Clearer board clearing times

[MattC]

There are at least 3 different types discussed on here-
1. porter escapes
2. rhombus
3. vortex

So cards on table time... for those who have used any or all of these (or any others for that matter). How many hours do each of these take, on average, to clear a super?

 

[drstitson]

those may be the traditional 3 types used by outsiders.

But many of those in the know here now use PH's modified Rhombus set-up (the plastic bit cut in half and mounted in 2 corners of the board over two holes).

Even Mons Ab managed to knock one up (and very proud of his effort he was too).

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11959

 

[enrico]

Only use porters and they take 24 hours minimum 48 hours maximum

 

[drstitson]

is it not just quicker to shake the bees off your one frame of capped honey and take it away there and then rather than faffing with clearer boards etc etc

 

[SimonB]

Rhombus - 24 hours (afternoon to afternoon) but might be quicker, those are just the times that suit me to add/remove.

 

[psafloyd]

There are at least 3 different types discussed on here-
1. porter escapes
2. rhombus
3. vortex

So cards on table time... for those who have used any or all of these (or any others for that matter). How many hours do each of these take, on average, to clear a super?

There was a guy I knew (sadly died last year) who used the vortex. He had bees on rape and could go down the line and remove supers after an hour or so, greatly cutting down the time he spent at a site.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

those may be the traditional 3 types used by outsiders.

But many of those in the know here now use PH's modified Rhombus set-up (the plastic bit cut in half and mounted in 2 corners of the board over two holes).

Even Mons Ab managed to knock one up (and very proud of his effort he was too).

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=11959

seen it clear a super in a couple of hours

 

[poshpikey]

is it not just quicker to shake the bees off your one frame of capped honey and take it away there and then rather than faffing with clearer boards etc etc

That's what I do

 

[Little John]

is it not just quicker to shake the bees off your one frame of capped honey and take it away there and then rather than faffing with clearer boards etc etc

Couldn't agree more. But - as I've never used a clearer board, and after following the discussion on here I decided to actually make one and 'have a go'.

Having now tested it for over an hour, it has been awarded top prize as the most useless and unnecessary piece of equipment I've ever owned. In exasperation, I finally resorted to the tried and tested method of removing one frame at a time, and simply knocking the bees off, then storing that comb in a spare super with insect mesh attached to shims top and bottom. Takes about 10 minutes per box.

For Top Bar hives - maybe a good idea, but unnecessary (imho) when using frames.

LJ

 

[dpearce4]

I use the Th0rnes circular escape, it has 8 exits for the bees and I have found it will easily clear the bees in 1-2hours. great news for me means I can put the clearers on and then do some weed clearing on the site while I wait for them to work.

 

[REDWOOD]

I put the rhombus board on in the morning and by teatime the super is clear of bees

 

[Little John]

Well, here's the board I knocked-up.

As you can see there's 4 BIG entrances, 12 exits, and a short distance between entrance and exit: features which I thought would clear a super quickly.

But - it seemed to me that the bees were in no particular hurry to leave - they were quite happy fanning away, or climbing over the combs and each other, and various other assorted bee behaviours. Why would they want to leave, when they were so busy doing whatever it is that bees do ?

No matter how efficient the board may be, it can only work when the bees collectively decide (for whatever reason) that they need to be somewhere else. That's the problem - it's a passive device.

Whereas shaking 'em off is proactive.

LJ

 

[Erichalfbee]

Tip the box on its side and use a leaf blower.
5 seconds

 

[Tim1606]

Especially if you have out apiaries so you only do one visit. Used to use a fume board but this is a much better way.

 

[Little John]

Especially if you have out apiaries so you only do one visit.

Imho - not just out apiaries ...

What bees like most of all in life is simply to be left alone - but the use of a clearance board would seem to extend an 'outside interference' in their lives to anywhere between a couple of hours and a couple of days !

The use of a blower is a very good idea indeed - I remember seeing a guy on a Russian video using a portable vacuum cleaner (in reverse) to clear supers - it was pretty-well instant - a few seconds at most. Yes - think I'll give that a try.

LJ

"Sweetheart ... are you using the vacuum cleaner today ... ?"

 

[dclewis]

Round 8 exit type, put on in pm and super removed next am, works a treat.

 

[Hombre]

I'm with Little John and his lack of activity. Overnight is a good idea as the bees may move down to the brood nest as the night time temperature falls.

Leaf blowers are a good idea, but not something that you want to use at the bottom of the garden if you have neighbours. Spectacular as the number of hives and neighbours increase I would think. Not something you would really want to do on a wet day either.

I always smell the fact that the blowers augment the air flow by piping the engine exhaust that way too. Never in the honey, but it does give me cause for thought. At a distant out apiary it is probably the only way to do it to prevent the necessity for a second visit. Local, it's probably not as much of a deal.

Horses for courses of course. If it works for you and doesn't affect anyone else then it's got to be good.

 

[user 6228]

Well, here's the board I knocked-up.

As you can see there's 4 BIG entrances, 12 exits, and a short distance between entrance and exit: features which I thought would clear a super quickly.

But - it seemed to me that the bees were in no particular hurry to leave - they were quite happy fanning away, or climbing over the combs and each other, and various other assorted bee behaviours. Why would they want to leave, when they were so busy doing whatever it is that bees do ?

No matter how efficient the board may be, it can only work when the bees collectively decide (for whatever reason) that they need to be somewhere else. That's the problem - it's a passive device.

Whereas shaking 'em off is proactive.

LJ

I see to remember Polyhive suggesting that having the entrance (from the super )near a wall being most effective. Perhaps youcan add wooden strips to direct the bees towards your entrances?

 

[Finman]

is it not just quicker to shake the bees off your one frame of capped honey and take it away there and then rather than faffing with clearer boards etc etc

IN late summer bees do not go away from box. They may be there one week.

Shaking is often handy. I shake in front of hive onto paper. Odor of paper "encourages" bees to run to home. It it comes a rain shover, I put a sheet of newspaper over the bees. It had happened many time.

If weather is cold, bees often just lay in front of hive. Paper sheets keep them warm and active.

 

[drstitson]

great advice Finman (as always) but you missed the irony - my post referred to the solitary frame of honey UK beeks might expect this (and last) year. hence the lack of need for clearer board approach.