Urban Beekeeping Tools Checklist

You can spend a fortune on gadgets, but bees are simple creatures. Here is what you actually need.

The Must-Haves

1. Protection

• Veil/Jacket: Minimum requirement. Protect your face and neck.
• Gloves: Leather or nitrile.
• Boots: Tuck your pants into them. Bees crawl up.

2. Hive Management

• Smoker: The remote control for bees. Smoke masks their alarm pheromone.
• Hive Tool: A pry bar. You literally cannot open a hive without one because of propolis (bee glue).
  • Recommendation: Get a J-Hook Hive Tool . It lifts frames easier.
• Bee Brush: To gently move bees off a frame you want to inspect.

The Nice-to-Haves

• Frame Rest: Holds frames on the side of the hive so you don’t set them on the dirty ground.
• Uncapping Fork: Useful for checking drone brood for mites.
• Queen Clip: To safely hold Her Majesty while you work.

What NOT to Buy (Yet)

• Honey Extractor: Borrow one from a local club or use the crush-and-strain method for your first year.
• Pollens Substitutes: Focus on natural forage first.