Queen bee Grafting Tool 10pcs Beekeeping MovingTools Shift Needle Beekeeper Bee Hive Queen Larva Rearing Feeding Equipment

I've purchased several Chinese grafting tools from a number of vendors and every pack has some really nice ones and a few defective ones. I tried these fresh out of the pack and didn't have any success. I couldn't get the larvae to stick to the reed. I found two YouTube videos that changed my life... well at least the way I graft. The first video discussed the need to take the tool apart and sand the reed to make it as thin as possible. I took the tool apart which was really easy, sanded the reed with 220 sandpaper, and then took a pair of nail clippers and trimmed the end to make sure it was soft and slightly curved - didn't have any burs or rough edges. The second video discussed the need to curve the reed slightly using your tongue. Before you start grafting take the reed in your mouth and press it against your tongue and slightly bend it. When you pull it out of your mouth, make sure you have some saliva on it. I know this sounds gross, and I've ingested a lot of royal jelly by doing this (it doesn't' really taste like anything), but the saliva really works! Between thinning and smoothing the reed by sanding it, slightly curving the reed with my tongue, and using a hint of saliva, I can plunge in, scoop up, push out and drop larvae in a cell cup like a champ.

Was my first time grafting. These worked for me.

Making queens

Worked fine

I ordered these because they were 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of Mann Lake. Surprise, they are better quality than what Mann Lake sells also.

Good

I have grafted about 30 queens so far with these

Garbage. Third year grafting and I have never seen such poor quality. Went through four before I could get a larva and then the plunger piece rolled it.