Hive tool 20 cm

01 · THE LENGTH

Twenty centimetres are less leverage

At 20 cm you have plenty of lever for a stuck frame, but not for two boxes welded with old propolis. People who use it daily tend to keep it as the tool in hand and leave the long one for breaking supers apart. If you find yourself twisting it or putting all your weight on one corner of woodwork, that is not its job: work several points progressively, or fetch the long one.

02 · THE TWO ENDS

One opens, the other cleans

The right angle goes under the crown board and under the frame lugs; the flat edge scrapes wax and propolis off top bars, rests and floors. The sequence that damages least is always the same: break the propolis seal first between lug and rest, and only then ease the frame from both ends. Lifting in one go is what splits a top bar and crushes bees against the rail.

03 · MAINTENANCE

Stainless does not mean indestructible

For scraping, lay the edge at a low angle and take short passes: on edge you bite into the wood. When the visit is over, clear the residue, wash it when due and dry it before putting it away. Stainless steel saves you the rust, but it does not turn the tool into a hammer or a chisel: hitting things is how they end up bent.

04 · BEFORE YOU BUY

If you are only going to own one tool, do not make it this one: make it a long hive tool. This one shines as the second, the one in your pocket.