Hive World offers a varied selection of hive tools to enable you to find the most convenient for your purpose.
As with any tool-of-trade, choice of a suitable hive tool is a personal matter. The hive tool will be your most important piece of equipment during your hive checks. Therefore, you need to be comfortable with handling it. It is also important to be aware of the best way of using each function.
Hive tools have three main functions:
- Firstly, to slide in between the hive mat and the top super, or between supers, and gently lever them apart. To do this you need to break the propolis the bees use to glue them together.
- Then, to separate frames within the hive and lift them slightly to enable you to remove them for inspection. Lifting them also lets you know if the frames are joined on to frames underneath. (Bees can join these together with brace comb. When you lift the top super off, the frames below come too!!).
- Finally, to scrape propolis, wax and other bee products from the hive and frames in order to keep them tidy during inspections. This also needs to be done when cleaning down at the end of the season.
Types of Hive Tool:
The two basic styles of hive tool are the standard and the J-hook. There are other unusual variations, but they need special instructions! The standard hive tool is a flat piece of metal bent through ninety degrees at one end to give a short stub section around 20mm long. Both ends are tapered to a thin edge like a paint scraper. This is the Kelly or American style. On the other hand, the J-hook is a similar flat piece of metal but has only one end tapered like a paint scraper. The other end is shaped into a J shape.Using Your Hive Tools:
The long thin tapered end on both tools is used to gently slide in between the hive mat and the supers in order to access the frames inside. (Gently is important here, or you can damage the hive boxes). The best way is to break the seal all around the hive box before you start to separate. In order to separate the frames, place the bent end of the tool between adjacent frames and twist to lever one against the next thus separating them. With both ends free, the frame can be lifted and inspected. this is where the J-hook is useful. Insert the J section under the end of the frame to be lifted, resting the lug on the back on the adjacent frame. This makes it easy to lever back and lift. You can then remove the frame without squashing any bees that may be in between the ends of the frames. When scraping and cleaning wax etc., from frames and hive sections, the bent end of the standard tool is marginally better and less likely to dig in to the hive side than the scraper end. However, the scraper end on the J-hook is fine to use. The hive tool should be made of stainless steel. Ordinary steel will rust and this could end up in your honey. Painting one end helps you locate the tool when lost.Beekeepers Tool Belt
$84.80
The Hive World Beekeepers Tool Belt is the ultimate beekeepers accessory.
Never lose your hive tool again! The ultra-strong magnet holds your hive tool in place until required. Takes hive tools up to 30mm wide (including our whopping Big Brute). With a multi-compartment pouch to hold all those little extras (queen roller, grafting tool, queen marker etc.,) this tool belt will keep all your tools within easy reach.
This is THE gift for your favourite beekeeper.
Designed and manufactured in New Zealand.
Phone pouches also available.
Tools shown not included.
“I was always misplacing my hive tool,then a friend mention to me about a bee keepers tool belt at Hive World. This is one of the best products I have purchased. I never misplace anything now, the magnet holds the hive tool in place, plus there other pockets for other items.”
Regards J D M.
(“He actually purchased two!” Hive World NZ)N.B. For the many Australian beekeepers interested in this product, please contact us direct on [email protected] as we cannot process your order on our website. For your information freight charges are $25.00 untracked or $40.00 international courier.
For multi-buy discounts (3+) please contact us either by phone (0800 000 770) or email ([email protected]).
Bulk Buy Hive Tools
Hive World offers this unique multi-buy offer to purchase hive tools that suit all your workers and give you a range suitable for any job.
Contact us on 0800 000 770 or email [email protected] to arrange your order.
This amazing offer includes all our hive tool styles from our super NZ manufactured Big Brute to our baby pocket hive tool.
Choose any 10 to take advantage of this opportunity.
Hive World Big Brute hivetool
$27.80
The Big Brute hive tool is a serious tool for serious beekeepers. No propolis will be able to stand against this. Guaranteed to get your supers apart with ease.
This mighty tool is manufactured by us from 5 mm high tensile steel and is 320 mm long. However, it still fits on our HiveWorld Bee Belt so you won’t lose it!
Stainless steel American style hivetool
$7.80
Hive World’s American style Stainless Steel Hive Tool is a good rugged tool that will take you anywhere you need to go in the hive. A nice shape to work the supers apart when they have been propolised together with a smooth curve to push against as a lever and sharp blade to do the trick at the opening edge.
Stainless Steel J Hook Hivetool
$7.80
Hive World’s Stainless Steel J-Hook Hive Tool is useful for lifting up frames. Red Painted Handle makes it easy to locate your tool when you have put it down. The hook end is useful for lifting your frames and cleaning crevices while the other end is a great scraper.
270 mm long
