Hive Tool
Lexikon
The hive tool, also called a lever chisel, is part of every beekeeper's basic equipment and accompanies practically every colony inspection.
The hive tool, also called a lever chisel, is part of every beekeeper's basic equipment and accompanies practically every colony inspection. It is usually made of spring 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 task arises from the behavior of the bees: they glue boxes, frames, and lids together with propolis, a sticky resin mixture that literally cements the hive together. With the angled side, the beekeeper loosens frames that are stuck and separates boxes that are glued together without crushing the bees. The flat side is used for scraping off wax remains, propolis, and unwanted brace comb on the top bars of the frames.
For everyday 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, because dried propolis and wax make the blade blunt and awkward to use. A common beginner's mistake is to apply too much force at once when levering, instead of loosening the frames carefully in several small steps, which avoids breaking frames or combs.