Smoke gun (Varomor) for treating bees with your own hands: drawings, how to prepare solutions

Content

1 What is a smoke gun Varomor
2 How the smoke cannon works
3 How to make a Varomor smoke cannon with your own hands
4 Instructions for use of the Varomor smoke gun
5 Causes of malfunction of the Varomor smoke gun and the possibility of eliminating them
6 Safety precautions when working with the device
7 Conclusion

A smoke cannon for treating bees with your own hands is assembled from a gas canister and several car parts. The Varomor device helps the beekeeper fumigate hives and perform medical procedures for bees. If you can’t assemble a smoke cannon yourself, the product can always be found in a beekeeping store.

What is a smoke gun Varomor

According to the instructions in beekeeping, a smoke cannon is used to fumigate hives against mites. The Varomor device is equipped with a container into which the medicine is filled. During heating, the evaporation of the solution is irritating to the bees. Insects in the stage of aggression accelerate their movement, causing the ticks to independently boil away from their body.

Important! The use of “Varomor” with a solution of thymol or oxalic acid does not affect the production of environmentally friendly honey and other beekeeping products.

How the smoke cannon works

Before you understand the principle of operation, you need to study the Varomora device. The smoke cannon consists of the following components:

container for pouring the treatment solution;
container lid;
pump for pumping medicinal solution;
pump control handle;
liquid dosage adjusting screw;
filter unit for medicinal solution;
gas-filled cylinder;
balloon fixation ring;
gas supply and adjustment valve;
burner;
nozzle;
ignition trigger that activates the piezoelectric element.

The weight of “Varomor” is about 2 kg. Dimensions: length – 470 mm, height – 300 mm, width – 150 mm. The productivity of a correctly configured device reaches 100 hives in 2-3 hours. The probability of tick extermination is on average 99%.

The smoke cannon has undergone modernization throughout its existence. Improvements to the Varomor device helped achieve stable operation, economical gas consumption, and improved evaporation of the medicinal solution.

The work “Varomor” resembles a mixture of a spray gun and a blowtorch:

the tank is filled with a medicinal solution;
turn to the left to open the gas tap;
when the trigger of the smoke gun is pressed, gas enters the burner, and at the same time the piezoelectric element produces a spark;
after the flame appears, allow the burner to warm up for 1-2 minutes;
use a tap to regulate the flame, which should not fly beyond the smoke gun burner;
the supply of the medicinal solution begins by smoothly releasing the drive handle pulled all the way;
the dispenser delivers about 1 cm onto the hot Varomora burner³ medicinal solution;
upon contact with hot metal, the liquid turns into steam and exits through the nozzle.

Having adjusted the optimal steam generation, the smoke gun nozzle is inserted into the hive entrance to a depth of 3 cm. Depending on the medicine used, the bees are given 2-5 puffs of steam.

How to make a Varomor smoke cannon with your own hands

If you have a couple of suitable spare parts from a car at home, you can assemble a smoke cannon with your own hands in the form of a nozzle on a gas canister. Difficulties may arise due to the need for turning work.

In the video there is a smoke cannon for bees:

Collection and preparation of components

A homemade smoke cannon for treating bees is assembled from the following elements:

durable plastic container with a sealed lid for medicinal solution;
homemade or factory-made gas heating pad;
automobile spare parts (fuel pump, brake pipe, spark arrester casing);
nozzles, set of hardware;
gas can.

Some parts can be found in the garage or bought in a store. Turners will have to be contacted to fit the parts of the smoke gun and cut the threads.

DIY drawing for assembling the Varomor smoke cannon

A good smoke cannon for bees is assembled with an Atex burner. The element is easily attached and removed due to the clamping screws. To disconnect the burner, loosen the bolt on the flange and tank. The element is rotated 90^O, after which it is easily detached.

The coil is bent from a copper tube with a diameter of 6 mm. The thickness of its walls is at least 3 mm. The inner diameter of the tube is also 3 mm. Due to the thick walls made of heat-intensive metal, the smoke gun coil heats up quickly, but takes longer to cool down.

Important! The use of thick-walled copper tube reduces gas consumption.

The optimal dimensions of a homemade burner are 70x35 mm.The outer casing is bent from a stainless steel sheet. A flange and plug of the burner are provided with a side of about 5 mm for ease of assembly of the structure. After connecting the parts, holes are drilled in the casing with a diameter and a pitch of 6 mm from each other. A handle is welded to the flange. The second end of the copper tube is arbitrarily pressed with a clamp to the gas cylinder. The nozzle on the sprayer is made with a diameter of 15 mm. The part is turned on a lathe or the nozzle is removed from a household gas stove.

Assembling a smoke cannon for processing bees

The smoke cannon for processing bees is assembled according to the instructions in the following order:

Connect the gas cylinder to the burner. Threads are cut on the copper tube and fittings are screwed on. Seal the threaded connection with FUM tape.
The tube is shaped into a spiral of five turns. The outer diameter of the workpiece is 10 mm less than the thickness of the spark arrester flask. The spiral is placed inside the cola towards the end for better heating. A nozzle from a household gas stove is screwed onto the end of the tube.
The spark arrestor flask is perforated. A strip with a hole for securing the copper tube is welded at the front. A coupling is attached to the back of the flask for connection to the burner. After assembly, the edge of the burner should extend 10 mm beyond the flange. The workpieces are connected by welding. You can drill holes on the flange and tighten them with bolts.
Install a plastic container for the solution. A spray gun flask with a capacity of 200 mm is suitable.

