Do you wear gloves during a frame-by-frame inspection?

[Rolande]

Yes I wear gloves but not due to any concern either way about stings. In my experience beekeeping can be a surprisingly dirty job, I see no benefit in having fingers covered with dirt from the outside of the boxes or sticky propolis and maybe even nectar when I'm trying to handle a queen. Likewise, good ol' fashioned workman's hands with traces of ingrained grime (no matter how hard you scrub them) isn't the most pleasing self promotion when trying to sell a premium food product.

As others have pointed out, there are times when gloves are a hindrance but I think that they make a good default point from where to start.

[Noah's Ark]

I have only been keeping bees two years. I wore them the first time I worked the hive and found them to get in the way. I have not worn them since. Have only been stung once in the hand so far. I find for me it is easier to handle the frames, but i do agree with many of the posts it is a personal thing. My 14 year old daughter that helps me with the bees wears them all the time. She says she has no intention of getting stung. As for the propolis, I keep a spray bottle with an alcohol water mix (got the idea from my mentor) and some rags in the tool box. After i close up the hives, spray some on my hands and it comes right off.

[Snakejumper]

This thread inspired me to work gloveless this weekend. The bees were gentle & too busy foraging to worry about me. When finished I did sting deliberately on an arthitic joint, which riled them up some, but I covered it & walked away.

[StevenG]

Been keeping bees 7 years this time around...generally do not wear gloves, but keep them handy, just in case. My tipping point is usually 5-6 stings, then I'll put them on, unless the stings are coming hours apart... part of my apitherapy, though I don't like stings.

Have found out that the first sting of the season is the worst, mostly in anticipation. I don't swell as much as I used to.
Regards,
Steven

[Beeophyte]

I usually start out with them on, get irritated at the poor dexterity and take them off. My bees have always been very gentle. I've probably deserved a couple of stings but as yet, they haven't stung me.

I am starting to get arthritis in my hands so I wouldnt mind a sting once in awhile. Whoever said to take the wedding ring off had a good suggestion, I hadn't thought of that. Mine will be coming off when I work on my hives from now on.

[papar]

During hive inspection, I go gloveless because of the improved dexterity and it just seems to improve the way you relate to the hive. The bees teach you how to control them. I will say though that during certain jobs and under certain conditions, gloves are required for me. If I'm shaking bees off comb and or making nucs or splits,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and there is no nectar flow, the girls will eat you up without the gloves.

[buzz abbott]

At first I was using heavy gauntlet glove that came with the suit. They stung through them at the wrist anyway and it was hard to feel what was going on. I switched to nitrile glove which I like as I can feel stuff. The bees can sting through it with no problem, but it is real easy to lift the glove to pull the sting before it has much chance to dump venom. The thing I don't care for is the sweat factor.

[DRUR]

Back in the midnite days I hardly ever wore them. With my survivor bees I usually always wear them except with a weak colony in spring or on a flow. I don't treat so gentleness is down the list of colonies. I get stung through my gloves.

I used to use a veil and longsleave shirt, blue jeans, with gloves [like Barry]. I would get stung quite often. I now wear a pull over with veil that is bee tight as I got tired of getting stung on the face when they worked their way up through my veil, don't mind stings anywhere else except my face.

I doubt that with my bees there would be many who without gloves unless you want your hand to look like a pin cushion full of stingers.

Kindest Regards
Danny Unger

[oregonbeek]

I don't like getting stung so I definitely wear them. I don't know how you guys don't wear gloves and don't get stung. I wouldn't get out of that yard without 10 stings on my hands if I didn't wear gloves.

[StevenG]

Who said we don't get stung when we don't wear gloves???
Danny, I see you're in Texas...I have B. Weaver bees, and most all the time I can work them without gloves... but when one particular hive gets cranky, WOWZA!!!! Right now that hive is three deeps and three shallows tall!
Regards,
Steven