Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: hardwood on June 28, 2010, 07:39:40 PM

Title: Syrup pump
Post by: hardwood on June 28, 2010, 07:39:40 PM
Just wanted to know if any of you have rigged a 12 volt syrup pump on the cheap.

Scott
Title: Re: Syrup pump
Post by: psbeekeeper on June 29, 2010, 12:42:54 AM
Unfortunately I don't use a syrup pump.  So I don't have to worry about it.  :-D
Title: Re: Syrup pump
Post by: Brian D. Bray on August 10, 2010, 03:43:52 PM
Quote from: hardwood on June 28, 2010, 07:39:40 PM
Just wanted to know if any of you have rigged a 12 volt syrup pump on the cheap.

Scott

By a 12 volt water pump, Harbor Freight has one for a little as $24.00 on sale.  Set it up and then run bleach water through it to sanitize it then soap to neutralize the bleach and prevent corrosion, lasting water to rinse out the soap.  Should work for years, sanitizing it before each use.
Title: Re: Syrup pump
Post by: hardwood on August 10, 2010, 04:02:47 PM
Brian, thanks for the response! I wasn't wanting one for my own use (I don't have enough bee yards to warrant it...yet). A fellow beekeeper friend of mine wanted me to make one up for him.

It turns out that regular water pumps (impeller style) won't hold up to the thicker and more abrasive syrup. We ended up buying a diaphragm pump from tractor supply that's been working well. You do have to regulate the pressure and provide a pressure relief line that circulates back into the syrup tote.

Thanks again,
Scott