Betterbee Colorado Bee Vac Instruction Manual

Betterbee Colorado Bee Vac

Product Information

The Colorado Bee Vac is a vacuum designed for collecting bees from swarms or cutouts. It comes with a catch box, suction wand, vacuum hose, and blast gate. The vacuum has a bypass valve that
allows air to bypass the catch box, which can be adjusted to control the suction pressure and velocity in the hose. The catch box has a metal tray that locks into position with the latch and a foam gasket that provides a seal when the vacuum top is resting on it. The product should be used carefully to avoid damaging the bees.

Product Usage Instructions

1. Assemble the vacuum by sliding the rubber coupling at one end of the hose over the round inlet of the blast gate. Insert the wide end of the suction wand into the other end of the hose and tighten
   the hose clamp. Before starting, open the blast gate door all the way. Slide the metal tray in all the way in and lock into position with the latch. Set the vacuum top on the catch box so that it is
   sitting flat and resting on the foam gasket. Plug in power cord and you are ready to go.

2. Make sure that the black plastic blast gate door is all the way open.

3. While holding the body of the bypass valve, turn the bypass valve handle an eighth of a turn so that the valve is half open.
   This valve allows air to bypass the catch box; as the valve is closed, the suction pressure and velocity in the hose will increase. You can increase the suction by closing the valve (turn clockwise). Open the valve (counterclockwise) to decrease vacuum suction. Use the smallest amount of suction necessary to suck up the bees; using too much pressure can expose the bees to unsafe
   speeds and kill them as they enter the catch box!

4. Use the wand to collect bees from the swarm or cutout. Try to keep the hose relatively straight (that is, do not have a coil of hose at your feet). When finished, close the bypass valve to
   increase suction and sweep any remaining bees from the hose. Remember to close the blast gate door before turning the vacuum motor off. Otherwise, the bees will immediately begin going back out the blast gate and into the hose once the vacuum is switched off.

5. Once the bees are collected, remove the vacuum top to give the bees plenty of airflow. Do not leave the catch box in the sun or in a hot vehicle; you will cook your bees. Remember to keep them in
   the shade. Give them a few squirts of water or sugar water spray if they will be in the catch box for a while. When transporting in a vehicle, keep the windows open to allow for plenty of airflow over the catch box.

Follow these instructions carefully to ensure safe and effective use of the Colorado Bee Vac.

Quick Start Guide

If you’re one who prefers not to read instructions, at least read these few points before you start using your Colorado Bee Vac!

1. Be sure to leave the bypass valve partially open (see diagram pg. 2). If closed, the bees may be exposed to excessive vacuum pressure. Only close the valve as much as is needed.
2. Do not coil the vacuum hose during use. Keep the hose as straight as possible to reduce damage to the bees as they travel through the hose.
3. When done vacuuming, close the blast gate before shutting off the vacuum so the bees don’t crawl back into the hose.
4. When done vacuuming, remove the cover from the catch box, keep the box in the shade, and give the bees plenty of air to prevent them from overheating.
5. Do not store the vacuum cover on the catch box to avoid having the seal material stick to the catch box.
6. Please read the full instructions! Over the years we have learned many tricks on the most successful ways to use the Colorado Bee Vac.

User Manual

Assembly

1. Slide the rubber coupling at one end of the hose over the round inlet of the blast gate.
2. Insert the wide end of the suction wand into the other end of the hose and tighten the hose clamp.
3. Before starting, open the blast gate “door” all the way.
4. Slide the metal tray in all the way in and lock into position with the latch.
5. Set the vacuum top on the catch box so that it is sitting flat and resting on the foam gasket.
6. Plug in power cord and you are ready to go.

Operation

1. Plan to set your vacuum as far away from the location of the bees as possible, such that the hose will be as straight as possible. It is best to avoid excessive bends in the hose to protect the bees from damage. It is also a good practice to locate the vacuum in the shade. By having the catch box out of the direct sunlight, you reduce the chance of the bees overheating and dying. If you are concerned about the temperature being too warm it is a good idea to leave the vacuum on so that it will continue circulating air through the catch box.

2. Make sure that the black plastic blast gate door is all the way open.

3. While holding the body of the bypass valve, turn the bypass valve handle an eighth of a turn so that the valve is half open. This valve allows air to bypass the catch box; as the valve is closed, the suction pressure and velocity in the hose will increase. You can increase the suction by closing the valve (turn clockwise). Open the valve (counterclockwise) to decrease vacuum suction. Use the smallest amount of suction necessary to suck up the bees; using too much pressure can expose the bees to unsafe speeds and kill them as they enter the catch box!
   TIP: If you don’t have vacuum suction after turning the vacuum on, either the vacuum top is not sitting flat on the catch box, the bypass valve is completely open, or you have forgotten to open the blast gate door.

4. Use the wand to collect bees from the swarm or cutout. Try to keep the hose relatively straight (that is, do not have a coil of hose at your feet). When finished, close the bypass valve to increase suction and “sweep” any remaining bees from the hose. Remember to close the blast gate door before turning the vacuum motor off. Otherwise, the bees will immediately begin going back out the blast gate and into the hose once the vacuum is switched off.

5. If you take a break and turn the vacuum off, be sure to remove the vacuum top from the catch box and set it to the side so that air can circulate through the screened top. If it is a hot day, you may give the bees a few squirts of water from a spray bottle through the screen to give them a drink and help keep them cool.
   Note: If you remove the vacuum from the catch box during a break, you could have a considerable number of bees land on the screen when you want to start up again, especially if you have vacuumed up the queen and she’s in the catch box. The bees must be swept off the screen before setting the vacuum top down again. Bees on top of the screen will be sucked into the cover and vacuum, potentially destroying the vacuum. This is not covered by warranty.

