Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Perry on July 19, 2016, 08:56:28 pm
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Well, I have it set up temporarily for now in my honey shack, sump and pump and filter etc. still not hooked into the system. I will do that once I move it all into the trailer.
The vibrating jiggle knife works well I am happy to report, and it is incredibly quiet, no noisier than those massage chairs you sit in, it just hums. I can load the extractor and have another 20 frames done and waiting for the extractor to stop with plenty of time to spare. It took a bit of getting used to, I wasn't sure how hot to get it and have decided to err on the safe side and only set the temp at #3. I could probably turn it up and it would go faster but time will figure that out for me. The only trouble I had was on really soft new comb, or comb with some heavy pollen in it. The pollen would bunch up on the knife and I would plow a trough in the comb. I will learn to set those aside and scratch them.
I didn't bother even putting in the heater and using the water jacketed tank for the cappings, this is a 2 day affair and once I get the amount I need for the customer I will shut down again.
I will say this, it does a nice job on the frames, evening them out, but there is sure a lot of honey in the cappings. I'm not too concerned as I won't lose the honey, the cappings spinner reclaims all that for me.
I started at around 2:00, stopped for supper and a break for a refreshment, and finished the 17 supers around 8. I have around 450 lbs., not counting what I'll get out of the cappings, and there's a bunch in that.
A decent day. :yes:
Nice shirt in the first pic. :D
(https://s31.postimg.cc/defm1j6zb/20160719_143127.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/defm1j6zb/)
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looks like it will save you a lot of time! I like how the comb looks like it cut it right off all neat and tidy!
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Looks good Perry. Honey is yellowish--what's the floral source? Right now, ours is as clear as gin but the color will increase as we get into fall. The vast majority of our honey now is from sweet clover, yellow and white.
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Perry, you are the one that makes all this bee stuff seems so easy... but I know better :) 8)
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I want one when I grow up :yes: :yes: :yes:
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Looks really slick ....... Glad it worked well for you!
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Glad you're getting it together. Did you get your left glove too close to the blade? It looks a bit damaged.
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You get the coolest toys!
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@Perry:
Your entire set up looks "buenos knockers" to me. Dang, you do have some skills. The jiggle knife appears to work wonderfully. The honey is beautiful, and more importantly, here comes some cash flow. Let's hear it for CASH FLOW. HIP, HIP HOORAY!
lazy
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Yup, cash flow is important. I stopped selling nucs around the beginning of the month, so the cash well has been dry since then.
The honey is a light amber, not too dark, and probably has dandelion and clover mix, but I'm not sure.
Iddee, these nitrile gloves tear easily, half the time just putting them on over my baseball sized mitts tears them. They don't stop stings, but keep the hands clean of propolis.
I think I am a fan of the jiggle knife. The Maxant flail chain uncapper is priced quite high ($2375 US). The next step up would be an automatic uncapper like a silver queen, and they are just way too expensive for my needs ($6000 + CAN).
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Lordy, Lordy do I ever remember cash flow growing up on a farm and ranch operation. We sold calves twice a year, cotton once a year and in between someone would randomly want a calf or some fencing done. We had such few paydays, that when we had money we were scared to spend it because you didn't know exactly when the next cash flow was forth coming. Agriculture is a scary way to make a living. God bless all of you that are willing to take the risks and supply the rest of our much needed commodities.
lazy
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About 1/2 hour per load. As I expected with the uncapping capacity of the jiggle knife the extractor size is now what will limit the extraction capacity. A larger extractor or a second 20 frame is a easy fit into the operation, just leave room to accommodate it in the new set up in your trailer.
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You are right on Apis. I have been looking for a second Dadant 20 but they are rare up here, and the price of new is so high I would never consider it. I don't know that I really need to invest in much more, it's about time this stuff started making me money rather than me always re-investing it. So I have to wait a few minutes for the extractor, I am sure there is always something else that needs to be tended to during that time.
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Perry, very cool....if it makes life easier it is always a good thing!
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Glad you got the honey in the buckets and looks good also, I hope it wasn't to hot to do the work for around here it is miserable hot.
Ken
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Keep a look out for a 36 to 60 frame. Used they seem to go for the same price as the 20 frame Dadants do used, so you could sell the 20 frame for about what a larger extractor costs you. There seams to be more of a demand for the 20 frame extractors. the only issue is the larger extractors don't have a stand and bolt directly to the floor requiring the need for a pit to put the sump into. or build a platform to mount the extractor onto.
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To bad you and Pete didn't live a little closer to each other You could drive and make a exchange in the middle.
http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,3900.msg53461.html#msg53461