General Questions

What Wet/Dry vacuums can be used in the integrated configuration?

The following is a list of vacuums that have been successfully used on our bee vac.

NOTE: Only vacuums with “detachable blower” (ie. leaf blower) are supported for integrated use. Please let us know if you have found another model vacuum that works with our integrated mount.

Models in BLUE are current models.

Order Ridgid mount:

RIDGID 4 Gallon 6.0-Peak HP Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Detachable Blower, Fine Dust Filter, Hose and Accessories Model # WD4080
RIDGID 12 Gal. 6.0-Peak HP NXT Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Detachable Blower, Filter, Dust Bag, Hose and Accessories Model # HD1280
RIDGID 16 Gal. 6.5-Peak HP NXT Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Detachable Blower Model # HD1600
RIDGID 16 Gal. 6.5-Peak HP NXT Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Detachable Blower, 20 ft. Hose Model # HD1600D
RIDGID 12 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac w/ Detachable Blower Model # WD1280
RIDGID 16 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac w/ Detachable Blower Models # WD1665
RIDGID 16 Gallon Wet/Dry Vac w/ Detachable Blower Models # WD1680
Craftsman 12 Gallon Detachable Wet/Dry Vac | Sears Item# 00917557000 | Model# 17557
Craftsman 16-gal 6.5-peak hp Wet/Dry Vac with Detachable Blower | Sears Item# 00917066000 | Model# 17066

Order Shop-Vac mount:

We are unaware of any current Shop Vac models. Read more about the current Shop Vac situation.
Shop-Vac 16-Gallon 6.5-Peak HP Shop Vacuum | Lowe’s item # 142518 | Model # 9311711
Shop-Vac 12-Gallon 6.5-Peak HP Shop Vacuum | Lowe’s item # 549707 | Model # 9313211
Shop-Vac 12-Gallon Shop Vacuum | Lowe’s item # 1061455 | Model # 9315011

What type of vacuum hose is recommended?

We strongly recommend the use of 2-1/2″ shop vac type vacuum hoses.

Let’s address a common misconception about corrugated shop vac hose. Although the outside appears very bumpy, the inside bore of the hose is much smoother.Our experience has been, with proper suction, we can get close to zero mortality. We say close because it is next to impossible to do a removal and not injure a few bees with the nozzle or suck up some debris and/or dead bees. It is not uncommon to end up with less than a dozen dead bees in the bottom of the vac when used correctly.

Many people will recommend using a smaller diameter smooth bore hose. This hose is much stiffer and less functional than 2-1/2″ shop vac type hose.

I will also offer this analogy. If you run down a winding 2ft wide hallway as fast as you can, you will be hitting the walls many more times than if running down a 4ft wide hallway. I believe the amount of suction is much more important than the minor corrugations in the shop vac hose. Also with the larger hose, you are less likely to get clogs of bees.

What extension vacuum hoses can be used?

Most 2-1/2″ shop vac type hoses can be coupled together. Some vacuum manufactures use proprietary connection on the vacuum end which may not be compatible with other hoses.

Our personal hose of choice is:
RIDGID 2-1/2 in. x 20 ft. Tug-A-Long Vacuum Hose for RIDGID Wet Dry Vacs
This tends to be the ideal length for us and does not require joining multiple, shorter sections together. It is also the best priced option.

Other options are:

Does the bee vac work with only deep hive bodies?

No, our bee vacs work with any depth hives bodies. Based on the size of the swarm or cut-out, you can choose the best size hive bodies for the job.

How should I paint my bee vac?

Paint your bee vac just as you would any hive. Painting the inside of the bottom board helps cleaning it when you suck up debris and honey. We recommend not painting the inside of the vac top, especially the slide area.

Do you have plans so that I can build my own bee vac?

We do not have plans available for our bee vac.

Doesn’t the junk still get sucked up between the frames?

The volume of the super makes the air velocity drastically decrease once it exits the hose. This causes the majority of the debris (and bees) to drop out of the air flow. If you suck up a lot of dust, you will get a slight coating on the center combs.

Purchasing Questions

Can I pay with a debit card?

Yes, our card processing agent accepts credit and debit cards.

Can I place an order by phone?

Unfortunately we do not have the means to process credit/debit cards via phone. All orders must be made through our web store. If you are uncomfortable using your credit/debit card online, our web store does provide the option to mail a check for payment.

How soon will my order ship?

We strive to ship all orders within 2 business days.

Note: If you pay for expedited shipping, the days quoted is for actual UPS shipping time, it does include processing time of preparing shipment. We will do our best to get expedited orders out the next day, but can not guarantee it.

How long will it take to arrive?

Estimated UPS Ground transit times. Does not include order processing time before shipping.

Do you offer a military discount?

Yes we do. Please email proof of your military service to admin@beevac.com and we will email back a coupon to use during checkout. Please note that discount is only offered for bee vac products, not AZ hives.

How can I get tracking information for my order?

When your order is shipped, you will receive an e-mail with your tracking information. If you do not receive it, please check your spam folder. If you still can’t find it, feel free to use the Contact Form and we will e-mail it to you again.

Will you ship outisde of the U.S. & Canada?

We recommend foreign customers use an international shipping company such as International Parcel Service when purchasing our products. We do not have the means to handle international shipments.

Will you ship via USPS for Alaska and Hawaii customers?

USPS is a much cheaper shipping option for customers in Hawaii and Alaska, and although it takes extra logistics on our end, we will do it for you. It may take a few extra days for us to get your order out, and shipping time via USPS parcel will also be longer. Please use the Contact Form if you would like a USPS parcel shipping quote.