[paulmon]

I saw a catcher that I hadn't seen before and it looked pretty easy to make, so I made it. I made a video showing how I made it and used it. It gave me some ideas for future iterations that I might try later.

 

[castlebar]

that is beautiful carpentry, well done! I wish I had those skills - great attention to detail.

 

[kaizen]

heck of a lot of work. guess if you have nothing else to do. i'll stick with my 5 dollar special https://www.mannlakeltd.com/queen-marking-tube

 

[paulmon]

Not very much work to make, but then I've got a pretty decent wood working shop. I can't say that mine is any better than a store bought.

 

[Fivej]

Nice work Paul. I just bought one of those today and had the opportunity to use it. J

 

[paulmon]

If it was the same type would you mind my asking where you got it? I've only seen this in a picture, which is where I got the idea to make mine.

 

[RayMarler]

BetterBee.com
Has them like yours Paul.

And this is one like what I first used... oh so many years ago!

 

[paulmon]

thanks!

 

[aran]

looks great mate! I dont have a workshop like yours so i use this:
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/shop-al...marking-introduction/one-handed-queen-catcher

 

[paulmon]

Looks like it works great.

 

[Fivej]

Yes, I got mine at Betterbee and liked it. Low risk of injuring or losing her. J

 

[ApricotApiaries]

Not to be snobby, BUT, fingers work pretty well, are always there when you need them, your not going to lose them in the grass, and are pretty darned cheap. My guess is that in the time it takes to build any kind of accessory, however clever it may be, a guy could practice on a dozen drones and feel pretty confident about marking queens.

 

[paulmon]

All true and a skill worth having. Of course, I am always making things in my workshop. This is just another thing.

 

[Fivej]

My fingers don't work well and don't seem to be there when I need them! J

 

[crofter]

All true and a skill worth having. Of course, I am always making things in my workshop. This is just another thing.

Somewhere I have seen a very similar frame setup but the screen is a form of elasticized thread that would be a bit more forgiving to press the queen against. The plastic bars of many cheap plunger queen catchers is too thick and makes it difficult to apply the paint through.

Finger catching queens is out for me. I could manage drones but when the consequences of squishing a queen loom in my mind, my tremor rises into the Richter Scale!

 

[paulmon]

I'm on the lookout for a cloth or nylon type of mesh. I already had the screen so I used it and it doesn't seem to be a problem when I tried it.