Beekeeping | Are Frame Grabbers Worth The Hype? Ep. 3 of Worth it Or Worthless

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

David... They are WORTH IT. If you have a "Hand Disability." Not all of us are lucky to have x2 Good Working Hands. 🥺 So a Grabber, or Gripper are great, at times. Or I just get in there, wiggle a Frame with my Hive Tool (break the Propolis) and grab it by my Hand ✋ Happy Beekeeping 2021. 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 If we are having a Cup of Earl Grey, I'll carry mine, and you carry yours (!) Or it's two trips to the Kitchen... Don't think they make Tea Cup Grabbers !?! 🤭

[@wpankey57]

Perfect! I was just wondering how to handle frames. Turning them over and around to inspect them properly and gently.

[@steventavernaro47]

As a newly branded bee keeper really appreciate your pearls

[@theespinozagrove]

In my larger stacked hives I will use this gripper just for the first frame it helps out tremendously

[@russellsamson1828]

Great video, learning so much from your presention Thank you

[@sarashappyhives1828]

I have the ABC and XYZ of bee culture book! Good information never goes out of style 😉 I have frame grabbers but don’t use them much, I prefer to pick the frames up with my hands. I do wear gloves because I don’t like getting the propolis on my hands.

[@jasonbuckley8979]

Thank you! All of your videos are so informational and I have learned so much stuff from them !

[@PapaBee165]

I agree about the frame grippers. I never felt secure holding a frame after one slipped in my hand. I put them down and have never picked them up again.

[@mikefortney7879]

Great video

[@bgtrev]

Being totally new to beekeeping I currently "glove up" before touching my hives, would love to use bare hands but currently lack that confidence to do so. Just been practicing your holding technique on an empty frame, that will definitely take away some of my ham fisted lifting and manoeuvring. Many thanks again.

[@brucejarrell5707]

Outstanding

[@joetripp123]

Hey David, loving the series. I did use wood handle frame grabbers in the beginning but, like you, was always scared I'd drop a frame. I quickly moved away from them. I have pulled them out on rare occurrences when I need to 'carefully' pull a middle frame for some reason. For instance during an inspection I discovered a problem frame of badly drawn comb I wanted to swap out and came back later to carefully remove it. There are a few rare reasons they help, but not enough to warrant having them all the time. I also find they tear up the 4 points at the top of the comb they touch - usually honey so it makes things messy. I've graduated to wearing shorts while working the bees but still wear gloves, for now. That's my next goal - gloveless.

[@Scott-np7sl]

I used that smaller one for a few inspections but after accidentally cutting a bee in half, almost dropping a frame, and losing the springs I just got braver and use my hands now.

[@michaelmueller4946]

I’ve never used my grabber. I’m happy I spent 3 years studying before I started. I wear no jacket / hood or gloves.

[@greenhousefun3235]

👏. Im scared. I think i should study longer.

[@joshwaters3612]

You failed to review the frame gripper in the manner it is most useful. The frame gripper is most useful in removing the end frame where finger space is tight and the frame is usually full of honey and heavy (~10 lbs in a deep frame). Loosen the propolis on the end frame by using your J-hook; just like you did in the finger lift. Grab the end frame with the frame gripper, lift straight up, rest the frame on something while your non-lifting hand gets a grip on the ear. Then you can release the frame gripper and grab the other ear with your lifting hand and handle like a normal frame. I only use the frame gripper on 1/20th of my hive inspections, but it gives quite a bit a relief over trying to lift that 10 lb frame w/ fingertips.

[@adamwhite9854]

Hi Dave, an unrelated question from Milton, Ontario.....I have a Buckfast colony that is doing great, double deep and single super full. My local supplier has Carpathian queens available. Can I split my Buckfast hive and use the Carpathian queen? or will my Buckfast bees kill her?....I know I could ask my supplier the same question, but I consider your advice far more valuable. Thank you.

[@beek]

I just cannot answer that. Sometimes two dogs of the same litter will fight all the time.

[@loucasella5148]

I bought a pair of the very same grabbers that dave tested. It was a waste of money. Just man up and learn to work the bees with your hands. I do use latex gloves when I handle pollen patties, and protective gloves when handling a swarm or wild hive. Thank you Dave for the links to the equipment. As I said, my son and I want to start a KZbin channel. Time will tell if that happens. He's 12 and I have a busy career. Probably best to keep it simple in the beginning. Lou

[@robinfrazier9763]

Well David what do you think about the 12 inches deep frames as I am use as part of my equiment after buying out another beek. . I like them very well. Rob.

