Whats that little hole for?

[Craig1961]

I know this sounds very silly..... but what is the star shaped hole in my hive tool for?

Sorry to sound so dim. Just getting into beekeeping... Gotta start somwhere

 

[VEG]

for getting nails out?

 

[SixFooter]

I know this sounds very silly..... but what is the star shaped hole in my hive tool for?

Sorry to sound so dim. Just getting into beekeeping... Gotta start somwhere

Actually, I wondered about that the other day
Only thing I could come up with is that it's so they can hang them up on a nail in the shop

 

[steve1958]

yes, I would go for the 'Hanging' option.

 

[Worldsend]

So you can put some brightly coloured bailer twine so every time you loose it in the long grass it makes it easier to find!

Buy more than one !!

 

[Queens59]

I was told you were meant to put an elastic loop through it and attach to your suit - so that it is always within reach.

 

[VEG]

lol how about for testing the size of your queens haha

 

[victor meldrew]

I'm with nail pulling . look at the shape of the hole! a simple hole would suffice for tying pretty ribbons !!

John Wilkinson

 

[MuswellMetro]

I'm with nail pulling . look at the shape of the hole! a simple hole would suffice for tying pretty ribbons !!

John Wilkinson

I was always told it was because the first hive tools were american paint scrapers and its for pulling nails out of wood you are scrapping paint off

but my one anyway has not got a HOLE

 

[Alabamaeee]

My Th&*nes hive tool has a slot that tapers into a narrow slit at one end. A fellow beekeeper told me it is handy for scraping out stings.

 

[dudley]

I was always told it was because the first hive tools were american paint scrapers and its for pulling nails out of wood you are scrapping paint off

but my one anyway has not got a HOLE

Awww poor thing, no hole. I have a spare drill if you want to put a hole in it.

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

I'm with nail pulling .!!

John Wilkinson

Forgive me if I shudder. A good number of those I used to deal with in my previous life were enthusiastic nail pullers, too! I prefer not to think about these things these days!

 

[SixFooter]

Just had another look at mine and tried pulling a nail. It works a treat, so I'm convinced that's what it is for. It's amazing what I learn on this site

 

[Headnavigator]

Hang on nail on fence by hives - always know where hive tool is

 

[MrB]

I know this sounds very silly..... but what is the star shaped hole in my hive tool for?

Sorry to sound so dim. Just getting into beekeeping... Gotta start somwhere

its because they didn't have enough metal to make one without a hole!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

My Th&*nes hive tool has a slot that tapers into a narrow slit at one end.]
That sounds very much like a shackle key. also handy for loosening or tightening up eye screws etc (it's teardrop shaped so it will clinch round various sizes of screws)

 

[Craig1961]

Thanks everyone.
I'm with the nail pullers.

 

[Moggs]

Another hive-tool gem: Some (note, not all!) have a shaped business end that is exactly the spacing of a frame width with bee space. Most of us use plastic or metal ends or most amusingly, 'plastic metal ends' (well it always makes me chuckle).

 

[Jordy]

Yep....it's a nail/pin extractor.

 

[Poly Hive]

Most of us use spacers?

There ain't that many fools surely? *ducks for cover*

And yes it's for pulling nails.

Tie a bit of old fashioned phone cord to it to stop losing it.

PH