Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: PeskySquirrel on March 17, 2008, 11:52:03 am
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The amount of protective clothing a beekeeper wears seems to be as varied as the opinions about which type of top feeding works best. I'm a newbee and I don't want to wear (or purchase) more than I need, but I'm wondering what everyone wears for protective clothing. How 'bout a quick poll? What protective clothing do you wear when you work your bees?
A. Nothing
B. Hat and Veil
C. Jacket + Hat and Veil
D. Full suit + Hat and Veil
1. I also wear Gloves
2. I don't wear Gloves
Right now I'm set up with "B2" (that is, Hat and Veil and no Gloves). I'm wondering if I should also invest in a jacket or suit.
This might be a silly question. Maybe the answer isn't so simple, and it varies based on the time of year, the activity of the bees, weather, food stores, etc. Anyway I'd love to hear everyone's opinions.
Thank you.
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I have a black and yellow striped tshirt and matching pants I wear at the hives.
Black and yellow suits a fellow.
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try going to menardes or homedepot and buy a paint suit ,,one of those paper ones ,, thats what a lot of keepers are useing for bee suits ,, you have the vail so try a paper suit ,if it dont work for you your only out 6 bucks and you can use the suit some other time... you will find the girls more in the stinging mood ,in the fall when they are protecting stores ,,,
the kid
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i use a jacket hat veil and sometimes nitrile gloves. if i am digging in i go with the gloves. when i get stung i swell up and i don't want the temporary inability to use my hands.
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I try to use nothing but smoke. I own a veil and gloves and use occassionally. I am pricing out a jacket, as my apiary is expanding which means I need to do work on hives even when they are testy. As a hobbiest, if they are having a bad day, i get beer and leave them be. I come back another day. W/ expansion, I will be losing this luxury.
I hate bees in my face, and they seem to like me too.
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I'm protected head to toe when I got out there. :roll:
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Depends on the season. Honey harvest (full suit, veil, boots, and gloves) but I do a primative form of harvest by just opening the hive and shaking the bees off the frames. Early sping with a new package, just a veil.
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I admit that I am a wimp when it comes to bee stings. I dress up head to toe with all protective gear. D1 is the answer for me
Annette
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i picked up a jacket with attached veil - i figure it has the best chance of minimizing the number of bees that get in the veil and the jacket will protect my arms. i didn't want a jump siut since it gets pretty humid in Maryland come August.
-Steve
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Whewwee! Tried it once with just a veil and gloves....by time the hubbub died down, and I got the charges dropped, the stings had faded away! The neighbors still won't talk to me, and my wife was furious for a long time.
Since then I make sure I have pants and a shirt on too... :-D
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Nothing until recently, now a veil.
oh, and my socks. :)
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I really like the pull over veil/shirt combo-it is easy on easy off. Gloves are good as girls can be (as all us girls) moody. make sure you get the ankle straps tho' if you go with just pants as those lil buggers like to climb up your legs.
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Usually B1: Hat & veil, no gloves. I picked up a few white shirts at the thrift store that I wear. I usually take gloves with me - just in case the girls are a bit testy. I also have a couple of those paper-painter outfits that I've used when I've had to do extensive manipulation on a day when the girls are extra grouchy.
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I really like the pull over veil/shirt combo-it is easy on easy off. Gloves are good as girls can be (as all us girls) moody. make sure you get the ankle straps tho' if you go with just pants as those lil buggers like to climb up your legs.
Where did you purchase yours and what is the exact brand/type etc.
Thanks
Annette
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Well after the last little bee got me I stopped by the ER to see the doctor that I ordered a hive for. I showed him my popeye arm and he said I am a good canidate for extreme allergic reaction to the next. I guess Ill be wearing my complete English suit, gloves and boots.
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Nothing until recently, now a veil.
oh, and my socks. :)
Hee Hee now that makes for an interesting Far-Side type picture in my sick little mind!! Wouldn't get too warm that way! Sorry! :lol:
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D1 for me - suit, zipon veil and hat, gloves, socks tennis shoes. I've just ordered some Dadant kid sized gloves because I'm tired of having an extra 1 1/2 inch of finger in my old gloves - tired of being an awkward, well-covered beekeeper!
Linda T well-covered in Atlanta
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B2
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B - hat and veil
2 - no gloves (too clumsy with gloves on.)