[@beek]

Very well received int he beekeeping community and I believe that Brother Adams (Karl Kehrle) at Buckfast Abbey got along well with that size.

[@robertward5595]

I've never used a grabber, but my brother in law suggested I should use one. When I went to the bee store I put my hand around the ones they had and I decided they were not worth it. So like you I think there worthless. I believe like an old Indian friend of mine, that if your calm an relaxed you're bees will be as well. Thanks once again I do enjoy your videos.

[@beek]

Glad you are enjoying the videos

[@gildedfinch2845]

I'm a new beekeeper and currently have 4 hives. I do have a pair of frame grabbers, the same ones you used in this video with the wooden handles, and the only time I use them is if it's a very heavy deep frame from my biggest hive. If I'm looking at a frame on the edge of a deep box or a super frame or if I'm inspecting a nuc I think they're a waste of time and will slow you down but in my own so far limited experience I find it easier to get a good grip on a very heavy frame with the grabbers than by hand. I wear nitrile gloves when I'm working my hives which might be compromising my grip on the heavier frames.

[@jason5alive]

David I'd love to see a video on moving bee hives. I just started keeping bees this year, but am not happy with the placement of the hive now that we've had it a few months. Are there any issues with confusing the bees if I move it, and what is the recommended approach to moving a hive?

[@CastleHives]

David, have a frame grabber or whatever they're called. Used it year 1, thought it'd be cool to have. It sits now and i use my hands. Much easier.

[@tomheitzmann5330]

I love my gripper. It has a frame pryer on one end and eliminates to some degree the hive tool. Another note, one can drop a frame even without using the gripper, especially if the frame is a little slimy.

[@v1rot81]

Agreed. I’m a first year BK and my grabber is still in the packaging. I use gloves and occasionally work bare-handed. Each time I’ve been stung (5) has been my own carelessness.

[@beek]

Welcome to beekeeping!

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

I'm still newbee enough that I don't go barehanded (or in fact without full coverall suit, double-gloved with dish gloves over my mechanic gloves so the mechanic gloves don't get sticky), I got the wood-handled grabber with my newbee kit and I like them when I'm just moving frames around because sometimes it's faster than waiting for the bees to get out of the way (I'm still a bit inconsistent with the quality of smoke in my smoker) for my fingers for each frame, but I find them completely awkward to manipulate frames to look closely at both sides. But I loosen the frames first, both to make room so I don't roll bees, and also my bees apparently love propolis. What I'm not comfortable with is using my hive tool to hold up one side of my frame as I remove it.

[@zpan6268]

I routinely use frame grabbers because i can lift and inspect (upside down always) a frame with one hand and with the other i can use the hive tool, the brush or just picking my nose.

[@wildtrapper46]

I got a frame grabber, don't remember actually using it. Well, maybe once while just pulling some honey off. I do use gloves, but, my bees like to sting. With swarms, I don't use gloves, etc. just bare handed, no sleeves maybe even in shorts. With active hives, I'll gear up. Don't like getting stung.

[@kurtneyroll4774]

Perfect 💯😁😀😍🥰

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

Using Lazutin frames with top bars that touch it's difficult sometimes. I use Langstroph frames for honey sometimes. I just flip bottom bar upside down for starter strip and put vertical 1/8-3/16 dowel through center. A 10 lb Lazutin frame of honey is like a flat gallon of milk. I have thought about notching the top bars. Nothing bees could get through but enough to grip it better. I use a window 7-8 inch pry bar. Not the really small flat pry bars. The small ones have broke on frames of honey and heavy windows.

[@rickmoore52]

Dropped a frame the first time I tried one of these grippers. Haven't used it since.

[@aprilpunley8291]

ive got nerve damage i think the ones with bigger handles and lock on would be helpful so i could hold the frame.😅 but not alone still need the j hook and hive tool. by the my ay the long hive tool are for the harger bive. my hands finch and grip can be weak.

[@zoobee4824]

I have a different one than this and in hives, where there are a LOT of bees when I get in there, My gripper helps me not squish bees on that first frame AFTER I have loosened it well. I have mostly the plastic frames so if placed correctly, it works without injuring bees or comb. Its tough to use on wooden frames so not so useful but YMMV. this is one of those " in some situations " it can be helpful. I got stung on the finger with gloves on because I didn't clear the bees from under the tab when I swept my finger in :-\

[@oldguyandhisdog9560]

I was worried about the grippers wanting to open on their own. I took the spring off the handles. Just push them open with your finger tips.

