Buckethead Bee Vacuum - Best Design
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- Опубліковано 12 лют 2021
- It is a beautiful February day in Central Florida so today I will be talking about my home-made Bee Vacuum. Rather than spend around $350 on a commercial bee vac, I will show you one that is simple to use, fairly cheap but very effective. Bring home those bees!
Follow me on Instagram @Bruce and his Bees - Навчання та стиль
Hi Bruce. Here in Scotland 🏴 we have no Home Depots or Bucket Vacs ! 😢
So instead I made a Bee Vac using a Langstroth Nuc Box with a Screen Mesh* Lid (!) * Perfect for after capture Cool Transporting in Car ! 👀
But hey, how can a screen lid Suck up them Bees you say ???
Easy. Make an upper Lid the same size as that Nucs one. Then add and glue/Staple a thinner bit of Board to fit snug into that just above screened Roof recess. Get it !
[DO ADD A STRONG HANDLE to pull that tight upper roof off ! Or that slim Timber Cloth Plug is impossible to remove without pulling that Screened Roof off too. 🥴]
By adding that bit of say old Towel, or even a Tea Towel : that should be enough to get/give a Great tight Vacuum (!)
When both that upper outer Vac Lid is strapped down tight onto that bottom Nuc Box.
You will also need an eg Block (say off a Pallet) or similar (to take in your Big Vac Hose,) drill a big hole right through it to take a Home or Shop Vacuum Hose Tubing or Nozzle. And Glue and Screw this tight over a pre-Drilled Hole of same diameter in that upper DIY Nuc Lid.
Once done, you eyeball where that lid hole is and directly below it : you cut a Hole in that Fabric laid above that Screen. So Vac Air can do that Vacuuming ! 👍
How to use in Swarm Capturing : Pre do this.
Get a 1" Piece of Depth Timber. Add to base of Nuc at bottom back.
On top add a Thin piece of cut Timber to be a Sloping Floor !
Wedge/ Screw in x2 Frame hanging Rails in upper part of Box. Best to add x3 pre-drawn Wax Super Frames to allow bees to Hang on or below them ! (Tip : Drill Frame Lugs & through into those Rails too with a Hole : Drop a Nail thru each one to 'Hold these Frames' in Situ. Stops these Frames rattling or slipping when in transit.
With enough space just above, but below that Screened Lid to add some spare Yard (1" x 1" Plastic) Climber Plant Mesh. (Thin Roll.) Bees will hang and Cluster off this as the Vac does its thing ! And once all Vac'd up. Will Crawl onto those Frames instead, as you Travel Home. 😉
Finally, get Clear Tubing or Pipe (Eg Home Brew Kit, Pool Store Kit, even Pet Reptile stuff etc.) And shove it through the Nuc Box Entrance Hole. May also require a DIY Cork/Tape Hole Stopper /Adaptor. To make sure small Hose fit into that larger Nuc Entrance, tightly, to get a decent Vacuum. Also make or take Tape to "Close it Up" once Bees are caught.
And you should be good to go. 👍👍👍
Cost total about £40 Inc Nuc ($60) Easy. 😎
HOW TO USE. . .
Get to Swarm. Assess it !
Open up Nuc : Check that Frames are in place, Secure ! See that, the Mesh Roll is Centred above your x3 Frames. Add Screened Lid. Add that Cloth with "Cut Hole" so it's AWAY from Nuc Entrance end.
Add that Second upper Lid again with Block Hole (Vac Tube goes in) above that Cloth AWAY from Entrance end. Even a bit of Yard Water Hose shoved inside Hole and Vac Tub helps Suction Process. MUST Tape any gaps up if not a tight fit here !
Strap everything down with say x2 Hive Straps or Bungee Cords Tightly!
Tip :
Practice Suction force on Dead Bees ! Eg from an Inspection Day/ Deadout of another Hive. Even try on some different sized pieces of Sawdust Wood Chippings. Sweet. 👍
Turn on Big Vac : Regular Suction.
Add Tube to Lid Block Hole. Tape as necessary.
