I'm a woodworking dunce and I built a robovac out of scraps and no. 8 hardware cloth... Mine leaks like crazy but duct tape fixes that up. First job (ever) I vacuumed up about 4 lbs of bees or so, including the queen (by chance). Hardy killed any bees, was awesome. Few days later, had a swarm wrapped around a small tree trunk, we brushed some in but vacuumed the rest, then dumped them in with the brushed bees... Again great. Did another cutout and vacuumed up a couple pounds of bees odd a wall interior and got the queen by chance again... Might have used a bit too much suction but they are all doing well.bingo robo it is then.
I built mine like this after watching that video. I've practiced vacuuming up a few feral bees and they were ok.This should help you build one, but you can order it also, no doubt the best on the market. Easy to build it you have a table saw.
You underestimate how bad one can be in woodworking. I use weather stripping. Honestly, it's because I had to cut a few corners (figuratively), due to time constraints, and haven't bothered to fix it up right yet.Weather stripping will fix most of the leaks unless you have something twisted. I have made several out of 3/4" plywood and like them better.
Yes.Wouldn't a slick surfaced suction hose work better than a vacuum hose that's ribbed on the inside? I would figure that the ribbed hose causes wing and body damage to the bees, where a slick hose would not have anything for the bees to bump in to.
Having read about using vacs, watched the robo vac being built, and using a friend's shop-vac on a 5-gallon bucket setup, I would advise you to go with a box (MUCH easier to transfer/handle the bees), as well as try your best to find a smooth hose. I hated the sound of the bees bouncing along that flexible shop vac hose.
http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/removeable-swarm-catching-frames/how do you deal with the brood comb from a cutout? band it in and insert it into the hive once you get to your bee yard?