question about bee vac hose length

Boom Buzz · June 16, 2009, 07:06:09 PM

Is there an optimal hose length for a bee vac? I'm asking about the vacuuming end to suck the bees, not the hose from the shop vac to the bee box. I know someone will tell me the optimal length is one that reaches the bees - har har! :-D

My main concern is will too long a hose reduce the suction level?
I am thinking the more hose the better for reaching further to get the bees, but having no experience with this myself, I'm sure some of you have enough experience to steer me. Thanks for any comments and suggestions.

John :)

Grandma_DOG · June 16, 2009, 07:31:41 PM

Have no worries that a longer hose reduces suction. You're no where close to the numbers on Darcy's equations to have that be an issue. At 500', then I'd be more concerned. If you were using 1/8" hose 50 feet may be an issue, but a 2" hose, no.

My bee vac is a 10' hose, but I know I'll need up to 30' eventually.

-mt

Quote from: holdthematers on June 16, 2009, 07:06:09 PM
Is there an optimal hose length for a bee vac? I'm asking about the vacuuming end to suck the bees, not the hose from the shop vac to the bee box. I know someone will tell me the optimal length is one that reaches the bees - har har! :-D

My main concern is will too long a hose reduce the suction level?
I am thinking the more hose the better for reaching further to get the bees, but having no experience with this myself, I'm sure some of you have enough experience to steer me. Thanks for any comments and suggestions.

John :)

TwT · June 16, 2009, 08:47:39 PM

my hose is a 1 1/2 clear tubing that is about 15' long, I should have got it about 5 foot longer.

Robo · June 16, 2009, 10:38:28 PM

The horsepower of your vac and diameter of your hose will determine the length. I can easily run 3 8' sections of 2 1/4" shop vac hose with my 5HP vac (bypass 1/2 open). I also have a 25' section of 1 1/2" that I add on the end of a section of the 8' 2 1/4" for high swarms and that about pushes my limit.

asprince · June 16, 2009, 10:50:49 PM

I use about 12 - 15 feet of hose and 12 -15 feet of extension tubes for high swarms. It gets hard to handle at that limit. I wish someone could have taken a picture of me on a swarm that I got last month. I had an 8 foot step ladder on top of the cab of my extended cab F250. I stood on the ladder with 15 feet of extension tubes. I could barely reach the bees. Was only able to get 75% of them, but did get the queen.

Steve

chad · June 17, 2009, 09:24:49 PM

Last swarm I got I used 30 foot of shop-vac hose and a 20 foot piece of 1 1/4 PVC pipe on the end .Reached up in the tree great.

Boom Buzz · June 18, 2009, 02:24:40 AM

Thanks all for the comments. I'm doing my second cut out tomorrow. The first I cut out did three weeks ago without a bee vac. It went okay (hive is doing great but had to buy a queen), but all the comments I've seen on bee vacs on the forum got me thinking the first cut out probably would have gone more smoothly if I'd had one. So I Macgyvered one together this week from stuff around the yard and garage.

All the responses to my question made me realize I just need to be creative based on what I find when I get to the site. I will take some PVC pipe I have, plus a 25' pool vac hose, plus an extra shop vac hose and attachments -- and lots of duct tape for good measure.

Asprince - you gave me a good visual standing on a ladder on the top of your crew cab. The thought had crossed my mind that my truck bed might be handy but I'm not sure about getting on top of the cab -- on a ladder -- who knows though!?

Cheers all and thanks again!

John