Author Topic: Setting up a toolbox (Read 8569 times)

efmesch · « **on:** March 04, 2015, 02:41:41 pm »

A lot of beekeepers have their hives close to home and can afford the luxury of running back and forth from the hives to the house when they discover that they need a tool or some piece of equipment for the job at hand. That situation, leaving the hive in the middle of an inspection or some management procedure is not very desirable, but in a tight spot, you can get away with it.
Many beeks, however, have their hives in outyards where jumping back and forth is out of the question. For these situations it is essential that you have a well equipped toolbox to keep any situation under control.
Some basic items are always with you, like a hive tool and gloves---but what other items have you found you need in your toolbox.
This thread is dedicated to the intent of setting up a toolbox as close to perfect as reasonable. Maybe some of you can provide a diagram showing how your toolbox is arranged to keep things under control. Please share with us.

I'll start with a few basics and ask that the rest of you chime in with your additions and, when necessary, an explanation of why you added your items.

Starters: hive tool, gloves, hammer and assorted sizes of nails, queen cages, blunt-pointed nail scissors for trimming wings of queens. Newspaper, to start off a smoker or to use when uniting hives by the newspaper method.

What do you think should be added?

Papakeith · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2015, 03:16:00 pm »

duct tape, never know when it will come in handy
bottle of water
epi pen
knife or razor blade
queen catcher
marking pen

efmesch · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2015, 03:20:23 pm »

Quote from: Papakeith on March 04, 2015, 03:16:00 pm

duct tape, never know when it will come in handy
bottle of water
epi pen

How right you are: This past Monday, when I went to make my first spring inspection, I discovered that mice had nibbled holes in the bellows of my smoker. Duct tape to the rescue and all was fine (as a temporary repair---and who knows how long a temporary repair will have to last?)

riverbee · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2015, 06:45:13 pm »

great thread ef!

i would just add extra equipment, boxes, frames, excluders, reducers, hardware cloth, feeders, feed whatever. even an extra hive tool........

i liked what pk said, i don't use duct tape though, i carry the metal tape stuff. eppy yes, water~check, foldable box knife ~check; queen cage and a catcher~ check.

"Maybe some of you can provide a diagram showing how your toolbox is arranged to keep things under control."

i want to see jack's diagram on this, or even scott's..........

iddee · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2015, 07:24:51 pm »

Mine stretches all the way across my truck bed. Arrangement, what's that? I just unload it into the truck bed until I pull out what I want.

LogicalBee · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2015, 01:54:00 am »

Good lists!

I usually try to have my camera close by because I never know what crazy things the bees will be up to!

I also have a bucket close by to catch any swarms. Usually just a face mask if catching swarms in the city so I don't draw too much attention to myself! I usually find a brush handy to sweep bees into a bucket too. Also use that to sweep bees off honey frames I'm taking.

I have a heck of a time keeping my smoker lit, so I like to have a propane torch too

Bsweet · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2015, 10:05:24 pm »

From mid April to mid June spare NUCs incase I have to remove a queen due to swarm cells, a note book or recorder to make field notes about each hive. For the run away hive tool I removed a magnet from a speaker and keep it in a pocket of my jacket or back pocket of my jeans, when I need to set down the tool I just press it to the magnetic pocket and it holds my hive tool. Jim

Riverrat · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2015, 08:58:51 pm »

I carry about all I need in a 5 gallon bucket. Handy and gives you a place to set if needed

CpnObvious · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2015, 11:06:50 pm »

I've already seen an epi pen listed... But I carry Benedryl, also. Pencil & permanent marker. Q-tips. Lighter...

Among many of the items already listed.

kebee · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2015, 05:49:22 am »

All of my stuff are within 75 ft of where I am with the bees so no need for tool setup.

Ken

efmesch · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2015, 12:39:59 pm »

Kebee, you're one of the luckies referred to in post #1. BUT.... what do you do when a swarm takes off or appears from nowhere and you have to go chasing it off into the distance to catch it......how fast do you get yourself organized so as not to lose it? What do you take with you?

kebee · « **Reply #11 on:** March 10, 2015, 01:11:22 pm »

The last one I grab my wagon put a box with all that goes with it, plus a tie down, hedge clippers, it was low so no ladder, cut the branch and in the hive they went, the easyest one I have gotten. If they are over 30 ft up they are gone for I am not going to try and get them.