6. Once the bees are collected, remove the vacuum top to give the bees plenty of airflow. Do not leave the catch box in the sun or in a hot vehicle; you will cook your bees. Remember to keep them in the shade. Give them a few squirts of water or sugar water spray if they will be in the catch box for a while. When transporting in a vehicle, keep the windows open to allow for plenty of airflow over the catch box.

Transfer to Hive

There are two basic methods of transferring the bees from the catch box to a hive: top down or bottom up. For either method, you should make sure the hive box receiving the bees has been set up for their arrival. For a cutout, the removed combs should be installed into frames in the hive body. A large cutout may need multiple hive bodies to hold all the removed combs. For a swarm, empty or drawn frames should be installed in the box. A full frame feeder or frames of honey should be added to help encourage the bees to stay. In summary, the hive body should be completely full of frames and ready to receive bees without further manipulation.

If transferring to an 8 frame hive, use an 8-to-10 frame adapter shim (available from Betterbee).

Top-Down Method:

1. Set the catch box on top of your prepared hive body and bottom board.

2. Gently remove the metal tray and set it on top of the catch box to darken the hive. You can also set your hive’s outer cover on the catch box. It is important to block light from entering the top of the catch box.

3. The bees will usually move down into the hive gradually. If time allows, leave the catch box overnight to allow the bees to move into the prepared frames and combs below.
   a. If short on time, or if the bees don’t move on their own, carefully lift one edge of the box at a time and tap downward on the hive to knock the bees loose.

4. Once most of the bees are out of the catch box, remove the catch box from the hive. Knock any remaining bees on the ground in front of the hive, ensuring none of them are the queen; if she isn’t in the hive, carefully place her between frames in the hive. Put a cover on the hive, and leave undisturbed while they settle in.

Bottom-Up Method (The Annaliese Method):
This method, which lets the bees climb upward an upside-down catch box into the hive body, was developed by a young Oregon beekeeper, Annaliese, and is named in her honor. It works especially well for swarms who don’t have their own combs to move into and are inclined to start combs right away in the catch box. By turning the catch box upside down, they tend to move more reliably up into the prepared hive body above.

1. Put the catch box full of the swarm upside down on the bottom board, with the reducer removed temporarily. This allows plenty of ventilation for the hive through the screen.

2. Place the prepared hive body box on top of the catch box. Gently “knock” the catch box on the bottom board to knock bees off the metal tray. This will minimize “squishing” of any bees that are hanging onto the metal tray when you pull the slide out.
   ○ Important note: If your prepared hive body has a top entrance/exit at the cover board level make sure you plug up the entrance/exit during your preparation. You don’t want the swarm escaping as quickly as you release the bees.

3. Pull the metal slide out. The swarm will migrate up almost immediately into the prepared hive body above.

4. The empty catch box can be removed once empty, but to improve the odds of keeping the swarm, you may keep them captive for two to three days. This will allow the queen to begin to lay and become acclimated to the new home. Otherwise, some swarms might immediately leave the new hive.

5. After two to three days, gently set the hive body full of bees to the side, remove the catch box, and replace the hive body on the bottom board. Install an entrance reducer.

Care of the Vacuum and Catch Box

1. KEEP IT OUT OF THE RAIN. The vacuum is not waterproof or water resistant. Do not expose it to rain, sprinklers, or try to hose it off. Water will destroy the vacuum. If dirty, wipe off with a warm damp rag.
2. Hose: Remove the hose from the blast gate, and flush with water. Insert a garden hose into the hose and flush out. Hang to dry before using again. It is recommended the hose is cleaned after each use.
3. Blast Gate: If the gate becomes sticky with honey or bees, remove the four screws and pull the blast gate out. Rinse clean in warm water. Reinstall using the four screws. To keep the gate clean, remember to close it before turning the vacuum off.
4. Catch Box: If the catch box needs cleaning, wipe clean with a wet rag. Remove the metal tray and wipe clean and dry before re-installing. Do not use any cleaners if possible. If necessary, use a mild dish soap and be sure to wipe clean. Allow the catch box to dry thoroughly.
5. Storage: Make sure all parts are clean and dry. Place a piece of newspaper over the catch box, and then install the vacuum cover on top. The paper prevents the cover gasket from sticking to the hive body. Store the vacuum in a clean, dry place indoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

• There isn’t enough suction, what is wrong?

  • First, make sure the vacuum top is completely flat on the catch box, and not resting on the rim.
  • Make sure the blast gate is open.
  • Close the bypass valve to increase suction through the hose.

• Can I use a longer hose?
  Yes, longer hoses are available from Betterbee. Up to 50 ft of hose can be used.

• How do I carry the vacuum on a ladder?
  We do not recommend carrying the Bee Vac on a ladder. It is safer to keep the vacuum on level ground, and only bring the hose up a ladder to reach high locations.

• Which can I tell if the bypass valve is open or closed?

  • Handle perpendicular to valve: closed
  • Handle parallel to valve: open
  • 45 degrees: half open
  • Turn clockwise to close

• I have more questions!
  Contact us by email at support@betterbee.com or by phone toll-free at 800-632-3379. We are always happy to talk to fellow beekeepers, and to offer our advice.

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