Too many bees to see what's going on!

[Steven Ogborn]

My bar stand is made like just a three sided hive body. I cut a couple of rabbet joints for the sides and screwed it together.

[mhorowit]

I think he was suggesting you build a stand, not seeing that you described one you made in post #9. The one I made isn't as elaborate. Three pieces of wood nailed together and notched to accomodate one laiden bar. I barely use it, instead doing the rotate and twist method to see both sides, but will once it gets warmer.

I use my stand when I believe the comb is too fragile to allow the "Mangum flip" - MIke

[Steven Ogborn]

I use my stand when I believe the comb is too fragile to allow the "Mangum flip" - MIke

Cool! I didn't know that tecnique had an actual name for it.

[mhorowit]

Cool! I didn't know that tecnique had an actual name for it.

Only because that's who I saw demo it. Could have just as easily been the "Bush Flip" or the "Comfort Flip"

[SantaFeBeek]

You can also do a sharp downward shake over the hive so that most of the bees fall off. With a hand on either end of the bar, fingers under, thumbs on top, shake directly downward, only about an inch or two, and thump with thumbs at the bottom of the shake. It is important to keep the comb vertical so no forces are exerted that would pull the comb at an angle. If it is really hot outside, you probably want to avoid this method, as the comb attachment to the bar will have lost some of its integrity in the heat and you could knock the comb off of the bar. Same goes for an extremely heavy honey-filled comb...too much weight for this method, but it works well for any brood filled comb. It takes a little time to get the knack of it, but it is a really quick method for clearing brood comb for inspection.

Good luck!!

[mhorowit]

You can also do a sharp downward shake over the hive so that most of the bees fall off. With a hand on either end of the bar, fingers under, thumbs on top, shake directly downward, only about an inch or two, and thump with thumbs at the bottom of the shake. It is important to keep the comb vertical so no forces are exerted that would pull the comb at an angle. If it is really hot outside, you probably want to avoid this method, as the comb attachment to the bar will have lost some of its integrity in the heat and you could knock the comb off of the bar. Same goes for an extremely heavy honey-filled comb...too much weight for this method, but it works well for any brood filled comb. It takes a little time to get the knack of it, but it is a really quick method for clearing brood comb for inspection.

Good luck!!

You allude to something that is missed by authors who have first year beeks as an audience. That new comb is delicate and it is full of brood and probably has a 1/2 pound of bees hanging on it, so anything except the most gentle motions should be avoided. Now, I built a three sided rack to hold a bar, making it as deep as my hive. When I pulled a heavy, new frame out and placed it on that rack, it bottomed out!, So I figure it stretched a bit - Mike

[SantaFeBeek]

Now, I built a three sided rack to hold a bar, making it as deep as my hive. When I pulled a heavy, new frame out and placed it on that rack, it bottomed out!, So I figure it stretched a bit - Mike

Depending on how the rack is set up, you could probably put a shim on each side where the bars sit so that you don't have to remake. It is probably a good idea to make it a half an inch to an inch deeper next time, as many of my tbh combs at some point or another get attached to the floor in a spot or two, so they would be very close to bottoming out in a rack that matches the hive. Good information...I need to build a rack for myself! Thanks!

[julysun]

I hope you guys are joking about blowing on the comb! My bees get really hot if I blow on them! The CO2 drives them wild and right into my face. Best to use a brush or smoker.

[mhorowit]

I hope you guys are joking about blowing on the comb! My bees get really hot if I blow on them! The CO2 drives them wild and right into my face. Best to use a brush or smoker.

what would be neat would be a mini bellows that you could hold in one hand and blow air. Perhaps a cut down turkey baster? - Mike

[Merlinspop]

what would be neat would be a mini bellows that you could hold in one hand and blow air. Perhaps a cut down turkey baster? - Mike

There already is one!

Go to just about any good sized grocery store that has a good Baby section. Look for a little blue (they almost all seem to be blue, but don't fixate on that color) bulb looking thing. They're intended to use to (pardon the grossness) suck the snot out of babies' noses, but they work great for creating a little puff of air. Also, if you intend to use powdered sugar to help control mites, they work pretty decently to suck the powder out of a dish, then puff back out onto the bees.

If you can't find one at a grocery store, any Wal*Mart, Target or Babies/Kids R Us will certainly have them.

B

[mhorowit]

There already is one!

Go to just about any good sized grocery store that has a good Baby section. Look for a little blue (they almost all seem to be blue, but don't fixate on that color) bulb looking thing. They're intended to use to (pardon the grossness) suck the snot out of babies' noses, but they work great for creating a little puff of air. Also, if you intend to use powdered sugar to help control mites, they work pretty decently to suck the powder out of a dish, then puff back out onto the bees.

If you can't find one at a grocery store, any Wal*Mart, Target or Babies/Kids R Us will certainly have them.

B

I've given them the eyeball; was concerned that they wouldn't give much air, but if you've tried it, I"ll spring for the $4.00 - Mike

[Merlinspop]

I've given them the eyeball; was concerned that they wouldn't give much air, but if you've tried it, I"ll spring for the $4.00 - Mike

All you want is a gentle little puff that says, "Move along, little bees" to get them to clear out a little space for a looksee; not blow them off the entire comb, right? I can't say I have used one yet (with a 2 year old, I have plenty). My population isn't so dense that I can't see enough of the comb to get a feel for what's in it. But there's one in my tool bucket. I can give it a test tonight or tomorrow and report back before you buy one.

[mhorowit]

All you want is a gentle little puff that says, "Move along, little bees" to get them to clear out a little space for a looksee; not blow them off the entire comb, right? I can't say I have used one yet (with a 2 year old, I have plenty). My population isn't so dense that I can't see enough of the comb to get a feel for what's in it. But there's one in my tool bucket. I can give it a test tonight or tomorrow and report back before you buy one.

I got to stop by the drug store anyway, so I"ll pick one up - Mike

[julysun]

Good idea! This morning while looking through my TBHive I had trouble pushing them back into place, always one bee that won't get down, so, will try the bulb blower.

[Joseph Clemens]

You could always rest one end of the top bar on the hive, which frees up one hand to use a smoker. I just rest top bars in an extra box (sized so they fit) where I can watch them hands-free.

[Steven Ogborn]

Good idea! This morning while looking through my TBHive I had trouble pushing them back into place, always one bee that won't get down, so, will try the bulb blower.

July, a "bee-down strip" helps with that. Mine is now a very valuable tool when closing up a highly populated hive.
I use a 1/8" piece of chip board I got from my work. A short search here will give you a good idea of what they
are, and how to use them. I open them up with my bread knife, and close them up with my bee-down strip.
Now things go smooth. I don't cuss at my bees half as much as I used to.

[blist]

since everyone is throwing their .02 in...I personally wouldn't blow on bees to move them...they don't respond well to CO2, you could just use a little piece of wood to push/herd them off, I've found that this upsets them the least, even brushing them off with a bee brush seems to bother them...if there wasn't danger of comb breaking off the person's advice to use gravity to "knock" them off works well...I would be worried that comb would break off though as I live in an extremely hot and humid climate

[BeeCurious]

I'd like to know how some get attendant bees out of a queen cage without exhaling / blowing on them...

[blist]

I'd like to know how some get attendant bees out of a queen cage without exhaling / blowing on them...

I let them walk out on their own.