Hive Tool
Lexikon
The hive tool, also called a lifting tool, is part of every beekeeper's basic equipment and accompanies practically every colony inspection.
The hive tool, also called a lifting tool, is part of every beekeeper's basic equipment and accompanies practically every colony inspection. It is usually made of springy steel and has two differently shaped ends: one side bent at a right angle for levering, and a flat, ground side that works like a scraper.
Its main purpose follows from the bees' behavior: they seal boxes, frames and covers with propolis, a sticky resin mixture that virtually cements the hive together. With the angled side, the beekeeper loosens frames stuck in place and separates boxes that have been glued together, without crushing the bees in the process. The flat side is used to scrape off wax residue, propolis and unwanted natural comb on the top bars of the frames.
For daily work, the hive tool is thus a multi-purpose tool, comparable to a pocket knife for the beekeeper: without it, many modern box hives could hardly be opened without damage. After work the tool should be cleaned, since dried propolis and wax make the blade blunt and unwieldy. A common beginner's mistake is applying too much force at once when levering, instead of loosening the frames carefully in several small steps, which avoids breaking frames or combs.