Using a small paint brush to graft

[Yankee11]

Has anyone ever used a small artist paint brush to graft with. If so, does it work well?

[LazyBkpr]

  I would suspect that keeping the larvae right side up using a paint brush might be a bit of a challenge?

[Yankee11]

I thought I have read or seen where you touch the larvae with the tip of brush and rotate it. The larvae sticks to the tip of the brush.
Then you put it in the cell cup and rotate it the opposite direction and the larvae comes right off.

Maybe I dreamed this. 

[LazyBkpr]

I am quite sure it is possible.. I have attempted to graft, but I shake too much, and have issues with tension in my fingers..  I am either squeezing hard or my fingers dont move much. Nerve damage from smashed hands from a 6.2 Detroit landing on them doesnt help.. not knowing how much I am squeezing etc....
   Just imagining trying to use a paint brush from what I remember made me lift an eyebrow..   I think grafting is like juggling..   takes some practice, but when your good.. your good!

[tecumseh]

practice makes perfect but you do get habituated to whatever grafting tool you work with the most.  sounds possible but I don't think I shall try that. 

when you can think you are really good, then go and watch folks that graft in queen rearing operation and you then know that you look like a slacker.

[Yankee11]

Lol.

I already know I'm a slacker.

Did my first grafts Sunday. I did remove a section of comb and it made it a lot easier on me for now. Those things are tiny, tiny. I used the Chinese grafting tool and another hook style. I couldn't get the hook style to work. I will look today and see if the accepted any of them.

[rcannon]

There's a gal on Beesource that grafts with a paintbrush. I just read that the other night.

[Yankee11]

Just checked our first shot at grafting. they are pulling 8 of 17. Not great but leaves us plenty of room for improvement,

[apisbees]

I use a paint brush 00 size. 1/4 twist to roll them on 1/4.  Twist to leave them in the quen cup.

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[G3farms]

Would like to see a video of this technique.

Do you tear down the cell walls to get at the larva?

[Yankee11]

Apis, I bet this is where I heard about this. I knew I had read about this somewhere. I'm gonna give this a try.

I would think you would not have to tear down cell walls doing this. I just do that so it makes it easier for me until I get better at it.

[apisbees]

Don't Tate down cell walls but it works best if you get the brush wet with royal jelly first. Just put the tip of the brush at the end of the larva and press the brush and lay the bristles down beside the larva. Roll the brush drawing the larva on the brush, lay the bristles in the queen cup and roll the brush out from under the larva.

[Jen]

WauW! Those of you who do this... You sure have my respect. Just Awesome!