Comments on: Bushkill Bee Vac

By: Robo

Robo — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:57:21 +0000

Michael,

I don’t see a problem with doing as you suggest. The suction won’t get distributed as evenly on the bee side of the top screen as it does with the outlet in the top, but there is still plenty of surface area that I doubt bees will get sucked to the screen. Although I haven’t had any issues with connecting the hose in the Luan, I can foresee issues depending upon the hose end used. The soft flexible ones seem to work best. A small 1/2″ or so adapter block could be added to the top as an option. I have done that with the by-pass gate, but not for hose adapting, but to allow the screen to be placed on top of the Luan to make sliding the cover on and off easier.

rob…

By: Michael S

Michael S — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:47:41 +0000

Thanks for posting all this info. What about installing the outlet hole for the vaccum in the side of the upper box instead of in the plywood top? For those of us who are not planning to use a dedicated vac, the side hole would be more durable the one in the 1/4 inch plywood.

By: Robo

Robo — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:54:56 +0000

Jairo, I just sent you my email address if you have pictures or anything else you would like to send me.

rob…

By: Jairo dos Santos Prata

Jairo dos Santos Prata — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:06:52 +0000

Apiamigo Hello! If so I can call it. If you join the network Orkut, my name is Father Jairo your design is great, really you are too, will contribute much to my catch of the city and even to gather at the home of bees and honey bees in packages with adjustments. I would like to thank him and congratulate him for the invention. Thank you. When my vacuum cleaner is built, which will have few changes, with great pleasure I bring to your knowledge. I’ll post pictures of him with great pleasure. If it were possible, I would like to send me some project outside individual feeders that you should be designed.

By: Jairo dos Santos Prata

Jairo dos Santos Prata — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:06:40 +0000

Hello, I had tried to accomplish this project, but did not produce the same effect. But seeing your project, very good by the way, it works as is, but I’ll make some changes that are the fabric of transport is on the nest, will be exactly the box measures linen, will be placed 5cm pieces of the edges lower the cap that receives the vacuum to fit over the nest, and inside the queen excluder, queens, and in the admissora will also be placed on slats on its top edge where the nest will fit inside. This done to give more security transport, as it will prevent the joint depart. Will be pasted within these strips, strips of carpet to improve the sealing of the assembly. Only this. I wish you’d spent your email for later contacts.

By: Robo

Robo — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:03:31 +0000

Jairo,

I am glad you found my project helpful. I would like to hear more of your project and changes you have made. Would love to see pictures as well. Best wishes to you in 2010 as well.

Rob….

By: Jairo dos Santos Prata

Jairo dos Santos Prata — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:02:46 +0000

I’m from Brazil, live in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Rua Marques Ronan Martins, 90 Bairro Universitário, work with migratory beekeeping since 1985, had been developing a project in order to suck the natural swarm, but was not giving anything right. Your project came in handy, will run with some improvement, but I liked a lot. If you have more good ideas out there please can we change them to improve our bee management. I hope to be happy in that year of 2010. Thanks for the project. I hope to write more to you and also receive answers.

By: Eric I

Eric I — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:21:36 +0000

Well, I finished my vac and it worked well although I found that sucking bees out of a downed tree is ok until it starts raining. Found that to be a challenge. I only got to use the vac twice this year but already have three dwellings to work in the spring and more as word gets out. I will make a few modifications and tweak it as I go. I am using a generator on the back of my truck to power the rig as most of these are located in places without electricity. I wanted to post photos but it’s hard to do when you’re by yourself. Still, all in all, a great design.

By: Robo

Robo — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:46:26 +0000

I think you are really pushing it with just 1 HP. I have heard some that have claimed 1.5 HP works, but you need to be very careful to eliminate any leaks and use a short hose. I prefer and recommend large HP vac as you can always regulate the suction down with the bypass, but you can never add more that the vac produces. I've been in too many situations where I ended up needing to add another section of hose and without the needed HP, I would have been out of luck. I find it easier to keep the vac on the ground than having to lug it up a ladder for those high removals.

By: John Gregory

John Gregory — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:53:33 +0000

Considering making bee vac using 18 volt/1 HP vacuum.
Is 1 HP powerful enough?