Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Jen on May 26, 2014, 01:31:55 am

Title: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Jen on May 26, 2014, 01:31:55 am
 I was given this small amount of honey today and would like to extract the honey without using the excludor

Any input ? :)
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Perry on May 26, 2014, 06:54:17 am
I assume you meant extractor?
Crush and strain, or uncap and let sit for days hoping it will drip out?
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: iddee on May 26, 2014, 07:34:00 am
Linda says it well......

http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2007/06/honey-harvest-crush-and-strain.html
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: tbonekel on May 26, 2014, 08:40:14 am
I did some crush and strain on some comb from a cutout a few weeks ago. It worked great! I used my hands to crush and didn't have a strainer so I used some cheesecloth.
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: jb63 on May 26, 2014, 12:16:44 pm
Before I learned how to use the inter-web I used a double boiler and heated the honey until the the wax melted.Then I poured it thru a sieve into quart jars and let it cool down with the lid off.The wax floated to the top then I put the lid on.I didn't know any better but it seemed to work ok.The only problem I could see is getting it too hot,or having moisture condense and raise the moisture level so it would ferment.Has any one else tried this?     
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Jen on May 26, 2014, 02:08:32 pm
Perry- ""I assume you meant extractor?
Crush and strain, or uncap and let sit for days hoping it will drip out?""

    Oops! Yah extractor  :) One of these years I might even get to used an extractor  ;D
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Garden Hive on May 26, 2014, 02:26:24 pm
and Queen Extruders :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: barry42001 on May 26, 2014, 02:37:45 pm
Jen, check Amazon.com couple of extractor under $250.00

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: riverbee on May 26, 2014, 02:48:53 pm
and Queen Extruders :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

that's okay jen, us keeps knew your lingo....... :D
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Bakersdozen on May 26, 2014, 03:24:52 pm
I did some crush and strain on some comb from a cutout a few weeks ago. It worked great! I used my hands to crush and didn't have a strainer so I used some cheesecloth.
I would never use cheesecloth for straining honey.  Bits of fiber gets mixed into the honey.
Before I learned how to use the inter-web I used a double boiler and heated the honey until the the wax melted.   
I never heat my honey either.  I prefer it as close to natural as possible.  If I have some crystallization, I will slowly heat the bottle in a water bath on the stove.
I would crush and strain.  Strain the honey/wax through several layers of mesh.  I use several wire mess colanders.
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: G3farms on May 26, 2014, 03:58:29 pm
Nylon curtain sheers work great for straining honey and can be had at any walmart.

Panty hose works good too, new of course.

As said cheese cloth will leave bits of fiber in your honey, a beginners mistake when taking honey to be judged at the fair.
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: iddee on May 26, 2014, 04:00:40 pm
Paint strainer bags work great, and are cheap and reusable.
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Jen on May 26, 2014, 11:05:34 pm
Thanks guys! That gives me a good start.

Baker "I would crush and strain.  Strain the honey/wax through several layers of mesh.  I use several wire mess colanders."

     Yes, a friend of mine suggested a colander today, think I'll hunt one up in town tomorrow ~

G3- "Panty hose works good too, new of course."

      Brilliant! Knee Hights would be perfect for this small batch of comb. So I would insert comb into the panty hose and crush with my hands, and then let the honey drain out?
     
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Slowmodem on May 26, 2014, 11:12:55 pm
Here's my first attempt at crush and strain:

http://gregsbees.blogspot.com/2012/05/sour-dilemma-with-sweet-solution.html

The honey was great, but G is right about the cheesecloth.
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Zweefer on May 26, 2014, 11:16:27 pm
would something like this work?
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/nylon-straining-bag-10-x-23-fine-mesh.html
I have several on hand for grapes etc. when i make wine
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Jen on May 26, 2014, 11:46:32 pm
Very Nice! All of the suggestions and links are great!

For now I'm going to use what I have on hand so I can get this batch off of the dining room table.

I would like to spare the wax, so should i put it into a zippy/freezer and then strain the wax later?

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs10.postimg.cc%2Fsao7qughx%2FDSCF9698.jpg&hash=ed6bc4fb12d74b084e34a1d87b462c36a9bbb4b7) (http://postimg.cc/image/sao7qughx/)
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: riverbee on May 27, 2014, 12:03:40 am
yep jen, throw the wax into a ziploc in the freezer...... ;)
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Jen on May 27, 2014, 12:07:31 am
Okee Dokee  ;D
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Jen on May 27, 2014, 12:23:33 pm
I learned last night, that with the crush and strain method, you don't want to crush even one capped brood cell, especially a drone cell, into your draining honey. It makes the honey cloudy and definately smell different. Glad I learned this on someone elses honey before my own honey ~ eeeww
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: riverbee on May 27, 2014, 12:27:48 pm
.................LOL!!! aw, a little protein never hurt anyone!!!.....ok jen now i get to snark........ :D

Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: apisbees on May 27, 2014, 03:13:18 pm
would something like this work?
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/nylon-straining-bag-10-x-23-fine-mesh.html
I have several on hand for grapes etc. when i make wine
This bag is quite fine and will plug up quickly as a secondary strainer it would work but put the honey in a paint strainer bag 5 gallon first to get the large partials
Title: Re: Extracting honey without an extractor
Post by: Beeracuda on May 27, 2014, 05:09:03 pm
I did crush and strain last year.  I used a paint strainer for a 5 gallon bucket I picked up at Home Depot.  I let it drip fro a couple of days and it worked well.  :)