Check the Entrance Clear Tubing re Suction eg on some say old Dead Bees. And your off to Collecting a Swarm by a Bee Vac !!! 🥳👍🥳
Memo :
Do Watch for the QUEEN and put her into a Queen Clip ! Keep her Safe. 👀
Add all random Wax Comb / dry Honey if any into Rubber Banded Frames. * Or Queen must be held on dry Honey frames. (Or she could Drown in gloop !)
Same applies to Comb Suction. DO NOT Vac the Wet Honey. Or all that will gum up the Vac'd Bees !
No Comb ??? * Then keep the Queen in her Clip in a Cool Safe place in your Car. Maybe in the Glove Compartment. . . DONT forget her there ! 😉
If you have any Dry Comb at the end of the Vac Up. . . Allow a few Bees to land on these (eg those last remaining Stragglers coming home to Roost.) These will either keep the Queen attended to: in a Spare Correx Nuc etc. Or if not Stragglers will find a home elsewhere !
Only needs say x100 Bees required to attend to a Queen if its a long Journey say more than x2 Hours. Or add a dot of Water to that Queen Clip.👍
Once Swarm Bee are all Collected and Vacuumed up. Turn off Vac. Unstrap VERY carefully that upper Block Lid. And remove that Cloth too.
Strap down again that Nuc Box Screened Roofed. (Unmoved !!!)
Base and all. Together.
(All Bees except Queen will still be inside this !)
Give them a Mist of Water. Keep this Screened Nuc Box in the Shade !
Pack up gear into Car/Truck. Bon Voyage. . . 🤞
Once Home.
Get your Screened Nuc and Queen in her Clip.
Get your Hive ready.
Add those Rubber Banded Comb of Brood and Honey Stores. Tap that Nuc Box on the Ground. All Bees should fall to its Floor. Remove Screened Roof & Garden Mesh then those x3 Nail holder Frames.
Tip all Bees into the top of your Home Hive. : Let them Crawl and Settle down into those Frames. Then CAREFULLY let the Queen out of her Queen Clip. Let her walk right into the Hive. (Or if with x100 Bees carefully add this Frame into the Hive too. CLOSE EVERYTHING UP even Entrance for x48hrs or so.
Feed via a an Inner Lid Feeder using 1:1 Syrup.
All this allows Bees to be inside ! Make Comb repairs, make new Comb and for the Queen to lay Eggs once more. No Swarm can leave if shut in to 'Anchor In' so to speak. 😎
Long How To. Sorry. . . But way easier and more useful than a Bucket with a Header Vac ! Just saying.
Basically you have a Collecting Hive and Temporary Holding Hive all in one.
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Happy Beekeeping 2023
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Ps. Just Subbed. 👍
Some may need an extra "Damper / movable Flap" Vent on that upper Lid : to reduce the force of Suction on the Bees.
My Mesh Nuc didnt need this. . . But do test before Vacuuming up live Bees. Dont go to all that effort catching a Swarm only to Suck then Splat those Bees. 🙄
I love it. Beekeeping is such a great hobby but it all becomes even more satisfying when you solve problems and build your own stuff. Well done.
Well I watched your video but I still prefur the everything bee vack . Rob.
Do you not have a way to control the amount of suction through your collection hose? Looks like Larry Stone has a great idea with the PVC ball valve on the inflow of the Buckethead.
Hi, No. I thought about using a carburetor set up but the suction was just enough and not too strong as it was. I am happy with it. Thanks for watching.
Nice system, I would add a frame with wax or foundation in the collection area so the bees don't pile onto each other. Also when I used buckets like this to collect bees in a similar system I drilled 2 inch vent holes all around the bucket near the top and bottom and riveted 1/8 mesh hardware cloth over them, its needed when its warm so the bees don't overheat. If you drill them near the bottom on the sides you will get great airflow when vacuuming. No need for drlll holes on bottom. Oh, don't forget to draw two eyes next to that attachment cover on the bucket after all it looks like a nose!
👍
Kind of an unwieldy looking thing, but might as well try one since I already have a bucket head vacuum.
