Hat. The hat should be firm and strong to support the veil. Ventilated helmets are ideal for the hot months of the year. Avoid dark felt hats. ($28).

Veil. Folding wire veils fitted to a hat keep their shape and provide a reasonable distance between the beekeeper’s face and the bees. Black cotton veils are cheaper than folding wire veils, but can be easily blown against the skin. (from $14 to $55).

Beesuit. Colour white ($150). Bee suits are worth consideration, but a pair of coveralls with elastic in the cuffs will do. Elastic will need to be fitted after buying the coveralls. Alternately a jacket and trousers. Some bee suits come with veil attached.

Gloves. These need to allow movement of the fingers when lifting boxes and frames. Elbow length cloth sleeves sewn to the gloves will prevent bees gaining access to the inside. A band of elastic should be sewn into the cloth sleeve at the elbow end to make it bee-proof. ($30)

Hive tools. One American hive tool ($18) and one Australian hive tool ($24)

Smoker. Stainless steel preferably. A small smoker does not have a long burning time. Consider your speed of working the bees and the number of hives to attend to. ($80)

Bee hive components
One eight frame bottom board. ($15)
One eight frame lid. ($18)
Two supers (hive boxes) ($20.- each)
Sixteen frames. ($1.20 each)
Sixteen sheets of comb foundation for an eight frame hive.($1 per sheet)
Water proof glue.
Enamel or acrylic paint.
65mm x 2.5mm galvanised (or cement coated) nails for supers. (5kg - $52)
25mm x 1.25mm galvanised (or cement coated) nails for each end of the bottom bar of the frame. (5kg - $52)
30 mm x 1.4mm galvanised (or cement coated) nails for each end of the top bar of the frames. (5kg - $52)
20mm x 1.25mm galvanised nails for top & bottom of sidebars. 400gr. ($8).
A reel of stainless steel wire 500 gr. ($19)
Eyelets to stop the wire pulling into the soft wood. (500 - $8)
Saddlers awl for fitting eyelets.

Other equipment needed
Bee brush synthetic. ($14)
Embedder. Manual ($20) or electric ($90).
Wiring board.
Queen excluder 8 frame welded wire. ($15)
Trap assembly for small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) ($16 to $34)
Emlock. ($8) (strapping not included) plus strapping for transporting hive.
Records book.

Honey harvesting requirements.
Uncapper fork ($18 to $65) or electric knife. ($180)
Honey bucket 20 litre with gate. ($38)
Honey strainer fits 20 – 25 litre bucket. ($75)
Nitrel straining fabric 500 x 500 mm. ($16)
Extractor (from $400.- to $4000.- )
Spare supers. Full depth ($19) or Ideal ($15)
Spare frames with foundation. Full depth or ideal. ($1.- assembled and wired $4.-)
Bee escape board 8 frame. ($15).
Uncapping tray.
Jars for honey.
Labels for jars.

Prices are a guide only and will vary between suppliers.

notes supplied by Eddie Sijnstra