After assembling all the elements, the supply of solution by the fuel pump is calibrated. A hole is drilled in the center of the foot and a screw is inserted. A solution is injected into the nozzle, the flow is adjusted to 1 cm³ liquids.

The video shows the assembly principle of “Varomor”:

Instructions for use of the Varomor smoke gun

In the Varomor store-bought smoke gun, the instructions clearly reflect the rules of use when fumigating a family of bees. Assembly is carried out outdoors, since the product requires the use of a gas cylinder. The process involves a number of steps:

slowly unscrew the pressure ring from the gas cartridge;
turn the gas valve to the right;
the cylinder with its working side is inserted into the connecting seat of the burner;
The pressure ring is tightened along the thread until the needle pierces the clogged mouth of the can.

If Varomor is free of defects, gas leakage will not occur. After the bees are fumigated, the used cylinder is sent for disposal. It cannot be refilled. For the next fumigation of bees, a new cylinder is purchased for the smoke cannon.

How to prepare solutions for a smoke gun

Prepare a solution for the Varomor smoke gun from medications and solvents according to the instructions.

Solution for bees No. 1

Ethyl alcohol with oxalic acid is heated to 50 ^OC. It is optimal to give preference to a water bath. After dissolving the dry substance, thymol is added. The proportions are taken in the ratio 100 ml: 15 g: 15 g, respectively.

Solution for bees No. 2

The second solution for a smoke gun involves mixing purified kerosene with a medicine: “Bipin”, “Tactic”. The finished liquid should turn white. The proportions are taken in the ratio 100 ml: 5 g, respectively.

Solution for bees No. 3

The drug “Tau-fluvanylate” is added to the water and heated to a temperature of 50 ^OC. It is optimal to use a water bath. The drug should completely dissolve. The proportions are taken in the ratio of 100 ml to 5 ml, respectively.

A solution for bees prepared according to any recipe is filtered so that the remaining crystals do not clog the pump and smoke cannon channels. The liquid is poured into the Varomora tank and the bees are fumigated.

How to achieve abundant smoke emission from the Varomor smoke gun

The intensity of the formation of puffs of smoke from Varomor depends on proper use. Before fumigating the bees, the smoke gun must warm up for at least 2 minutes. When the Varomora burner is hot, the solution is supplied using the pump handle. One stroke of the handle supplies 1 cm into the system³ liquids. To increase the portion of smoke, again press the Voramor handle towards you until it stops and move it forward.

Treating bees with a smoke gun

Treatment of bees with a smoke gun occurs in the following sequence:

Unscrew the filler tank cap on the Varomor. Pour filtered medicinal solution for bees. The lid is returned to its place. Check that there is no fluid leakage.
By turning the tap handle to the left, open the gas cylinder. By pressing the trigger, the igniter is ignited. The combustion of the smoke gun is regulated so that the flame does not fly beyond the burner.
“Varomor” is heated for at least 2 minutes. With experience, the smoke cannon's readiness for operation is determined intuitively.
After heating, the pump handle pumps the healing solution for bees into the system. With one stroke of the handle, 1 cm will move³ liquids. When thick steam comes out of the smoke gun nozzle, begin fumigating the bees.
The Varomora spout is inserted into the hive through the entrance to a depth of 3 cm. When using solution for bees No. 1, 4 to 5 puffs of steam are released. If solutions for bees No. 2 or No. 3 are used, make 1-2 smoke injections.
Upon completion of fumigation of the bees, the gas valve of the smoke cannon is closed.

Advice! It is not advisable to use solution for bees No. 1 if there is a young queen in the hive, or at temperatures above + 30 ^OWITH.

Bees are fumigated 45 days before the first pumping of honey, as well as 7 days after the final pumping of the season. If there is brood of bees in the hive, 4 fumigations are carried out every three days. In autumn, bees are fumigated with a smoke cannon at a temperature of +2-8 ^OWITH.

Causes of malfunction of the Varomor smoke gun and the possibility of eliminating them

If there is little smoke from the Varomor smoke gun, then it can be assumed that the pump or supply channels are clogged. This type of breakdown is most common when an unfiltered bee solution is poured. Siltation with solid deposits occurs when washing the Varomora system after fumigation of bees is ignored.

Cleaning the channels and pump of the smoke cannon is difficult. Flushing the Varomora system with kerosene after each bee treatment helps prevent breakdowns.

Safety precautions when working with the device

“Varomor” is considered a conditionally dangerous device due to the use of a gas cylinder. However, if the operating rules are followed, the device will not cause harm to the beekeeper and the environment:

“Varomor” should not be ignited near explosive and flammable substances;
the smoke gun must not be subjected to mechanical stress, otherwise gas or medicinal solution will leak due to damage;
during the fumigation process you cannot eat, smoke, drink;
The respiratory system is protected with a respirator during bee processing;
store the smoke cannon in a utility room with the gas cylinder removed.

During maintenance, the user is allowed to use kerosene for the smoke gun and clean the system with it. The dispenser filter must be washed separately.When using solution for bees No. 1, flush the system with vinegar, dissolving 1 tbsp. l. acid in 100 ml of clean water. No other disassembly can be carried out. All components of the smoke gun are sealed. Violation of the seal will lead to bad consequences. Qualified repairs are performed only by service specialists.

Conclusion

A smoke cannon for processing bees with your own hands can be assembled by any turning specialist. However, homemade does not guarantee safe operation. “Varomor” is better to purchase a factory version. Smoke cannons are tested and are completely safe.