Thank you so much. That is a fantastic design. I have a bushkill style bee vac, but I want to make a battery operated bee vac and to that end I ordered a Ryobi 18v 3 gal shop vac and was looking at bucket designs online to adapt.
I don't think I need to look any further. I may try to angle the intake fitting to get more of a swirl effect to slow the bees entry into the bucket.
Thanks for watching and commenting Richard. It does work pretty well. I attached a strap for when I use it on a ladder but it is an awkward shape. Still, a whole lot of bees have gone through it now.
Can I ask why you put your regulator whole on the lid of the bottom of the collection bucket? Do you lay it on it's side when you use it? The reason I ask is because how effective is the regulator whole if it is facing down with the bucket upside down. I just built mine just like yours. I am just trying to figure out if the regulator whole would be better on the side of the collection bucket. Thanks in advance sir.
Thanks for Sharing Bruce
Glad you enjoyed it 😊
What about the suction on top of the head, do you cap it off or leave open?
Hi Randal, it stays open. At the top is just exhaust as all the suction goes into the bucket.
Thanks for the idea Bruce. What size are the many vent holes in the bottom of the bee containing bucket?
Hi Phil, I wasn't very scientific about this, I just grabbed a drillbit that looked like it would make a hole too small for a bee to crawl out.
cool idea. I think I would add a few frames in the lower bucket
this is a great help, i am looking to build a vac.
Bruce just curious what size are the holes you drilled and what is the spacing I love the design
Hi Raymond, I am not sure of the size drillbit: I just grabbed a small one for a hole too small for bees to get out.
As for the spacing of the holes, I don't think it matters much as long as there are a lot of them and the holes are covered by the outer bucket that the buckethead is attached to.
Thanks for sharing as always!
Thank you Bruce....need a bee vac right now....gotta make my first cutout ASAP in my own camper.
Going to make this! Thanks for the detailed info!
That’s awesome. I’ve been looking for a good use for the bucket backpack straps I got
Hi Life of Jim, You should build one - it is easy and works great 👍
@@bruceandhisbees1770 what do you do about the forager bees that are not in the hive during the day?
@@lunarrn Hi Jim, It depends: If you catch the queen, you can cage her and put her in a box; in a few hours all the bees will all go in.
If you don’t see the queen your success rate goes down but you can come back the next morning and vacuum more of them up. You can also just leave the foragers and within a couple of weeks they will all be gone.
@@lunarrn if you can get to a swarm when they have settled in, they usually will only have a few scouts out looking around, and they don't forage too much while in a swarm. they will take pollen and nectar from their parent colony, but thats all theyve got till they set up in a permanent home.
I just built one of these tonight. I wound up taping most of the holes shut. Just 3 holes about 5/32 diameter.
What size PCs did you use to connect to the bucket. Wish you would have gone into more detail on how you secured it to the bucket.
Thank you for this video. I got a call for a cutout a few weeks ago and decided to build a bee vac using this design. It is incredibly lightweight, holds a lot of bees and I was able to hang it off my ladder as I worked overhead to remove comb and bees. I rubbed the inside of the bucket down with lemon balm and lemon grass and left a little in for a soft landing. The suction was adequate without killing bees. I used thick plastic mesh to cover the hole drilled into the bee bucket lid. I used hot glue to hold it onto the lid. Not ideal. Thank you again.
Questions: 1) Any suggestions on how to attach screening if you don't have a pop rivet tool? Will duct tape hold it in place or is there some kind of glue that will cement it, or something else? I used 1/8" drill bit to drill the bee bucket - what did you use?
Hi Chris, Well done. I am still using my bee vac pretty regularly and I am still pretty happy with it. Duct Tape may work for awhile and you also might try to use some food-grade sealant to glue the screen. Best of luck!
Oh, I think the drill bit was 1/8 but I didn’t really measure it: I just grabbed one that looked like it was smaller than a bee could fit through.
Thank you for this video Bruce......Do you block off either the intake or exhaust ports on the bucket head or do you just leave them open?
Hi GovtMule, I just left the exhaust port open. This is super simple.
