What is the best advice when building a bee vac?

**BeeGhost** · 09-16-2011, 09:54 PM

I am going to build a bee vac this winter and have seen some great designs. But, is there a bee vac idea that has a very low mortality rate?

Pictures or link to great homemade bee vacs would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!..............Jason

**AmericasBeekeeper** · 09-16-2011, 10:05 PM

Think of some way to slow them down gradually so they do not slam into the box or container at 100 mph. Increasing the diameter or cross section decreases the velocity.

**Michael Bush** · 09-16-2011, 10:24 PM

My advice is don't build one and don't use one. I have built several and used several. I think kill too many bees and are not necessary...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesferal.htm#beevacuum

**MichaBees** · 09-16-2011, 10:27 PM

Perfect advice...
I have 2 useless bee vacs. One is just perfect and has 2 cages; used it once and never again will I use it. You want to buy one?

**Charlie B** · 09-17-2011, 02:23 AM

Wow, I never thought that I would ever disagree with Michael Bush

. I built one and have used it over and over and have never killed more that 5 to 10 bees at a time. There were a couple of times were I didn't see one single dead bee. The queens all made it out alive and they are thriving hives now.

Respectfully written,

**Cox89XJ** · 09-17-2011, 03:33 AM

I built one that sucks the bees into a hive body that is going to be used. It's got just barely enough flow to pull the bees into it. Very, very few dead bees. Works good in cut outs. I probably would not use it to hive a swarm though. Maybe in a very difficult circumstance.

**beyondthesidewalks** · 02-05-2012, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Michael Bush

My advice is don't build one and don't use one.

I agree. I try not to do cutouts so I don't really want one. I'll do a trap out first if I can. I've come to hate tearing out a wall to remove the bees and hear the complaints afterwards.

**Fuzzy** · 09-22-2011, 08:09 PM

"is there a bee vac idea that has a very low mortality rate?"

YES. I have one. If you are going to be in the San Jose area, will be glad to show it to you. I am retired, so most days or weekends are ok.

In the mean time, you should be looking for a good deal on a 20 FT 1-1/2 swimming pool hose.

If interested send me a PM to set up a contact.

Fuzzy

**Troy** · 10-05-2011, 02:42 PM

I built a bee vac and have had good luck with it. The mortality rate is very low. Usually less than 50 bees dead from vacuuming a whole hive. That is less than you lose in a varroa test, so I feel this is fine.

The downside with my homeade version is it's size. The darn thing is big and heavy, but maybe that is why it works. If you make it too small, then the bees get an impact on arrival into the can or screen box. They don't handle impact well.

I used standard 2 inch vaccum hose. My vacuum strength is adjustable and I adjust it down so it is annoyinging slow and that is perfect for not killing bees. Sometimes I shake the hose too as the bees will form clogs in there if I don't as there is just not enough velocity through the pipe. Again that is perfect for not killing bees.

**Paul McCarty** · 10-05-2011, 03:20 PM

I went the bucket vac route and made a vac out of two 5 gallon buckets with screened holes in them to adjust the flow. Works great. Though it can be very slow on the suck factor. Probably why it works so well. It is a rather small vac unit that slips onto a 5 gallon bucket. So far my biggest problem has been keeping from kicking it over and spilling the bees (which is really annoying). Started two hives from cut-outs this way.