[Buzz Lightyear]

Hi all,

I've just been trying to clear my bees of a super using porter bee escapes. Ive not been too sucsessful, Ive got a super full of mad bees, having been stuck in the super all day unable to get out. I understand that the gap is critical (3mm), however, Ive checked this and its correct. My question is, what if any clearing system do you use, which do you find most effective?

I think I'll give up on the Porter escape, it seems a bit unreliable, or is it me.

 

[Todd Zeiner]

Use Beequick and a fume board. Fast and easy.

 

[Patrick Scannell]

It is not you. The Porter escape is unreliable. Try a Triangle Bee Escape. Nothing to use up, and no contaminants added to your honey.

http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/triangleescape.html

http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=1223

 

[Michael Bush]

>I've just been trying to clear my bees of a super using porter bee escapes.

I've never had any luck with porter bee escapes. I have had pretty good luck with the triangular ones.

 

[Bob Bee]

Buzz,

My setup in the past was pulling one frame at a time, brushing bees off and replacing it with one for them to clean up. Usually by the time that I was done, I had 10 or so stings and a bunch of mad bees, bees on the ground ect. It's worse this time of the year in Ga. I had 4 more to clear and ordered Fisher BeeQuick and I couldn't believe how fast it worked 3 to 5 min. I was also concerned with chemicals but it's a all natural product from what I understand. Best of all, bees seem ok after using it and only 1 sting. I sold!

Bobby

 

[Jim Fischer]

I don't know why the bee supply dealers still
sell Porter bee escapes, or why many inner
covers come with the holes sized for Porter
bee escapes.

There are maybe a dozen of us still alive who
can bend the little metal tabs properly, and
I learned from an old guy "just because", not
because I had any intention of trying to use
them. These days, one might need a watch
repair shop to get the darn things adjusted.

Anything would be a better idea than a Porter
bee escape for a relative newcomer to beekeeping,
and this would include the use of explosives
to clear one's supers.