Do you leave the intake port open as well on the bucket head motor? ( The port where you would normally insert the vacuum hose)
Thank you for the help
Hi GovtMule, Yes, with no hose attached to the intake port, all the suction goes right to the bucket and then to the catch bucket where I made a new hose attachment with some PVC.
@@HereWeGoSteelers l think the PVC fitting was 1 1/2 but I could be wrong. Just take your section of hose into Home Depot and mate it up on the spot. Sorry I wasn't more scientific with this.
That was my question as well. It doesn't effect the suction left open like that? Why the black nozzle? Something to hold onto?
Hi, great idea. What size is the white bucket?
I am not sure. I started with two white food-grade buckets from Walmart but couldn’t fit them together properly so the white one is Walmart and the other is Harbor Freight Tools.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. You should build a similar one..
@GeniesAsses es! You are feeding sugar water in your bait hive? I don't do that but I have had good success with Swarm Commander and one frame of nasty old comb in the trap. Swarm Commander is not cheap but works. In the past I used lemongrass oil with a few drops of geranium oil which also works but not as well. To really understand how the bees chose a bait hive, read Honeybee Democracy by Tom Seeley. Awesome read.
@GeniesAsses es! For the meantime, use one frame with plastic foundation that you freshly wax. Put that frame in the middle of four foundationless frames. The reason for foundationless frames is that swarms go in expecting to build new comb so having the space somewhat empty is good. Good luck Brother.
@GeniesAsses es! It may be: Scout bees do measure the area of the cavity when they are deciding for a new home. Lots of people have caught swarms in an empty hive box but I never have. I build plywood five-frame swarm traps that are 18 inches deep. This gives the volume of a 10 frame deep box. I also hang a few five frame deep nuc boxes and have had good luck with them too. They say small traps catch small swarms and big traps catch big swarms. I think you should try taking it down to a single box and get a nuc box or two. Good luck.
@TheDirtyDeDerShow Did you have any luck with the Swarm Commander?
Enjoyed your video, what is the dark section of PVC tubing sticking out of the side of the bucket vac head/motor ,What is it used for?
Hi Ron, That black thing at the top is the exhaust vent for the buckethead vacuum.
Hi Bruce. I think Ron is asking about both of the black things. But specifically the long one. The short black thing is the exhaust, the long black thing is where the hose should go.
My question is if the long black tube is vacuuming air, how effective is the hose in the white bucket? Does the long black normal intake need blocking so that the white bucket tube is able to suck bees?
@@dandorosheff256 Hi Dan, As you said, the short black thing is the exhaust and the long one is the intake that would normally connect to the hose - air in and air out). Now, air is sucked into the long black thing (you can't block it off), but the suction is created in the bucket and is enough to suck bees into the capture bucket. It works 🙂
I built one of these last week. Some design and simple to build. Have already captured one swarm and I can say , it works great!
Good job Rusty, thanks for watching and commenting 🙂
This is the best design I've seen. Going to build this one.
Thank you Justin, glad you enjoyed it and good luck with your bees!
Does the vac kill the bees??
No, I have used this several times with good results. Very few dead bees
Bruce, I just cut into a Lowe’s bucket and my other lowes bucket doesn’t fit for suction like yours. What 5 gallon bucket do you recommend?
Actual bucket.
In my case, I started with two white buckets that I think were from Walmart. They didn’t fit as you said. I happened to have an orange bucket from Harbor freight that worked fine for the second bucket. Different companies buckets have different dimensions and sometimes you just have to experiment. Good luck!
What tool did you use to cut out the bucket bottoms. .. thank you.
I started cutting the bucket with a jigsaw then realized a razor knife works quicker.
👏👏👏 Thanks
So to get it to vacuum from the bottom bucket I assume you close up the original hole in the bucket head so that the suction is transferred to the bottom bucket?
Actually, you don’t have to close the hole. You just have to install the hose on the capture bucket.
Thank you! I will do this!
Excellent! I just used mine last week (you see it in my Truck Motor Bees video) and I am still very happy with it.
