Queen marking

[Apiarisnt]

Having mislaid my white pen I went looking on Fleabay for a replacement and found this, only £2.50 including postage from China:



It raises several questions:

• Do the manufacturers employ people with very small hands?
• Do they try out their products on very big bees?
• Do Chinese giant bees not mind having their abdomen daubed?
• What year is purple? The year of the bee?

 

[pargyle]

Bloody hell - if that bee came towards me I'd want to be armed with a 12 bore - it would have a sting the size of a hyperdermic needle !!!

 

[Newbeeneil]

I bought one from china and it was pretty useless as it didn't last and was very watery. (One red queen looked like she'd been butchered!)
I would recommend a Toma pen, very quick drying and doesn't wear off like the Posca ones. The extra £1.19 well worth it IMO.

 

[holmbee]

I have started using Toma pens. Seem to be longer lasting than Posca ones. IMO. A great bright blue for last year too.
Michael

 

[Curly green finger's]

Oops

I bought one from china and it was pretty useless as it didn't last and was very watery. (One red queen looked like she'd been butchered!)
I would recommend a Toma pen, very quick drying and doesn't wear off like the Posca ones. The extra £1.19 well worth it IMO.

I'm getting on really well with mine Neil I agree, what's the best way to store them stood up with the nib facing the sealing?

 

[Ian123]

I bought one from china and it was pretty useless as it didn't last and was very watery. (One red queen looked like she'd been butchered!)
I would recommend a Toma pen, very quick drying and doesn't wear off like the Posca ones. The extra £1.19 well worth it IMO.

I order a single toma a week or so ago after you mentioned them. The nib maybe little larger but the fluorescent green is nice. There’s now the complete set ordered so expect to see some more special paint jobs. Anyone tried to take the nibs to more of a point without ruining them?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I bought one from china and it was pretty useless as it didn't last and was very watery. (One red queen looked like she'd been butchered!)
I would recommend a Toma pen, very quick drying and doesn't wear off like the Posca ones. The extra £1.19 well worth it IMO.

On a recommendation here I bought one. Definitely better than the posca pens. I have a couple in my queen box. Fluorescent pink and green.

 

[user 819]

Fluorescent pink for my Q's as well.

 

[Murox]

I bought one from china and it was pretty useless as it didn't last and was very watery. (One red queen looked like she'd been butchered!)
I would recommend a Toma pen, very quick drying and doesn't wear off like the Posca ones. The extra £1.19 well worth it IMO.

Are you talking about the Oil-Based Paint Marker pens, or is there a water based alternative ??

 

[elainemary]

I have started using Toma pens. Seem to be longer lasting than Posca ones. IMO. A great bright blue for last year too.
Michael

Thanks for the tip. My Posca blue pen is dark navy and a lot harder to spot black Qs.
My first ever Nuc had a white marked Q , looking forward to using my new white pen. Feels I’ve come full circle, not quite in the learning department, think I’ll need a couple more cycles to feel in control.

 

[Fiona in South View]

Feels I’ve come full circle, not quite in the learning department, think I’ll need a couple more cycles to feel in control.

In control! In control? Thank you! After 20 years of beekeeping, that brightened up my day!

 

[Newbeeneil]

Are you talking about the Oil-Based Paint Marker pens, or is there a water based alternative ??

Toma are oil based, hence the reason they wear better.

 

[Murox]

Toma are oil based, hence the reason they wear better.

Right, completing my education - thanks. Odd how some things just get "missed".

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

My Posca blue pen is dark navy and a lot harder to spot black Qs.

I suppose it depends whether you just go on fleabay to get them (My blue Posca is a nice light vibrant blue which is easy to spot) or get the regulation BBKA shade probably sold by bee equipment suppliers.

 

[ericbeaumont]

Anyone tried to take the nibs to more of a point without ruining them?

Toma are far better than Posca but not without fault: in full sun they also flood, and rain will wash away writing on a hive roof.

Toma produce a range of fine 1.5mm nib oil pens, but I've yet to try them.

 

[Ian123]

Toma produce a range of fine 1.5mm nib oil pens, but I've yet to try them.

now you tell me

 

[ericbeaumont]

now you tell me

I started with the 4mm and found it a bit fat, so dug around on eBay.

There's a second Toma fine nib but they don't make a white. It's 2.5mm and looks pointy enough, which is what's needed.

I'll road-test both and let you know.

 

[user 20297]

I would recommend a Toma pen, very quick drying and doesn't wear off like the Posca ones. The extra £1.19 well worth it IMO.

Those Toma pens are rubbish....it only look me three days of regular scrubbing to get half a dozen test dots off my hand.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Those Toma pens are rubbish....it only look me three days of regular scrubbing to get half a dozen test dots off my hand.

Pumice stone gets it off a treat!

 

[Swn58]

I'd want to be armed with a 12 bore

Maybe an RPG or Ingram Mac 10?