Bee Swarm Collector

thingiverse

This is an bucket collection device for collecting bees swarms. Last time my bees swarmed they settled way out of reach in a tree. I have a Fiskar UP86 long reach pruner (https://www.screwfix.com/p/fiskars-telescopic-bypass-tree-pruner/4166t) that can extend up to 4m so thought it would be useful to add a bucket-like device to help retrieve my bees when they swarm so designed this. The angle of the bucket can also be adjusted slightly, by the nuts on the adaptor. The nut adaptors allow you to adjust while wearing gloves. It can be printed in parts on a 220mm x 220mm bed. Also needs 2x M8 bolts & nuts and some small screws to hold the bucket clips and suitable bucket. For the "bucket" i have used an "Insect Lore" collapsable butterfly home that the kids had finished with (https://www.insectlore.co.uk/butterflies/live-butterfly-kits/spring-up-garden-net-only.html). I'm using the butterfly home upside down - I cut a hole in the base off the net (or you can cut the top off) but i left the top as is as its transparent so easier to see what you are doing (which is also why the picture looks like there is no base on the bucket). The bucket is attached to the clips by slotting the wire loop of the base of the net into the clips and securing with PLA rivets. [PLA rivets are made by melting a small piece of PLA with a soldering iron and pressing to form a flange and then allow to cool. place a small piece of greaseproof paper between the PLA and soldering iron to stop the plastic melting to the iron]. The net has the advantage its quite light and can be collapsed when not in use. I designed the clips to slot into the holder and are then just screwed into place, so if you want to use it with different bucket attachment you can just make suitable clip adaptor yourself and slot them in without having to redesign the whole model. You can even still use the pruner in conjunction with the bucket so if the swarm is attached to a branch should just drop in as you cut it off. Haven't tested it on a swarm yet! Update 24/06/19 - Wasn't expecting to test it quite so soon, but can confirm it worked a treat for retrieving my bees that swarmed way out of reach. If you print this you may also want to print the apple picker attachment that uses the same centre part of the holder. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3816487