Yesir!
Bruce you're the bees knees😊
Hi Bruce,,
>I tried using two of the same buckets but when I cut the bottom out of top vacum bucket the other bucket bottom won't fit into the top as they are the same size.. What did I do wrong? Troy
Yes, I noticed that the white, food-safe bucket runs slightly smaller than some other brand buckets. I used the white one for the capture bucket and a different brand for the top bucket. Good luck.
Thanks Bruce keep up the good work
Hi Daniel, I appreciate you commenting on my video 😎
Excellent video my friend! I have a removal to do soon and will be borrowing this design!
How many holes do you put in the white bucket
👍 thank you for the video
Hi Robert, It is a good design and has worked well this past year. I appreciate you commenting 😎
Bruce how are you creating vacuum on the exhaust side???
It is not creating vacuum on the exhaust side: Normally the hose is connected to the intake and anything sucked in goes into the bucket. In my setup, there is no hose connected to the intake or exhaust of the Buckethead - Suction passes from the top bucket to the capture bucket on the bottom where my hose is connected. Is that clear as mud? Honestly though, it works.
Looks good. I need to build a bee vac. I like what you’ve done. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing. Stay safe.
Thanks Outdoors and Country Living, I appreciate you. I have used the vacuum several times since I made the video and I am still real happy with it.
@@bruceandhisbees1770 glad to hear! Thank you for the response. Things are warming here in Indiana and the bees are staying busy. I love it. :)
Cool Beez :-D
I have watched a number of IDY bee vacuums and by far I liked yours the best. Most have 2 separate canisters and your has them combined. I did make one adjustment. I added a dimmer switch to the system and now I can regulate the suction more accurately. Once again thank you
Thank you Zachery!
Does Home Depot still carry them
G'day Bruce - just stumbled onto your channel (dunno how that works..) I'm a dumbass Aussie, and really thought I had invented a bee-vac about 12years back. There will be an ep. on that soon. Meanwhile, pls look for my bee adventures via Instagram- jimandthebees.
What size is the capture bucket? Does anyone have written plans for this vac?
Hi Andrew, There are no written plans because it is so simple. You can get these buckets from a bunch of different stores. The sizes are slightly different but all that matters is that they fit together once they are cut and the holes are drilled. Just give it a try and you can make it work. Good luck.
How big are the holes? I went to DCs UA-cam channel and it only showed the old design
Hi SylantBill, I truly don’t think it matters much as long as the holes are too small for the bees to get through. I just grabbed a drill bit I though would work - 1/8 inch maybe? Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I urge you to just build one of these and give it a try - if you get the holes wrong you can modify it by drilling more holes or increase suction by blocking holes with duct tape or plumbers putty. If it really goes wrong you can change buckets but honestly, it is such a simple design it is hard to mess up.
@@bruceandhisbees1770 Thanks for the quick reply.
Wondering how much of the Home Depot bucket did you cut off?
Hi Doug, I find that the buckets size varies a bit from the different manufacturers. It ended up cur about 4" from the bottom but I cut it a couple of times before it fit right. Sorry this is a pretty non-scientific build. I do appreciate you watching 😁
@@bruceandhisbees1770 Thank you.
Very good sistem.
Thank you, Sir 👍
Thank you. Great video making one today!
Good on you Robert! Let me know how it goes 🙂
This vacum worked excellent. I vacumed about 4 pounds of bees from a hunting blind for a nieghbor. Didn't see any dead bees in vacum. Thanks again!
@@robertdykes668 Awesome, great job. These things are great tools for your journey as a beekeeper. Well done!
Bruce, Do you have a parts list? Thanks.
Hi Larry, it is very simple: Get a Buckethead Vacuum from Home Depot, two buckets, a hole bit for your drill and the PVC fittings. To size the fittings just take the hose from your Buckethead right into the store and fit it on the spot. All the best!
@@bruceandhisbees1770 Thanks Bruce. That’s pretty clear. However I’m interested in knowing the exact names of the PVC parts and their sizes. I am not familiar with these materials.
