Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: gardeningfireman on July 25, 2012, 11:29:07 pm

Title: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: gardeningfireman on July 25, 2012, 11:29:07 pm
My Robo-style beevac is killing my ears! I use a medium box on it; don't seem to get enough suction with a deep. I have a 12 hp shopvac and still need to keep the suction-adjustment hole almost closed. I have a 11/4" hose from the box to suck up the bees. Whenever the suction is high enough to actually suck up the bees, the hose makes a God-awful squealing noise! When the hose end is partly closed off, the squealing diminishes greatly. It is a standard shopvac hose with the ridges. Would a smooth hose eliminate the noise? My ears are still ringing from my last cutout!
Title: Re: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: S.M.N.Bee on July 25, 2012, 11:49:35 pm
I do not have a bee vac. but have had the same issue once when I used used a sump pump discharge hose as a vacuum hose. I'm not
sure if the smaller diameter was to blame or the construction [larger ridges]. If you can try some different hoses.

John
Title: Re: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: G3farms on July 26, 2012, 12:32:05 am
Have you tried removing the filter from the shop vac, it could be clogged up......or if it has a float ball to keep water from getting into the motor might try removing it also.

The small hose should create MORE suction.

Are you running the cut out shim? If so are you putting duct tape on the opening where the screen slides in, give that a try also.

Do you have weather stripping on the edges of the vac boxes?

With that big of a vac leaks should not be a problem...........try this.......light your smoker and puff smoke around all of the joints, watch for the smoke to be pulled into the vac box, there will be your leak.

What size hose do you have from the shop vac to the sliding lid?

I found that rubbing bees wax on the edges of the of the sliding lid makes it work easier and also seal just a tad better. With that big of a vac it should pull the sliding lid down tight though.

Just a few random thoughts on it, I have built several and all of them worked great with the exception of one, seems the lid was a bit loose fitting.

Try the smoke, it will show where your leak is at.
Title: Re: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: Intheswamp on July 26, 2012, 09:27:41 am
Sounds like air in the system is acting similar to how a reed works in a woodwind instrument.  Could be at the end of one of the hoses sticking inside the vacuum chamber or a leak in the chamber.  G3's suggestion about using smoke is a good one.

Ed
Title: Re: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: gardeningfireman on July 26, 2012, 12:58:04 pm
Thanks for the input! I do have foam weatherstripping between the wood parts. I use gorilla tape all the way around and then a ratchet strap. The weak spot, I think is the bottom piece. I will try all the suggestions. Thanks again!
Title: Re: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: Robo on July 26, 2012, 04:09:38 pm
You sure it is not 12Amps and not 12HP?   I doubt they make a 12 HP vac.   6.5HP is the biggest common one I've seen.    I can get 1-1/4 pool hose to squeal if I crank up the suction.  No noise problem with 2-1/2 hose.     The corrugations aren't causing the noise,  it is the opening size.
Title: Re: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: G3farms on July 26, 2012, 07:39:51 pm
if it is the bottom board, where the plywood meet the sides, run a bead of caulk around all of the joints.
Title: Re: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: gardeningfireman on July 28, 2012, 10:14:01 pm
What a knucklehead! It is 6.5 hp, 10 gallon. I don't know where I got the 12 hp from! :idunno:
Title: Re: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: gardeningfireman on August 27, 2012, 03:40:46 pm
I think I did it! I glued a piece of 3/4" plywood to the bottom to eliminate the bottom flexing. I re-cushioned the "inner bottom ramp", replaced the weatherstripping, and got an 8' section of 2.5" hose. I then modified the 2.5-1.25" adapter to make it sloped inside instead of stepped (to prevent bee-bashing). Now I have various lengths of 1.25" hose to attach to the box, then an 8' section of 2.5" hose with another adapter on the end so I can change tips as needed to suck up the bees. It seems to work great now. No more screaming, no more leaks, and plenty of suction! I have a removal scheduled for Friday the 31st, so I'll get to try it then. I also got a digital inspection camera (finally) that I can try out. Boy, am I psyched! :-D Thanks everyone for your tips!
Title: Re: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: gardeningfireman on September 02, 2012, 11:11:46 am
I did the removal and the bee-vac worked like a charm. No screaming, screeching, whistling, or anything!
Title: Re: Screaming bee-vac
Post by: major on September 03, 2012, 01:01:21 am
I use a modified 5 gal bucket with 2- 1/2in holes ( screened) and the bucketHead vac from Home Depot

it works fine. with large swarms you will have to change buckets so not to over fill...... or it will kill the bees

Howard

major1896@gmail.com .....  photo on request