In desperation at not being able to spot the queen I'm about to destroy a bee veil and install a plastic sheet of "Glass" in the front. It seems like a good idea. Either it's a bad idea or people have done this a long time ago. Has anyone tried this? Is there one available in a catolog somewhere? I haven't seen one.
If this works at finding the queen, I'm going to give some thought at what to build so that I can find the hive tool that I JUST PUT DOWN!
I don't think it will help find a queen, but I think it will help seeing eggs. The queen just takes practice. I have a lot of trouble between my glasses and the veil seeing eggs. I have no trouble if I take off the veil, take off my glasses and put my face two inches from the frame. Yea right!
I have considered doing this myself. Let me know how it turns out.
You've seen those key chains with a retractable cable so the keys stay attached? Maybe you should attach it to one of those through a hole in the tool. Then you CAN'T lay it down.
When I was doing concrete work for a couple of years, I painted all my tools florescent orange because they would get layed on the ground and get a little dirt kicked on them and were very hard to find. Especially by those 18 year old kids who used my tools and never bought their own. It does help.
Before I replaced the screen in my veil, I would try a magnifying glass. Just watch where the sun is, lest you heat things up too much. Finding the queen is just a practice thing. Try looking for her when you aren't trying to do other things too.
It's one of my favorite things about an observation hive. My queen is not marked and I find her several times a day without disturbing the bees. It's great practice.
I have a Kelley Square Folding veil. With poor eyesight, bifocal lines, and the grid of the screen, I could not see how to walk!
Here's how I solved my problem:
Purchased clear plastic replacement lens for a saftey face shield ($5.00??)
Cut stitching and removed front screen.
Measured screen (mine was 8x10"). Cut clear lens using sharp knife (box cutter).
Using very small drill bit, drilled holes 1/4" apart, 1/4" from edge of plastic.
Sew into veil. (Takes about 90 min)
WORKS GREAT! I have no problem w/ fogging. Seeing eggs still difficult unless I have bright sunlight over my shoulder.
SUGGESTION:
When I replace the scratched lens, I think I'll sew Velco into the veil, and use sticky Velco on edge of plastic. Should make replacement a lot quicker.
I have an Optivisor that I use when working on firearms and looking at bees. Order from Brownells @ $33.00, much less than the bee catalogs. They have extra lens plates in different power amplifications $20. They also make an optiloupe for $6.35.
Perhaps you could velcro the lens plate or loupe to the top of the glass front veil?
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