It's all good
This is the best one!
Thanks Puhi
I duplicated it and I love it
Thanks so much for the detailed plans, finished my bee vac build last night and used it this morning....not even one sting! .....Already had an inverter for OAV but the home owner had an outlet 25 feet away.....better to be lucky than good...lol
Thanks again!!
Hi John, Glad I could help! I just used mine last week and I am still really pleased with it. Good job Brother 😎
Made this morning, worked great this afternoon on a removal. I had a smooth on the inside black 2 inch hose 10 feet long that I attached that works great!
Awesome, great job!
EXCELLENT design idea. Clearly presented. Thank you so much! Has similarities to the no longer made Owens. I own all three commercial bee vacs; each a good value for what you get and each has its limitations. Your design is much more economical and would seem to do the job just as well.
Some suggestions:
- For suction force control, have you considered installing a PVC ball valve on the inflow of the Bucket Head itself?
- Instead of drilling holes, I’d cut out sections in the inverted bucket/catch pail and install screening (in the part that is hidden inside the vac) If you are traveling for awhile with your bees, the more ventilation the better.
I would suggest you post a parts list with this video, size of PVC pipes, types and sizes of couplers. And anything else needed. Well done!
Thank you Larry, I appreciate you watching and commenting. Been using this vac for over a year now and I still like it. I may make a follow up video on this one day.
@@bruceandhisbees1770 I built one yesterday. Thanks for sharing
Hey Bruce, I went out last night to HD to buy the ingredients for this bee vacuum. $53 for a white bucket, a black screw off lid and the bucket head. I bought two PVC fittings to make the plug you have but, I ended up not using them. Today after work I assembled the vac using a orange HD bucket I had in the garage. I cut the bottom of the orange bucket off, 4". then on the white bucket I made 8 lines (4 intersecting) on the bottom and made holes every 3/8" from center. The vac had perfect suction without having to make other holes to regulate suction. For the hose I made a 1-1/8" hole and the hose attachment, with some convincing slid in tight. I need to come up with a plug for this hole.... but for todays first use I just taped off the end of the hose to get the bees home.
Good job! Crazy how prices have gone up though.
Great bee vac, so simple. Thank you
It would be really nice and appreciated if you could take the time to take and post some measurements.
I THINK THIS IS THE BEST SETUP IVE SEEN IM GOING TO MAKE THIS ONE AND SUBBED YOU 👍👍💯
Brilliant! Just saw someone trying to sell these for $115 😂 going to build my own for like $45 thanks to you! Thanks Bruce!
Glad to help!
I can’t cut the bucket right to get them to go together.
I like your ideas!
I'm going to be making one similar using the Ryobi 18v cordless bucket vacuum.
That'll solve the portability issue as well.
In the couple of weeks since making this, I got about 10 pounds of bees from under one house and 2 swarms out of a tree and bush and this vac is a champ. No dead and healthy transfer into bee boxes. Just make sure your holes are smaller than a bee can squeeze through. It's critical :)
Heading to the hardware store to make my own! I have a swarm I need to grab tonight!
Making one this evening for a hive I am removing from under a window box. THIS is super helpful. Thank you
I think this is the best design for us "side line" beekeepers. Am building one tonight. Thanks very much.
Glad it was helpful!
Okay, 100% success with your vac idea. I made basically one mod. Instead of adding the swing open screen on the bottom bucket lid, I added a ball valve to the top bucket. With the holes I had drilled in the bottom bucket, and opening the ball valve all the way, it was perfect for gathering a thousand+ bees last night. The ONLY mistake I made was that couple of my holes were too big and I had some company in my suv on my way home. I used heavy duty velcro (10 lb) to keep the buckets together. I am going to make several bottom buckets for extra large hives or multiple swarms. I am also going to fit the end with a small LED light so I can see what I'm sucking up better. Last night they were under a window box that was very dark. Total time to construct was about an hour.
Well Done Scott! At least in that moment your car was full of bees no policeman would have wanted to write you a speeding ticket 😬
Anyone else hear a similarity to Kermit The Frog
Mercy