Hello Guy! I found your vac on the BetterBee Website and am giving this some thought. I like that you're using smooth interior hoses, that the unit comes pre-finished and has that large capacity for those large swarms. Since you've made this in 2013, have there been any modifications since? I have to say that I'm liking your design! I wish you all the best! I see that the hose is blue and opaque, have you given any thought to a translucent material so we would know if there was a blockage?
The hose is a standard pool vacuum type hose. It's not a corrugated shop vacuum hose with the large ridges. It's considered to have a smooth surface on the interior of the hose to minimize bee fatalities.
Hi Jon, I may have talked to you already. It's $225.00 plus shipping cost which has been running between $45.00 and high of $68.00 so far. Contained in part two video.
No it does not twist on. You can watch the video again and see that the door slides open and closes. I attach it to the box with four screws so that you can take it loose and clean it if you need to.
I started out using the DeWalt 18volt battery operated vacuum. Battery operated vacuums are not consistent enough power wise for doing removals and even with doing a good size swarm you have to carry extra batteries. I now carry 100' extension cord and a suit case size generator that I not only use for the vacuum but for power tools that I might use for a cut out. Also have a power inverter in my truck that I can plug into to pick up swarms quickly.
Remove the four screws and then pull out the plastic blast gate. Soak it in hot water for a while and then with a piece of wire clean out the corners of the blast gate. Over a period of time you will get bee parts squished into the corners closing the door. Thoroughly clean out the bee parts/honey and then you should be able to open and close the door with no problem.
It is loud as are most shop vacuums especially when you operate it inside a house. Fortunately most removals are done from the exterior. I have never had the complaint before because I think most people accept that a shop vacuum is going to be noisy on the hive box or stand alone. If I am going to be in a confined area for an extended period of time I have placed the vacuum outside the door of the room and closed the door as much as the hose allows. I do my removals/work with good ear buds in my ears playing music whether the vacuum is on, I'm sawing, or nailing with an air gun. So the noise associated with a removal is a non issue for me.
No because you regulate the vacuum pressure by opening and closing the ball valve. If you have it at the end of the hose you could restrict the opening to where it wouldn't even be large enough for the bees to fit through the opening. Once you have it set the only reason why you have to adjust it is if you use a longer hose. I increase vacuum pressure with longer hoses (20-50') and decrease it with the shorter hose (10-15').
Top of the box? You basically have two parts: the vacuum top that sets on top of the catch boxes. The catch boxes are interchangeable so the vacuum top can be used on multiple catch boxes. Catch boxes can be purchased separately. Can purchase direct or from Ebay or Amazon. I only make the deep/hive body size catch box now. Not enough demand to keep making the medium size catch box for the $5.00 difference.
+SwedeBoy27 Really slow in answering but we do not build an eight frame size because there is not enough demand for that size. Most people want the larger capacity of the ten frame for cut outs/removals than the eight frame size. If you let me know you have eight frame size when you place the order I will include an eight frame plywood "funnel" so that you can use the vacuum with your eight frame hives at no additional charge.
Hello Guy! I found your vac on the BetterBee Website and am giving this some thought. I like that you're using smooth interior hoses, that the unit comes pre-finished and has that large capacity for those large swarms. Since you've made this in 2013, have there been any modifications since? I have to say that I'm liking your design! I wish you all the best! I see that the hose is blue and opaque, have you given any thought to a translucent material so we would know if there was a blockage?
Hello! did you endorse frederick dunns reviw of your bvac? did you give himone for free? asking for a friend!!!
Awesome Video Thank you for sharing it with us! ~ Alex Alex
Thank you, good to know people are still looking at the vacuum and the video.
The hose is a standard pool vacuum type hose. It's not a corrugated shop vacuum hose with the large ridges. It's considered to have a smooth surface on the interior of the hose to minimize bee fatalities.
Looks like a blast gate off of a dust collection system
Hi Jon, I may have talked to you already. It's $225.00 plus shipping cost which has been running between $45.00 and high of $68.00 so far. Contained in part two video.
You can purchase them at wood worker supply stores like Woodcraft.
What is the black thing you connect the hose to box I see you twist off?
No it does not twist on. You can watch the video again and see that the door slides open and closes. I attach it to the box with four screws so that you can take it loose and clean it if you need to.
Please make a version using a cordless vacuum.
I started out using the DeWalt 18volt battery operated vacuum. Battery operated vacuums are not consistent enough power wise for doing removals and even with doing a good size swarm you have to carry extra batteries. I now carry 100' extension cord and a suit case size generator that I not only use for the vacuum but for power tools that I might use for a cut out. Also have a power inverter in my truck that I can plug into to pick up swarms quickly.
i would like to see the size of hose and the inside of it??
Remove the four screws and then pull out the plastic blast gate. Soak it in hot water for a while and then with a piece of wire clean out the corners of the blast gate. Over a period of time you will get bee parts squished into the corners closing the door. Thoroughly clean out the bee parts/honey and then you should be able to open and close the door with no problem.
Hi, looks like a very good design but what prevents the bees from coming back out once you remove the hose from the collection box. Thanks.
Vacuum
Watch the part two of the video and you will see the blast gate which is the sliding door and keeps the bees in the box
I just bought a colorado bee vac. I need the adapter for an 8 frame hive. How do I notify you?
I got your email. Do you already have the vacuum or did you just order it?
When the plastic hose door won’t slide all the way...the best fix is to unscrew the plastic from the box?
It is loud as are most shop vacuums especially when you operate it inside a house. Fortunately most removals are done from the exterior. I have never had the complaint before because I think most people accept that a shop vacuum is going to be noisy on the hive box or stand alone. If I am going to be in a confined area for an extended period of time I have placed the vacuum outside the door of the room and closed the door as much as the hose allows. I do my removals/work with good ear buds in my ears playing music whether the vacuum is on, I'm sawing, or nailing with an air gun. So the noise associated with a removal is a non issue for me.
Where did you get the sliding gate valve for the hose?
What is the name of the device that is at the top of the box?
Why not regulate the motor speed, rather than the air flow? ie a variac
Can the control valve be located at the collection end of the hose?
No because you regulate the vacuum pressure by opening and closing the ball valve. If you have it at the end of the hose you could restrict the opening to where it wouldn't even be large enough for the bees to fit through the opening. Once you have it set the only reason why you have to adjust it is if you use a longer hose. I increase vacuum pressure with longer hoses (20-50') and decrease it with the shorter hose (10-15').
Top of the box? You basically have two parts: the vacuum top that sets on top of the catch boxes. The catch boxes are interchangeable so the vacuum top can be used on multiple catch boxes. Catch boxes can be purchased separately. Can purchase direct or from Ebay or Amazon. I only make the deep/hive body size catch box now. Not enough demand to keep making the medium size catch box for the $5.00 difference.
Guy Shingleton How about an 8 frame sized one? Any possibility of that?
+SwedeBoy27 Really slow in answering but we do not build an eight frame size because there is not enough demand for that size. Most people want the larger capacity of the ten frame for cut outs/removals than the eight frame size. If you let me know you have eight frame size when you place the order I will include an eight frame plywood "funnel" so that you can use the vacuum with your eight frame hives at no additional charge.
Hey "Guy."
Weve been making bee vacs just like this for ages. Welcome to the party, you're 15 years late.
whats that cost how do i buy one