How to make a queen cell protector cup.

[The Apprentices]

Got to get your timing bang on and make sure larvae are the same age when grafting if you don't want any disasters . bit of foil/ insulating tape is cheap insurance

VM

Hi

When you are grafting do you use the cut off syringe/scone cutter method or handle the eggs directly?

 

[Poly Hive]

"When you are grafting do you use the cut off syringe/scone cutter method or handle the eggs directly?"

Never heard of using a syringe/scone cutter.

When I graft I lift very young larvae from the doner colony into queen cups I make from wax. That is the normal definition of grafting, it does not involve eggs.

PH

 

[victor meldrew]

Hi

When you are grafting do you use the cut off syringe/scone cutter method or handle the eggs directly?

Chinese grafting tool and day and half old larvae

VM

 

[gavin]

Hi Aps

Grafting is usually lifting one day old larvae off their bed of royal jelly on a special tool, or on the bitten end of a wooden cocktail stick or grass stem. Eggs are stuck down so not easily lifted but instead eggs can be cut or punched out.

G.

 

[Poly Hive]

I try for 12 hours old larvae, but with the eyes now I am finding it harder.

PH

 

[Alabamaeee]

Apprentices,

Your creativeness and enthusiasm are a never ending source of interest on this forum, but...


I read every post you make just to see that brilliant Avatar, it make me smile every time I see it!

 

[The Apprentices]

"When you are grafting do you use the cut off syringe/scone cutter method or handle the eggs directly?"

Never heard of using a syringe/scone cutter.

When I graft I lift very young larvae from the doner colony into queen cups I make from wax. That is the normal definition of grafting, it does not involve eggs.

PH

The scone cutter method my mentor uses involves a 5.00ml syringe with the end cut off, he pulls back the plunger, pushes the tube over the cell and cuts out a small plug of wax containing cell and grub, sorry larvae, then gently pushes it out into the cup, without disturbing the larvae.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I would describe that as more like the punched cell method......it's not grafting.

Described in detail on Dave Cushmans site under punched cell....some use a rifle shell.

 

[The Apprentices]

Apprentices,

Your creativeness and enthusiasm are a never ending source of interest on this forum, but...


I read every post you make just to see that brilliant Avatar, it make me smile every time I see it!

Cheers

As you can tell I'm still fairly new to this game but learning very quickly, sometimes a bit too quick and get my wording mixed up, eggs, grub and larvae, heh.

The avatar was borrowed from the W's3 from another, I really like it too, it reminds me of that song, Walk tall walk straight and look the world, you know the one.

Most of all I love making things and intend to share every moment with the whole, hope you don't get fed up with it all.

 

[The Apprentices]

I would describe that as more like the punched cell method......it's not grafting.

Described in detail on Dave Cushmans site under punched cell....some use a rifle shell.

Dave Cushmans site is where I got the multi fan type smoker tube idea, mine has a shut off valve, I never saw the cell punch link but will go back and check it out.

I have been developing a brass tube cutter with more precission after seeing the syringe method that my freind uses, it involves high precission K&S brass tubing which slides very smoothly inside each other and has a stop limiter so things don't push too far, when its done I will post it up, I'm sure its all been done before but that won't stop me from trying to perfect certain things.

I have been practicing lots using a Bosch & Lomb head fiiting magnifier which makes close up work a doddle, they are not cheap but worth every penny.