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jacket with the attached veil, no gloves. Dont think anybody in jamaica goes into an apiary without at least their veil. Well except for those ignoramuses who think thwey can pop the top and retreat before the bees get them., of course with the 1st sting they stop running and start flapping their arms. You know what happens next. The rest of the posse arrives :evil:
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Full beesuit here, the veil is attached, and gloves. That's if I'm doing the 'going in'. If Greg is doing it, he's in full body armor and I stand off to the side - but I'll get close, hold a frame, etc. without any protective gear.
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it will be C2. In may i have to do a photoshoot for a magazine i take photos for. Another Photographer is taking all the photos as we are using there studio however part of the shoot is a themed shoot, we can dress up in anything we like. My wife suggested my bee outfeet, so going to do that !
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Nothing until recently, now a veil.
oh, and my socks. :)
And what did your neighbors think? Wearing nothing while working your bees. You must know that Beekeepers are already thought of as loony and now you have to do it naked--or did I miss read that? LOL :p :p
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It will be on the next cover of "nudist weekly"!! :lol:
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The whole she-bang! Top to bottom, covered up as well as I can stand.
It is a very sexy look...dirty, wax and gunk covered suit- veil with many holes all sewed up with bright white string, gloves ripped out at the wrists now held togeather with duct tape.
The chicks go crazy for me dressed like that. Then again, it could be my smoke&sweat cologne....huhmm...
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I wear the full "moon suit" and gloves. I have the kind where the veil zips onto the suit. It works really well as long as you remember to zip the hood on all the way. I left about a half inch open last year and of course one of the girls found her way in! It's a little difficult to get the veil unzipped from the suit with one hand while you're squeezing a bee with the other! it also get awfully hot in August in that suit. I would also like to know where bberry found the pull over veil/shirt. Sounds like it might be a little cooler...
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Inspector jacket and nirtile gloves
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Full body armor. You never know what might happen. Drop a frame of bees or a whole box. Or perhaps they are just a wee bit testy one day.
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I wear the the english suit, no gloves.
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Depends on the mood of my bugs mostly.
Usually I go in with the "Premium Zippered suit w/round vale" from Betterbee and gloves (cant stand stings on my hands + I'm a banjo picker and it's hard to play after getting stung there).
If its nice hot weather, I just go in with t-shirt, shorts, my old trusty square folding vale, and gloves.
Sean Kelly
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Depends on the work to be done.
Just veil ---- peek in hive ( I got head bumping Russians )
Jacket and veil for super removal or adding .
Gollden Bee Suit for everything else.
Gloves as needed . :)
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Coveralls
Hat
Veil
Nitrile gloves
:)
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Jacket with veil and gloves. My old blue jeans do fine on my legs. So far only had one go up the pants .
DennisB
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A veil, jeans and a short sleeve shirt, in late summer and fall I wear a London Fog overcoat from the Thrift store ($3.00) and bee gloves.
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Annette-I ripped out the tag so i don't know the exact brand but it cost $75 at my local bee supply store. Here is a link for dadant, can't believe they are more expensive-usually my local store is :roll:
https://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=34_64&products_id=584
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Anette, thats what I got too, the tag just says CE? It was at my local store for $69, I was shocked cause I'd been shopping online. If they are still on sale I'm gonna pick a Large up for my daughter & as a spare for anyone coming over. looking for the tag I just noticed that the veil/hat zips off! Woo Hoo! Glad I noticed before I actually have to manipulate bees for any length of time!
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Thanks, I think I am going to treat myself to this outfit, because getting those full suited coveralls on is a pain and very, very hot. How stingproof would this outfit be if I wore it over heavy jeans, and wore my high rubber boots????
Thanks for the info.
Annette
My husband will have a fit when he sees the price, but oh well!!!
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In cool weather, a jacket with a zip on "English" style hood and a pair of leather driving gloves tucked into the sleeves of the jacket. Jeans (usually faded, sometimes a bit "holey"), boots. In hot weather, a Golden Bee Products suit with just shorts on under it.
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Jacket with zippered veil from Dadant, about $45.00. Get it 2-3 sizes bigger so its roomy. I wear long Khaki pants with this set up, works great.
...JP
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Here's my outfit:
(http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1628/beewall1024x7682ce7.th.jpg) (http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?image=beewall1024x7682ce7.jpg)
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I learned my lesson and go fully covered. Not because I have hot bees, but because I have a tendency to hack them off by blundering somehow or I may pick the wrong day or time of day to get in. I do not wear gloves anymore but they are with me if I need them. Same with a smoker... it's there, ready, if I need it.
The bees seem to leave my hands alone ... kow!!! For now anyway.
Since my clothes are home made I will drop to a just a jacket with attached hood, when I can afford it. ;)
UUUhhhh D2...