I just finished my bee vacuum. It works great possibly too great. I've got vents that I can open to reduce the vacuum power so it's not a real problem. However, for those of you who've used these before is there something you test it on to ensure you've got it set up right before actually engaging the bees? I'm looking for something simple like popcorn, raisins, dry corn kernel, M&M, a dime, etc (sounds like a movie theater floor;)) that it should barely pick up to let me know it's dialed in right for that particular job.
Also, can you use these to capture swarms that are too high to safely reach or is the bucket on a stick still the way to go? My unit has a 2 1/2 in clear hose that I can easily attach a 2 in drainage grade PVC pipe to to keep it light but get the needed height.
Directions in the one I just bought said if you hear them hitting the box at all when being sucked in, you need to lessen pressure. :)
If you can't see them entering the box, make a new one that you can. Then open all vents and try it on bees. If it won't pick them up, cover a vent. Continue until it picks them up. Then adjust according to how hard they are going in.
I can see through the hose as well as the upper vent. I just didn't know if anyone had a little test they did to dial in the performance, before the bees were engaged.
Anyone on using a bee vacuum this on swarms that are too high up for a ladder?
I adjust mine to have just enough suction to overcome their flying power. Sometimes fluff them with my fingers ahead of the vacuum to loosen their grip.
I have stood on top of an 8 ft step ladder on top of a ladder rack on a pickup and used 28 feet of extension pipe to capture a swarm and then could only reach 75% of them. My partner had to hold my legs to keep me steady. We watched the swarm just hang there for 5 days in almost continuous rain thinking they were out of reach. I felt sorry for them and figured out a way to get most of them. I did get the queen.
Steve
When the suction is just enough to pull a bee off the comb it is just right. I have no idea what other object you could suck to pre test the vac.
Using a reducer on the end of the hose, like a one inch adapter on a two inch hose will let you use much higher air volume without hurting the bees. It creates good suction at the tip but immediately reduces it just inside the two inch hose. There is a trade off for this however, you can get too many bees in the hose for the vac to pull all the way into the box and clog your hose.
Whatever type hose you use, hopefully a smooth bore hose, keep the hose as straight as possible to keep the bees from bouncing off the walls or getting clogged up.
You can just go out to your hives and suck a few out and check them. A few casualties and dial it down a bit and repeat. I had to sacrifice a few before I got it right. They can handle it 8-)
Rick
What Bill said. If you can suck them off the comb easy you got too much suction Once you can get it set where it just barley sucks them up, thats where you wanna be. Unfortunatly this makes for rather irksome cut outs but thats what lands you the most bees in the box without killing them and if you suck up the queen without harming her that makes you cutout all worth while.
I sincerely appreciate everyones 2 cents. I gives me a better understanding of how to operate the unit effectively.
Bullseye Bill, I fully understand keeping the hose straight and keeping the inside bore as smooth as possible. The company I work for makes debris loaders. You wouldn't want to run bees through these though. http://www.billygoat.com/site/categoryLobby.aspx?id=12 (http://www.billygoat.com/site/categoryLobby.aspx?id=12) I was planning on necking down the tip to increase the velocity. Once past the tip the velocity should drop quickly as the hose volume increases. You answered another question I hadn't yet posed. thanks.
asprince, I figured it's been done thanks for telling your story. I lost a swarm last year that I simply couldn't safely reach. Lord knows I tried but it was simply too high and a swarm is not worth potential serious injury.