Plastic Equipment
Ancillary Equipment
Protective Clothing

Plastic Equipment. The basic parts of the hive traditionally have been made out of pine, cyprus, or redwood. Today all hive components are available in plastic. Plastic components are durable, strong, lightweight, and require little maintenance. Unfortunately, since plastic does not breathe, it does not allow the venting of moisture. Plastic also warps easily and lets in too much light, which makes it difficult to draw foundation.

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Ancillary Equipment. The bee smoker and hive tool are essential for working bees. The smoker consists of a metal fire pot and grate with bellows attached. The size of the smoker is a matter of individual preference. The 4 x 7 inch size is probably the most widely used. A heat shield around the firebox allows you to support the smoker between your legs as you work a colony, without burning your clothing. To produce large quantities of cool thick smoke, there must be coals above the grate and unburned materials above the coals. Suitable smoker fuels include burlap, corn cobs, wood shavings, pine needles, cardboard, punk wood, bark, sumac bobs, cotton rags, dry leaves, and bailer twine. Light a small quantity of fuel and puff the bellows until the material flames. Continue adding more fuel, while puffing the bellows, until the fire pot is full. A properly lit and well-packed smoker provides enough smoke for several colonies.

When the smoke is hot or the smoker is throwing sparks, a handful of green grass or damp leaves inside the smoker lid will cool the smoke. Refill the smoker and pack it down with your hive tool as you work. Exercise extreme care when using your smoker. Sparks and flames will damage the bees' wings and body hairs. Carelessness can cause grass fires within the apiary, damage to your vehicle, and loss of honey house.

Moderate amounts of cool smoke used properly during colony manipulations effectively repel bees and reduce colony aggression. It is a good idea to smoke your hands, arms, and ankles before opening a colony. Initially, you should blow several puffs of smoke into the hive entrance and into any other hive openings such as cracks through which bees can escape. After waiting a minute or two, as you remove the hive cover, direct a few puffs of smoke underneath it. While you remove frames for examination and separate the hive bodies, blow more puffs of smoke to repel bees downward. One application of smoke usually lasts several minutes. As bees move back up to the tops of the frames, you normally can drive them back down with a couple puffs of smoke. The same procedure is used when the hive is being reassembled and dosed up.

The amount of smoke needed will vary with genetic stocks, weather conditions, and intensity of the nectar flow. On warm sunny days when a nectar flow is in progress, very little smoke may be needed. More smoke than usual will be needed during cool, cloudy weather. However, too much smoke may make bees run or boil out of the hive.

Smoke is not usually needed when installing packages of bees or collecting swarms. Only small amounts of smoke are used when removing honey supers and searching for the queen.

Figure 8. A hive tool being used to remove Burr comb from top bars of the combs.

The hive tool is a metal bar essential for prying apart frames in a brood chamber or honey super, separating hive bodies, and scraping away wax and propolis. (See Figure 8.) The hive tool should be cleaned from time to time to remove propolis, wax, and honey. This may be done simply by stabbing the tool into the ground or by burning it off in a hot fire pot of a smoker. Both cleaning methods help prevent the spread of bee diseases.

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Protective Clothing. Bee veils should be worn at all times to protect the face and neck from stings. Two basic types of veils are available: those that are open at the top and fit over a hat and completely hatless veils. The black wire veil, which stands out away from the face, offers the best protection. Veils without hats do not always stay on the head as they should. The elastic band that fits around your head often works upward, allowing the veil to fall against your scalp as you bend over to work bees. A veil over a wide-brim, lightweight hat that fits securely is best. You should pull any excess material away from your neck and secure it tightly against your body with a cord.

Beginners who fear being stung should wear canvas or leather gloves. Many experienced beekeepers who find gloves too cumbersome decide to risk a few stings for the sake of easier handling.

White or tan clothing is most suitable when working bees. Other colors are acceptable, but bees react unfavorably to dark colors, fuzzy materials, and clothing made from animals. Wind breakers and coveralls made from ripstop nylon fabric are excellent for working bees.
Ankles with dark socks are another very vulnerable area. Angry bees often attack ankles first, because they are at the level of the hive entrance. Pant legs should either be secured with string or rubber bands or tucked inside shoes or socks.

The use of after-shave lotions, perfumes, and colognes should also be avoided when working bees.