how do u guys separate your honey from the capping's? just let it drain through the sieve? i seen maxant has a capping spinner that looks affective. i was wondering how much honey is wasted by not removing it totally?
how much honey can be recovered using a spinner?
After extruding I let it sit in a holding vessel(5 gal. buckets) for a few days. The capping will rise to top and I dip most of it off, then strain out the rest.
Joe
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/5-Gallon-Strainer-and-Bottler/productinfo/365/ (http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/5-Gallon-Strainer-and-Bottler/productinfo/365/)
Uses a strainer bag that holds the cappings and let the honey drip through.
If you have under a 50 hives and had and extractor. Look at cappings bags from
Brushy Mountain. Cat. 587 and Cat. 464 3 bags for $30.00 3 metal insets $45.00 plus S&H so for about a $100.00
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Cappings-Bag-ea/productinfo/587/ (http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Cappings-Bag-ea/productinfo/587/)
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Extractor-Metal-Inserts-3/productinfo/463/ (http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Extractor-Metal-Inserts-3/productinfo/463/)
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
I got 2 5 gallon buckets. I perforated one bucket with 100+1/8 holes. I stack the perforated one inside the whole one and fill it with cappings. I put a lid on top and leave it in the bed of my truck for a few days during the summer. The honey heats up and dribbles out, the wax gets soft and compresses with a little elbow grease. After about a week, there's little left in the way of honey. I rinse out the remaining wax. I add some sugar back to the water I rinse the cappings with and feed it back to my nucs.
I'm certain the Capping's Spinner works well but with only 15 producing hives I can't justify the additional machinery yet.
I use a Dadant electric 20 frame extractor that I refurbished. I haven't seriously looked at the cappings bag as logically it would wobble like an unbalanced washing machine.