A hive tool is a handheld multipurpose tool used in maintaining and inspecting

beehives A beehive is an enclosed structure in which some honey bee species of the subgenus ''Apis'' live and raise their young. Though the word ''beehive'' is commonly used to describe the nest of any bee colony, scientific and professional literature d ...

. Hive tools come in multiple variants and styles, and is intended as an all-in-one tool for

beekeepers A beekeeper is a person who keeps honey bees. Beekeepers are also called honey farmers, apiarists, or less commonly, apiculturists (both from the Latin ''apis'', bee; cf. apiary). The term beekeeper refers to a person who keeps honey bees in ...

. The hive tool is the third most essential tool for the beekeeper after the beekeeping veil and

bee smoker A bee smoker (usually called simply a smoker or a smokepot) is a device used in beekeeping to calm honey bees. It is designed to generate smoke from the smoldering of various fuels, hence the name. It is commonly designed as a stainless steel cyli ...

. There are two types of hive tool in common use - the standard hive tool and J-type hive tool. The standard hive tool has a box levering edge and a frame levering edge. The J-type hive tool also has a box levering edge, but on the other side is a j-hook and a small notch. Either type may have a small possibly tapered hole which is intended for removing small nails like a claw hammer. The other job of the hive tool is to lift frames when the hive is propolized. A J-type tool should be used in a specific way – the J goes into the bee space and the notch rests on the hive wall or the frame behind to provide lift. It is recommended not to use the J-hook under the lugs of the frames – it will not fit and may break the lugs off the frame. Using an ordinary chisel or screwdriver instead may result in damage to equipment or to the beehive. Because an ordinary tool may cause excessive damage, it might not be worth the trouble when using these tools to inspect the hive. This is especially true in the case where a beekeeper is using these tools directly to manipulate materials.

Uses

The hive tool is mainly used for two things: * Prying things apart * Scraping things off The beekeeper will use it throughout hive inspections. Here are some uses: * Prying off the cover of the beehive glued with

propolis Propolis or bee glue is a resinous mixture that honey bees produce by mixing saliva and beeswax with exudate gathered from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. It is used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the beehive. P ...

Dadant Catalog - Tool page - https://www.dadant.com/catalog/tools/tools * Prying boxes apart stuck together with propolis * Loosening

frames A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent. Frame and FRAME may also refer to: Physical objects In building construction *Framing (co ...

from the hive body * Removing burr comb,

bridge comb In beekeeping Beekeeping (or apiculture) is the maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in man-made beehives. Honey bees in the genus '' Apis'' are the most-commonly-kept species but other honey-producing bees such as ''Melipona'' stingless bees ...

or brace comb. * Scraping off propolis or debris from parts of the hive * Removing the lid off a bee package * Dislodging bee stingers from the skin without squeezing the venom sac.Bee Stings - HoneyBeeOnline - https://www.honeybeesonline.com/bee-stings/

Variants

Standard

The standard hive tool is made of a piece of plate metal bent at 90°.Best Hive Tool? - Bee Culture - https://www.beeculture.com/best-hive-tool/

J-Hook

The J-Hook variant describes any type of hive tool that utilizes a curved hook at either end. The hook is in the same plane as the prying part and is thus, normally flat. The hook is used primarily for prying the hive frames loose while reducing potential damage done to both the frame and comb. It is traditionally a flat tool.

Frame Grip

Operating very similarly to a pair of

pliers Pliers are a hand tool used to hold objects firmly, possibly developed from tongs used to handle hot metal in Bronze Age Europe. They are also useful for bending and physically compressing a wide range of materials. Generally, pliers consi ...

, the frame grip can act as an alternative to a J-hook hive tool. Commonly used on more aggressive hives, the frame grip hive tool allows quick and efficient inspection of the hive frames. It can alternatively be used as a nail puller.

References

{{BeeColonyMemberTypes Beekeeping tools