensive than a brand spanking new poly hive

 

[Poly Hive]

The Lyson option is a good one. Suit circa £35. Not sure if the agent has them but google Abelo or look on Ebay as the suit is there at £45 which as it costs a tenner to send money by banks to Poland its the same.

The email is: [email protected]

PH

 

[Luminos]

I reckon if a bee wants to sting you, she's going to sting you - whatever colour your bee suit is

 

[Skyhook]

shouldnt be a problem as long as there are no gaps between trouser and jacket*


*EDIT - or between trouser and sock

Given the number of people I know (including myself) who've been stung through the socks, I always wear wellies (close-ish leg) with the suit tucked in. White is fine unless you want to be a bit discreet, eg when visiting an out-apiary visible to the public.

 

[tonybloke]

white is a good colour for a bee suit, it's easy to spot any bees on the suit before you remove the suit after being in the apiary.

 

[Ross]

white is a good colour for a bee suit, it's easy to spot any bees on the suit before you remove the suit after being in the apiary.

I agree, tinted windows on your beekeeping van is also useful as you can see if any are on your back before you get in and drive off. But buying a van just for beekeeping is a bit excessive on a beginners wish list

On a serious note don't be tempted by an elasticated veil only, buy a decent jacket or suit with zip off veil. I started with a veil only and the bees kept getting in and stinging me in the chin which made me more nervous and then the bees stung me more. A good suit solves most worries.

As for tools I recommend a J tool rather than a standard, and get a decent sized smoker, small economy smokers don't stay alight well.

Ross

 

[Chris B]

A good bee suit is the right place to start a wish-list. It allows you to visit other beekeepers and local BKA bees before you get your own, building up confidence.

Where to buy? There are certainly plenty on the market. All I can say is my original BB Wear suit is still going strong after 9 years of very heavy use. It looks permanently grey now plus various ink stains (WYRGB) all over but still okay. You'll also notice that another high quality UK supplier, Sherriff, often turns up all over the world. We play "Spot the Sherriff" in Beekeepers Quarterly, Bee Craft, American Bee Journal, beekeeping vids etc. We don't export much from these shores these days so I reckon those that do must be top notch.

 

[Storm™]

I bought or was bought at my request - a Smock bee top Jacket, and separate trousers. If the trousers wear through anywhere I can replace just them. Same with the top. If I had one suit I would have to replace the lot. And as you say the bending over ripping action of overalls. Where you see bum crack where the seem joins the back. Get larger than you need to allow for any shrinkage when washing.

Smoker - get one with a cage around it. One wrong turn and it could melt your suit (if you get a cheap nylon one, or the back of your car or whatever.

The veil/hat combo I have is the wide brimmed one that keeps the veil away from my head all the way around. There are ones that look like a snorkel duffel coat type design. But when I looked at those i felt that it may press up against the back of my head and also turning my head would mean I would have to turn my whole upper half to see. I didnt get one of those for that suspected problem but dont know if it is an actual issue.

Hope you get all you ask for.

 

[Cazza]

I would go for a light coloured suit if you can. I have worn dark blue overalls in the past and these seem to attract more negative attention than when I wear my full white suit.
Personally I would like a girly pink suit with flowers on it...........
cazza

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

so would i but Mrs J would get worried

 

[winmag270]

I used to just wear a smock top and veil, along with jeans and wellies.....

then last year a bee decided to prove that it is easily possible to sting through denim (and with deadly accuracy)

HOLY CR*P did that hurt!!!!!

now i wear an all in one suit, with jeans under.....

take my advice and buy an all in one!

you can pick them up on ebay for £35 including postage, if you dont want to spend a lot when starting out....

tuck the legs into your wellies and get a decent set of gloves with the gauntlet type ends, really cuts down the chance of bees getting in with you

(I won't say it stops them stinging you occasionally, but delicate little places are much more protected!!)

oh yeah - mine is white

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

At the moment I'm using a white Indian cotton fleabay special beesuit (cost under £40.00 inc postage) good value for money and no complaints so far. I wear mine over a pair of cheapo wellies (as they were designed to do) when i take it off I just roll the whole suit down over the wellies - next time I wear it - just pop your feet up and pull it up - simples.
Although it's a bit more hassle getting it on I think a one piece suit is far better.