[@MikeChamplin]

I don't have any of these grippers.... but consider that it may be a good aid for someone who might have arthritis or other issues where hand strength is better than finger strength. In that instance I would not call these tools outright worthless. P.S. - I could not get any of your Amazon links to work.

[@beek]

Thanks, I tested them and all is fine. Maybe try again??

[@MikeChamplin]

@@beek Yep they're all working.... must have been a problem on my pc THX

[@kimbergrowsagreenthumb]

I’m a newbee and have never used a frame grabber. Just seemed like a disaster waiting to happen! I also don’t have a whole lot of hand strength.

[@Xray.71]

Yesterday I noticed a odd smell coming from one of my 3 hives…. If it’s honey that’s fermenting….. what should I do with those frames? Thanks

[@glorianelson6468]

Used grips in the beginning, but can't really turn the frames very well with them

[@jasonparsons9510]

I got a pair of these in my beginner's kit. Never thought they looked safe. They look like all it would take is for me to lose grip it would be alot easier to drop the frame. I decided to get I to bees last year. I had thousands of bees dead in my pool one afternoon. The site made me sick to my stomach!! I went and bought over 100 sponges. They didn't work. I kept waking up to dead bees suck on the sponges and drowned in the pool. I bought a screen cover, it made me feel bad because I saw them trying to get to the pool water. So I decided to get some pool water and mix it with sugar. I put an old buffet style (with no divider) trey out with the mixture of pool water and sugar. They loved it. They swarmed it everyday. They got to the point that when they ran out of sugar syrup they would come buzz by my head no matter where I was o what I was doing. I got to where I would walk over to them without worrying at all of being stung. Then I noticed hornets, yellow jackets and bumble bees all eating the syrup in peace. I started petting the honey bees and they never bothered with me. They let me pet them. I finally bought a nuc this year, I have them on the back side of my property. I keep feeding the wild bees. When I bee keep I normally do it on a air of boxers, a white tee shirt, flip flops and a sweat band.😂 I like having the frame in my hand. I feel it gives me more control and stability of the frame. I love watching your videos! Your a really good guy!!

[@galleywinterfarm3216]

I've never used one

[@BlanchardsBees]

I started using one of those but decided they were more trouble then they're worth.

[@randyclinganfarms4806]

They are a peace of equipment that is WORTHLESS

[@radoslawjocz2976]

I do agree with you, it looks worthless. I am beginner and I have no problems of handling the frames, however BS National have larger lugs.

[@BestBuzzHoneyBees]

I found that wrapping the first one with medical tape helps tremendously.

[@SandraMacias-x3s]

I have never used mine once. I am new at this and didn't think it looked safe.

[@beek]

Can work, but a tad risky at times.

[@citrumpet1]

I agree. More bee clutter to have laying around. Also with hive tools I have a bunch and you know what..... they all work... Lol. I use which ever one I can find first.

[@ginapicciolo3228]

I find mine hard to squeeze and just stopped using them, so I'm scared I might drop my frame

[@beekeeper8474]

As a mechanic with fat fingers with no to little feelings i use the frame grabber to pull out frames

[@robslattery6544]

Try doing that in triple digit heat

[@jamesbrodd6452]

I’ve used them but use my J hook tool instead.

[@cbbees1468]

Rock climbers: "We don't need no frame gripper." Lol.

[@effingbeesapiary2599]

I have a set of grab framers and never have used them 😂😂😂

[@ianhegan-rumohr791]

If you are just coming to this video, wrap your grippers in tape to relieve the soreness some of them can cause.

[@diannemiller4754]

They do not work for me. I've tried but not reliable. I use gloved hands along with my j-hook. J hooks work well when working frames. Another informative video.

[@zulikkowalski3547]

I just bought some - my gloves get caught in the frames

[@kentcostello8099]

I don't used one because I want to feel my bees so I don't kill my girls .

[@BlaineNay]

Worthless. I'll take the old-fashioned hive tool any time. But, what do I know. I've only been keeping bees since the early '0s.

[@JennLonhon]

I'm not a beekeeper. I am a person with a bee phobia. Why did I watch this entire thing?

[@beek]

Thank Jenn. As a content creator, KZbin pats us on the back when people watch our videos all the way through. So thank you!

[@bernieneumann3547]

Hi Why to waist time with handle frame grabber ?? I have never worked with bees but just to see the gadget Doesn’t encourage me to get involved with bees I believe that if you are going to work with them has to be bare hands

[@chuckdiesle]

I'm a chef and hate gloves o have to feel everything or I don't feel comfortable

[@michaelcouvillon8807]

Fingers are better

[@mschroed99]

Worthless AF