I need some good advice for my first time harvesting honey. I have absolutely no equipment yet and would like some opinions on how to harvest (crush and strain vs. extractor) and a shopping list if I were to go with crush and strain. I have only one hive (8 frame), with one medium honey super fully drawn out and pretty quickly filling up. Yesterday I added a second medium super. I don't know if I should expect the second super to fill up by mid-September or if I'll end up needing a third super or what will happen since I'm so new to this, so I'm not sure how much I'll be harvesting. Anyway, based on what I've read here, it seems as though crush and strain would be advisable with my single hive? Can someone list all the equipment I would need for crush and strain? Would an uncapping tank work for crush and strain, or are buckets better? If I were to go with an extractor, is a hand crank model a complete pain-in-the-neck and not worth the money, so I should just invest in a motarized model? If you are a proponent of hand-cranks, which one would you recommend? I don't live too far from BetterBee and they are selling a handcrank model with a honey tank included, marketed to beginners for $330. It's appealing because I wouldn't have to pay shipping! I know one person who has used a hand crank and he hated it, but I have no idea what kind he had.
HI THERE!! I too am basically a newbie so I vividly remember the first spin!! We use a hand crank version extractor and i love it, we simply put 4 frames (for it hold 4) and then spin slow at first then faster but not too fast in order to not damage comb, then we flip them and do the other side....same way same fashion...I love it, then it comes out of the metal hand crank extractor through a valve that we then have cheesecloth over a regular kitchen strainer on top of a 5 gallon clean bucket. We filter it through the cheesecloth through 2 means (we have 2 strainers on inside the other and cheesecloth between) for we had some customers who didn't want anything "floating" in their honey when it was really pollen and some comb wax, but anyway it seemed to take care of the problem. Then we let it sit SEALED TIGHT in the 5 gallon bucket for a day or two until all air bubbles come to the top and then skim it off. After that into bottles it goes!!!!!!!!!! But YES I like my hand crank style but it is rather big and the cranking isn't that hard to do, sounds it but it really really isn't. Hope you find what is best for you, i know each has their own style and preference. Good luck to you and WELCOME to the best bee forum ever!!! Hope i helped in some small way, just an opinion of a ctrygirl in the allegheny mt ranges so NOT a professional but know there are many on here to help. Just wanted to share with another newbie!!
GOODLUCK TO YA and here's to hoping you get LOADS of honey!!
atthelake22
Thank you so much for your reply! I guess I shouldn't rule out a hand crank model then! I thought figuring out the equipment and bees would be the overwhelming part, not how to harvest the honey! So many options! Oh well, I guess I shouldn't complain. At least I'm lucky enough to have honey to harvest and get overwhelmed over! ;) If you don't mind me asking, what brand extractor do you have and where did you get it?
There are some great posts on harvesting. I prefer the crush and strain given the few number of hives I harvest. Both Michael Bush and Tillie both have great sites that address crush and strain. Tillie even has a video that has served as the basis for my routine. I cannot opine about the relative advantages of the crush and strain versus extraction, but for me, the crush seemed cheaper and simpler.
My favorite method for crush and strain is to cut the combs into a flour sack or pillow case, put it into the hamper of my cider press and I can crush and strain a medium super in about 10 minutes. The bottling some times takes a little longer. Wash down the cider press when done it it's FINI.
Pond Creek Farm mentioned Tillie's blog, which is a good resource. Here's the link:
http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/
Also, before you rush out an buy an extractor, do you know any beeks from whom you could borrow one? Sometimes beekeeping clubs have an extractor members can borrow.
Lastly, your local big box discount store will have plenty of plastic tubs you can use for uncapping (much cheaper than bee suppliers). You can get food-grade buckets for your honey at many bakeries for free (I get mine at WalMart; they get icing for cakes/doughnuts in them).
I would think that choosing between crush & strain and going the route of an extractor is dependent on your aim. If you intend to just keep a few hives(how many hives is a few is debatable) then it may not be worth the expense of an extractor even a manual one unless you are getting it real cheap. but if you plan to grow and think even semi commercial then imo an extractor is worth thinking of
To me, a small beekeeper, crush and strain is the way to go. I have 3 hives and i suppose that in time i will get a considerable amount of honey from them. ( 2 were started this year, one was a #3 package, and the other was a swarm that ended up in a tree next to my hive that i started last year :) ). I dont need to extract all my honey in an hour or two, overnight to strain it and a few hours bottling it is no problem. I guess if i got bigger and had many hives i would reconsider....but to extract a few boxes via crush and strain is no problem.
I had 3 hives produce for me so far this year. Got 360 pounds out of 9 supers. I was happy to have an extractor. I plan on more hives and plan on a bigger extractor amongst other things.
Thank you everyone! Based on your answers and watching Tillie's (why's she called Tillie when her site is called "Beekeeper Linda"? :?) video of how she does the crush and strain method, I think that's the way to go for this year and probably a few years anyway. I'm glad because I wasn't too enthusiastic about shelling out the big bucks for an extractor. I do have plastic frames so hopefully it won't be too difficult to scrape the comb off, rather than having the convenince of cutting the foundation off like she does. It looks like the only thing I'll need to buy now is a bucket with a honey gate like she has. Ahh, nothing like saving a few hundred bucks!
Tillie is Lindas last name! ;)
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QuoteTillie is Lindas last name!
Thank you! Mystery solved! 8-)