I also acquired a lighter one piece suit for next to nothing as a spare but as Mater has promised me a nice Sheriff or Beewear suit for Christmas that may now be surplus to requirements.
If you can cope with size XL and want a cheapo suit to start with PM me

 

[BeeMoustashe]

Have to put in a vote for the epay smocks and bits too, got myself a fencing veiled smock in camoflage pattern for about £35 and it's spot onI have to say- draws less attention to you too as it doesn't look like the 'traditional' white kit!

Made the error of wearing it straight out of the packet though... apparently it wasn't a smell the bees liked to say the least. Smock stood up to them well but they well and truely kicked my @rse that afternoon!

 

[BeeJayBee]

Wow! That was quick, thanks everybody.

They were nextish on the list, but I'm hoping to be able to buy a secondhand smoker from the local club, but if not then I was thinking of getting one with a cage round it, because otherwise I'm sure I'd manage to set fire to my feet.

I'm not sure if a frame grip or lifter is a good idea or not - does anybody use one?

I'll probably end up with either a yellow or red hive tool, or maybe one of each, but I'm sure they'll still get mislaid, same as the brightly coloured trowels I was so sure I'd be able to spot when I put them down and walked away.

I'm planning to wear a jacket or smock over other clothes, the same with the trousers. I prefer to be cautious and don't mind wearing layers, don't mind being too warm and I've already got thornproof trousers, wellies, boots, gaiters, bicycle clips and so on.

I was hoping to be able to get a lightish coloured, but not white, jacket with an attached round hat/veil, (mainly because hoods always seem to be too short and pull my head back), but the only ones I've been able to find are on the auction site and are quite low priced imports, so I'm not sure how long they would last.

I have also looked at Lyson, I did actually contact them about UK delivery, but they told me to contact their UK agent, but that brings me to the next thing, which is a hive or two, or more.

It'll be at least one poly Langstroth, but I've been astonished at the difference in prices between here and mainland Europe, so thought I'd take the risk of buying direct. Has anybody had any success with that? If so, are UK-available frames and other spares compatible, or do you have to stick with the one manufacturer?

 

[Headnavigator]

At the moment I'm using a white Indian cotton fleabay special beesuit (cost under £40.00 inc postage) good value for money and no complaints so far

Please check that the stitching is not the kind of 'chain stitch' that can be undone completely if the wrong thread gets snagged or pulled. My eBay 'bargain' lasted a few months then literally fell apart one day a few hours after I had been helping a friend with a vicious hive - had it fallen apart earlier I doubt I would have survived.

 

[Norton Caff]

Hygiene-wise I'd say a white suit is good because because the dirt shows! I wash mine very regularly as I don't want to transfer anything from my bees to my mentor's or to demonstration hives or vice versa. It's a matter of common sense and courtesy I suppose. A khaki colour would hide all manner of stains (and I have seen some gruesomely dirty suits that were perhaps once white!)
Re gloves, same again. Those leather things are impossible to keep clean. Marigolds do the job and more flexible and can be scrubbed between individual hive inspections.

 

[Cazza]

I'm not sure if a frame grip or lifter is a good idea or not - does anybody use one?

I'll probably end up with either a yellow or red hive tool, or maybe one of each, but I'm sure they'll still get mislaid, same as the brightly coloured trowels I was so sure I'd be able to spot when I put them down and walked away.

I have a frame grip but never use it! It's ok if you want to return a frame evenly but not really worth the effort of using it. I wouldn't waste money on one.

If you buy a painted hive tool and leave it in soda to clean it like I do, the paint will come off too after a while.

Cazza