Equipment Exchange

Thanks for looking within the club to buy, sell or donate beekeeping equipment. If you are a BANV member, you can post your “ad” to the list serve. If you aren’t a member or if you have questions, contact Rob McKinney (robcmckinney at aol.com) for help.

Here is the procedure for posting an item related to the equipment exchange to the list server:

1.  When you have an item to be given away, make a post with the subject line:  OFFER:
2.  All folks interested in the item should respond to the person who posted the item DIRECTLY .. not back to the BANV board.
3.  The person who posted the item then selects a primary person to give the item and a back up person in case the first person cannot take the item.
4.  Once the item has been given away, the person who posted the item makes a post with the subject: TAKEN: <item>. This will avoid someone else reading the post later on and attempting to get the item.

Please consider the following Guidelines when posting your information:

• This exchange is only for private transactions, not commercial sales, and is only for gear or supplies, not bees or hive products.

• New equipment and wooden ware of any kind is welcome, such as frames, foundation, jars, labels, bee suits, robber screen/mouse guard mesh, and so on.

• Please indicate size/configuration (ex. 10-frame medium) for hive boxes and frames, the manufacturer, and whether it is assembled or not. If you are seeking gear please be as specific as possible about your request, particularly if you are trying to match to existing wooden ware you own.

• All gear (tools, clothing, jars, screens, sieves, etc.) should be clean, free of burr comb, propolis, and in good working condition.

• Hive treatments/chemicals should be new/unused/unopened, have been properly stored, and include all instructions/directions for application.

CAUTION: Before offering or accepting equipment, be certain you won’t spread bee pests and diseases to other hives.

• Used frames are generally not accepted; however, they can be offered provided you have cleaned them thoroughly, including separating the wedge and scraping/reaming all gaps and openings*.

• Used hive boxes will not be accepted unless scraped completely clean and scorched to treat for AFB*.

• No drawn comb/used comb will be accepted.

When you post your notice, please indicate if you will deliver or if the gear must be picked up (seller) or if you can pick it up or need it delivered (buyer). The handiest method may be to meet at a BANV meeting and make the trade then and there! You are strongly encouraged to donate your items to the club for all members’ use or for the club to offer to “newbees”, but the club cannot, at this time, give you a donation letter for tax purposes.

* Please contact Rob McKinney  <robcmckinney at aol.com> before you offer or accept used woodenware or if you need further information