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Author Topic: Hive tool hygiene  (Read 18728 times)

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Offline Wandering Man

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Hive tool hygiene
« on: March 24, 2019, 02:56:20 pm »
I was looking for the thread on looking into other beeks hives, couldn’t find it easily and decided to just ask the question here.

How do you clean your hive tools? Does your method remove the propolis build up?

Do you just clean to sanitize? What do you use?

Or do you just “lose” the tool in the yard so you can have an excuse to buy a new one?
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Offline Mikey N.C.

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2019, 03:38:51 pm »
Guilty as charged :D. I have a old pot I boil water in and use. The state inspector wipes hers with 99% alcohol ,after each inspection but that's to keep from spreading anything.
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Offline Mikey N.C.

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2019, 03:48:21 pm »
When I first met I'd see. One of his fellow beek friend, a older beek name started with V, used a screwdriver. I asked him why, he said he was tired of losing hive tool's :D
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Offline iddee

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2019, 05:40:34 pm »
I have a self lighting propane torch for lighting my smoker and cleaning my hive tool.
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Offline Green bee

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2019, 08:50:37 pm »
I seldom go in other apiarys , but if i do i would use theres. In fact someone got on to me one time (not calling any names) for bring mine into there apiary. In my defense i didnt know ant better but he sure let me know that day lol. :yes:
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Offline iddee

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2019, 10:39:33 pm »
 :P :P :P   :laugh:
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #6 on: June 09, 2020, 09:00:20 am »
I just now saw this thread.  I did a short presentation on sanitation for my bee club at our last meeting.  That meeting was online. 
To clean the built up propolis and wax off hive tools I first use one hive tool to scrape the other hive tool.  This will remove large chunks of propolis, especially if the hive tool is cold.  Then I use scrubbing powder and a green scrubbing pad.  That will get all of it off.  I follow up with a quick soaking in bleach water.  4 tsp. of bleach per quart of water will do.  Rinse and dry.  Your hive tools will be cleaned and sanitized.
Other methods to keep brood diseases down include throwing them in a smoker that has a big flames, propane torch, bucket of bleach water (throw tools in the bucket in between apiaries), and even wiping your tools with Clorox Wipes in between colonies.







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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #7 on: June 09, 2020, 09:30:17 am »
Looks like it does the trick!


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Offline Papakeith

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #8 on: June 09, 2020, 03:36:59 pm »
I shove my hive tool into the ground to clean it off.  Soil is a great abrasive and will clean it right up.

Generally when visiting a different apiary I will use their tools.
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #9 on: June 09, 2020, 05:50:54 pm »
Quote from: Papakeith on June 09, 2020, 03:36:59 pm
I shove my hive tool into the ground to clean it off.  Soil is a great abrasive and will clean it right up.

Generally when visiting a different apiary I will use their tools.

Papakeith, some of the bigger beekeepers keep tools stashed at each apiary so they are not tempted to use the same tools at each location.
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Offline Papakeith

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #10 on: June 09, 2020, 06:42:07 pm »
I have more hive tools than I'd care to count stashed at each site.  Finding them is another issue altogether :laugh:
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #11 on: June 09, 2020, 06:43:38 pm »
I have been known to go to store a new tool and find one I had “lost” in the spot I was leaving the new one...


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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #12 on: June 09, 2020, 07:58:19 pm »



There's nothing worse than, on a hot summer day, you pick up your hive tool and it sticks to your hand!  :laugh:
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Offline RAST

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2020, 06:58:00 pm »
Mine stuck a lot this morning Bakersdozen, but I was pulling honey frames. Clean mine like Iddee, only I have mapp gas on my torch.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Hive tool hygiene
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2020, 08:10:30 pm »
Quote from: Zweefer on June 09, 2020, 06:43:38 pm
I have been known to go to store a new tool and find one I had “lost” in the spot I was leaving the new one...


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