Author Topic: Queen clips! (Read 12454 times)

LazyBkpr · « **on:** May 15, 2014, 06:00:31 pm »

Last winter I ordered a few things from Mann Lake. Two of those things were two extra queen clips. I have ONE older clip. Like the new ones, it is made of plastic, and always felt flimsy, so I was a bit worried that one day it would break..
So on the first cut out I did this year, i took the two new clips.. Last comb, I see the queen, grab the clip, and reach forward to clip her.. the clip breaks in my hand...
I yell for my minion to grab the other clip, she brings it to me.. I grab it and go to clip the queen, and it breaks too.....

Both clips blew out at the hinge pin when I tried to squeeze them open...
I had to use both hands to get the queen in one of them, then hold it together while I climbed down to the box....

Fair warning if your going to buy one.. I should have bought the metal ones.

blueblood · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2014, 06:10:32 pm »

I just received two of those from Mann last week. They seem to work well for me. Maybe you got the cheap plastic mold day.

iddee · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2014, 06:18:11 pm »

I have several clear plastic ones with many past uses on them. Never had a problem.

They didn't come from ML.

G3farms · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2014, 07:08:32 pm »

I had bought one from Brushy and crushed it in my pocket. Next one was from Kelley's and broke the ear off it some how. Bought 3 more from Brushy, the plastic seems to be a bit more softer or flexible, maybe they will last for a while. Buddy of mine had a metal one and dropped it off a ladder, bent out of shape pretty bad, must have landed just right.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2014, 07:18:47 pm »

The older one I have is a bit more flexible and is still working fine, the plastic isnt as clear. These are brittle, I should have tried to open them back when I got them. Was probably a new run on a Monday that they were made.

Bamabww · « **Reply #5 on:** May 15, 2014, 08:57:45 pm »

Quote from: LazyBkpr on May 15, 2014, 06:00:31 pm

Last winter I ordered a few things from Mann Lake. Two of those things were two extra queen clips.

Both clips blew out at the hinge pin when I tried to squeeze them open...

Fair warning if your going to buy one.. I should have bought the metal ones.

Ordered from the same place and the exact same thing happened to me, the very first time I tried to use it. Lesson learned.

tefer2 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2014, 07:56:48 am »

Hey Scott, I think that JP the Beeman has the skinny on which plastic clip lasts.
I thought he said they are from Brushy Mountain.
If anyone would know, it would be Jeff.
Who else does that many removals!

blueblood · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2014, 09:14:14 am »

JP talked about his clips not too long ago and it seems his biggest point about them was that they were more narrow to fit better between frames. I think it was Brushy too.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2014, 09:39:12 am »

OK, Thanks, I'll send him a note.

blueblood · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2014, 09:48:59 am »

http://www.jpthebeeman.com/jpthebeeman/itemdisplay.asp?itemID=3723&retID=3668&nextID=3792

Jen · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2014, 11:14:21 am »

I recently got mine off of Amazon, I'll have to check to see if they are the same ones from Brushy

robo · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2014, 11:23:53 am »

I never did like using those clips, always felt like I was going to catch part of her. I carry a roller cage in my pocket and just pick her up by the wings and put her in. I never get caught without my queen picker upper

Jen · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2014, 12:05:01 pm »

Robo, do you have a pic of the roller cage?

robo · « **Reply #13 on:** May 16, 2014, 12:35:55 pm »

Quote from: Jen on May 16, 2014, 12:05:01 pm

Robo, do you have a pic of the roller cage?

You can see ii in use in the queen marking video

Jen · « **Reply #14 on:** May 16, 2014, 12:47:25 pm »

Thanks Robo! I have seen these, think I'll get one, I believe they are also on Amazon.

Lburou · « **Reply #15 on:** May 16, 2014, 03:36:21 pm »

I saw a friend repair a Mann Lake clip (also broken on first use) with a zip tie. That repair works well if you have the right sized zip tie. HTH

Jen · « **Reply #16 on:** May 16, 2014, 04:17:22 pm »

These are the two I purchased on Amazon recently. They open up very easy, hardly any resistance at all, and close securely. Then I like that there is a leeway there at the opening which gives us a little more security in not squishing the queen. I haven't used them yet but I think they will do just fine.

http://www.amazon.com/Queen-Catcher-Clip-Beekeeping-BB0179/dp/B00H8Z2RB0/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1400271120&sr=8-8&keywords=queen+cages

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #17 on:** May 16, 2014, 08:16:37 pm »

I was going to post a pic of the good one I have that still works, but... It looks like the ones Jen has.. sort of a milky clear colored plastic as opposed to the crystal clear ones that broke instantly..

minz · « **Reply #18 on:** May 16, 2014, 11:48:04 pm »

So I have grabbed the queen in the clip, shake out some bees with the queen. Set down the clip, put the frame back and got my paint. I picked up the clip and there was the queen stuck halfway in the clip. I need to go back and see how many supercedure cells I have.

Jen · « **Reply #19 on:** May 16, 2014, 11:54:40 pm »

This is the website with the clips I posted. These were purchased on Amazon.

http://www.blueskybeesupply.com/