Does anyone have info or experience with the Helvey Hive carrier?
BE>I saw the Backsaver at ABF in January, and purchased one.  So far I
BE>haven't used it.  The guy who markets it admits in the literature that
BE>it is at first awkward to use and get used to.  However, the literature
BE>goes on to say that you must force yourself to get used to it and after
BE>you do you will wonder how you ever got along without it.
 
BE>It is a well made, simple tool and as the supers get heavier I keep
BE>asking myself why I'm not using it.  The higher your stacks get (the
BE>more supers you have stacked) the less usable is the tool, but it will
BE>be great for hefting the top brood chamber off the bottom.  That was
BE>the main reason I bought one - I can handle the honey supers (I use
BE>medium supers for honey) but the brood chambers at this time of the year
BE>are more than I want to subject my back to.  I built raised stands for
BE>my hives so I wouldn't have to bend over as much, but I've discovered that
BE>the extra height of the stands is not so good when it comes to the
BE>mechanics of the Backsaver and even more so with the Helvey hive
BE>carrier which I also purchased (see last October(?) ABJ).  I too am
BE>concerned about my back.
 
BE>If you do buy a Backsaver, a tip is to use it so that you push the
BE>super away from the two feet of the tool.  When invited to "Try it
BE>out" I lifted the super and tried to set it down by going through
BE>the feet to put the super on the other side.  The marketer (I forget
BE>his name) showed me the "proper" way which worked much better.
BE>Whichever side of the hive you place the tool, use it to place the
BE>supers on the other side.  That is, if you put the Backsaver to the
BE>left of the hive, use it to lift and set your supers to the right of
BE>the hive.
 
BE>One funny thing at the trade show was that few people paid attention to
BE>the Backsaver display.  Perhaps it was a macho thing - "REAL men don't
BE>have to worry about their backs!".  However, the mechanics of the tool
BE>are sound and as the literature says, learn to use the tool and you'll
BE>wonder how you ever lived without it.
 
BE>"Give me a lever big enough and a place to stand and I can
BE>move the earth!" - Archimedies.
 
BE>Aaron Morris - I think, therefore I bee!