Ken

efmesch · « **Reply #12 on:** March 10, 2015, 01:26:06 pm »

Okay Ken, now you're talking---a tie down and hedge clippers.

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2015, 09:30:39 pm »

Did anyone mention a cappings scratcher for checking drone brood for mites? Good to periodically check to see if you should investigate further.

efmesch · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2015, 02:43:52 am »

Well said baker---my scraper wasn't with me two weeks ago when I came across a hive with too many drones. I wanted to uncap them and have the bees clean them out but I wasn't properly prepared. :'(
You should have posted the scraper recommendation earlier.

Ray4852 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 15, 2015, 08:49:55 am »

I carry all my basic beekeeping tools in a home depot carry bag. Frame spacer tool, hive tools, groove cleaner, framer lifter tool if I need it. Matches to lite the smoker along with some wood pellets and pine needles to keep the smoker lit. I also carry 5 cover clothes to cover the boxes to help keep the heat in the box and keep the robbers out too, Bee brush. I also keep my area clean of any wax I scrape off my hives by scrapping the stuff into a little bucket. A dirty bee yard can bring in animals if the wax is laying on the ground. Its better to collect it and melt it down later. If I have to carry boxes and other hive equipment like batteries to treat for mites with oxalic acid vapor. I use my tractor to do the heavy work for me.

Zweefer · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2015, 10:14:39 am »

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet... I have some wire and rubber bands as well in case some comb is really wonky and needs correction...

efmesch · « **Reply #17 on:** March 15, 2015, 07:01:29 pm »

Great addition Zweefer.
I think we're getting somewhere with these suggestions.
A few more and I'll try to make an interim summary, putting everything together in one post.

riverbee · « **Reply #18 on:** March 15, 2015, 07:55:09 pm »

"A few more and I'll try to make an interim summary, putting everything together in one post."

that would be awesome ef!...........

efmesch · « **Reply #19 on:** March 29, 2015, 04:39:46 pm »

This thread started with asking for recommendations as to what should be included in a hive toolbox.
I dare say that all the responses were good. Many of the responses mentioned items that one would normally forget and others mentioned items that wouldn't quite fit into a single box, unless it was very big (like the back of Iddee's truck).
Since there haven't been any new post in the thread for a while, I'll try to present a collection of the suggestions, arranged under different headings. I'm sure there are other ways to organize the list, many probably better than mine, but at least it's in some sort of organization.
At this point, considering the variety of items mentioned, it might be better to rename the list and call it "Items you should take with you (or have nearby and accessible) when you go to our hives. Some items will be needed only during certain seasons, but the list should serve as a reminder before you move out to work the hives. In spite of the length, I've tried to keep things short. Some will agree with me, others, not. But at least it should set your mind working before and not after it's too late.

General, all around items
Smoker, hive tool(s), gloves, Bee suit, hat, net,
[for smoker. Fuel (paper, carton, wood-ships, pellets,etc.,matches/lighter/propane torch), plugs to extinguish]
Frame lifter, groove cleaner. wide metal spatula, cover cloths, capping scratcher
Hammer and nails, knife, razor blades, wide rubber bands. Wires, duct tape
Water bottle
Marking pen, pencil, note book,

For work with queen
Queen catcher, queen cage, wing clipping scissors, queen grafting tool, queen marking paint

For personal health issues
Epi-pen/benedryl, aspirin or other pain killer

For pest and disease issues
Oxalic acid crystals and vaporizer, source of current, BT. Sprayer, Terramycin

Be prepared for management eventualities
Spare supers, frames, sheets of foundation
Entrance reducers, robber screens

Special events
Swarm bucket, nucleus hive, hedge clippers/pruning shears, camera

Bonus Items
Bee brush, wad of steel wool (for sealing holes)
Voice recorder for making field notes
Strong magnet to hold hive tool against pocket,
Q tips, tie-downs, frame-spacer tool
Containers for collected propolis and bur wax