pink rubber gloves from now on.

[Chris58]

Having picked up this thread half way through i was a tad worried, then realised the references were to gloves worn during inspection of hives.... (phew), worried about the choice of pink/blue over leather or rubber! x

 

[BeeMoustashe]

I used the leather gauntlets last year when first got my hive. Made manipulations even more clumsy than I am naturally, wound up the bees and caused issues in itself! Moved to bare hands, much less clumsyness, less stings (or at least angry bees trying to sting) because I was more gentle, but propolis stains all over fingers. Not a good look for work. So now use latex, purely to keep sticky stuff off.

Leathers in toolbox just in case though

 

[Teemore]

All last year i used 30cm long Kimberly Clarke Safeskin latex gloves (freebie) when I carried out inspections. You can easily pull one pair on above another pair so that when the gloves get sticky, you just peel off a layer. These have a nice long cuff that extend well up your arm and stops bees crawling up your sleeves. Bees can and will sting through latex or nitrile gloves but that doen not bother me. You are better able to feel where the bees are when lifting frames so you nip and squash fewer of them and so they are less inclined to sting your hands. I have done inspections without gloves but prefer to be able to strip off honey and propolis coated gloves. If anyone can point me to a cheap supplier of the above mentioned gloves in extra large, send me a PM!!

 

[Rich0909]

I don't know why but over several months of using nitriles the bees have never even attempted to sting through them although they enthusiastically sting my arms through the suit if I don't have long sleeves on underneath.

 

[susbees]

Moved to bare hands, much less clumsyness, less stings (or at least angry bees trying to sting) because I was more gentle, but propolis stains all over fingers. Not a good look for work.

Ha...forgot that one. Worked on with a ripped nitrile finger the other week. Quick shower and off to Parents' Evening...with two fingers that looked like I'd been a chain smoker for a millenia! First inspections are the stickiest...

 

[victor meldrew]

Always happens first finger+ thumb disintegrate leading to propolis staining and more of the damned stuff irretrievably stuck under exposed finger nails
VM

 

[drstitson]

i use latex or nitriles. usually double glove.

main reason - hygeine - for the bees and me - no sticky hands.

only real protection i see the glove giving versus stings is that it prevents access to sleeve!

 

[djg]

I'm a blue nitrile glove fan, too.

While the hygiene factor is important and the sensitivity is helpful, it seems to me that even feisty bees are reluctant to make the ultimate sacrifice of stinging into a surface as inert and inanimate as the nitrile gloves. Doesn't always hold true when I'm being clumsy, though!

 

[madasafish]

I'm a bare one myself.

getting rid of propolis is easy between inspections. KFC freshen up moist wipes are ideal. Bees do not dislike the smell.

 

[Ziggymole]

Having picked up this thread half way through i was a tad worried, then realised the references were to gloves worn during inspection of hives.... (phew), worried about the choice of pink/blue over leather or rubber! x

 

[drstitson]

forgot to add - proper surgical gloves even better - thicker but still good for dexterity/sensitivity and come up well over wrist (and are snug rather than loose wristed like marigolds).

 

[itma]

For potential converts to rubber gloves, Lidl offer two pairs for 99p in a plain sludge green - and - try dusting your hands with talcum powder before putting on the gloves.

 

[FreeFall]

I'm going to order a box of these and see how I go.

Nick

 

[Swarm]

All this talk of clumsiness by using leather gloves, what about latex/nitrile gloves that stick to everything? Can't let go, fingers being stretched, breaking and flapping, I didn't find them that clever and worst of all is the soggy skin and pools of sweat inside. To overcome this, I use leather with latex/nitrile stretched over them. Discard the rubber between apiaries and the leather soaks up sweat. Leather gloves should be a size smaller so they are tight.
If the bees decide to sting, they will get through any glove.

 

[Black Comb]

I'm going to order a box of these and see how I go.

Nick

I sampled those. Found the cuffs a bit short.
NT14B PF i like best.

 

[Headnavigator]

All this talk of clumsiness by using leather gloves, what about latex/nitrile gloves that stick to everything? Can't let go, fingers being stretched, breaking and flapping, I didn't find them that clever and worst of all is the soggy skin and pools of sweat inside. To overcome this, I use leather with latex/nitrile stretched over them. Discard the rubber between apiaries and the leather soaks up sweat. Leather gloves should be a size smaller so they are tight.
If the bees decide to sting, they will get through any glove.

Swarm, I agree. Have been using nitrile over leather and have good 'feel' through them and have had no stings. (Mind you neither did I with nitrile alone). Only tried this because the leather gloves came free with a suit and I didn't want to get propolis on them.

 

[johncorne]

In my day job, I've recently been working with a lot of forensic people. They wear the purple nitrile gloves all the time, but usually wear thin cotton ones underneath to cope with the moisture.

Jc

 

[FreeFall]

I sampled those. Found the cuffs a bit short.
NT14B PF i like best.

Thanks for that. I only have the one colony, built up from a nuc last year. They are so calm that I gave up using gloves at all to be honest. There are plans afoot for me to work with a more experienced beek, who has some nasty bees apparently - so I'm sort of looking forward to meeting some bad ones...

Swarm: Good tip - I'll give that a go.

Nick

 

[TBRNoTB]

Nitrilephile me...slinky orange long cuff ones. Nice tight wrist joint.

Sounds good to me and the wife loves leather too, bliss...