My hive absconded in December and all that honey that I left for them is now available. I have not been successful in finding someone with an extractor, so would appreciate any tips on how to extract. I don't want to destroy the comb.
The only thing I can think of is let gravity do the work by finding a clean plastic tub, placing the uncapped frame over it, and letting the honey just drip out into the tub. I have about 25 frames so this process would take a while but it's the only thing I can think of. Any thoughts?
Well keeping the comb messes with that.
I suppose you could uncapp, and let the frame sit UPSIDE down....the cells have a slight downward tilt.
You will not get but 50% at the most. Good way to attract bees after the fact, they will clean it up, even if you dont' have a hive....others will find it.
I've uncapped and waited for it to drain. It never did. Crush and strain will destroy the comb, but that's about all there is that actually works...
Quote from: KPF on January 21, 2016, 07:42:23 AM
The only thing I can think of is let gravity do the work by finding a clean plastic tub, placing the uncapped frame over it, and letting the honey just drip out into the tub. I have about 25 frames so this process would take a while but it's the only thing I can think of. Any thoughts?
It worked for me my first year.
http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/acebird1/Extractor/P1030990.jpg
What I did wrong was not flip the box over. I was new to the hobby and I didn't know the bees constructed the comb at a 13 degree angle
If the honeycombs are foundation-based (the wax of which is usually a little harder than natural wax) then these videos might be relevant:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuO_BdmvJsg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oYYoY8Z4bM
As you can see, the combs aren't 'destroyed' exactly, just taken right back to the foundation.
There must be other relevant videos on Youtube, might be worth searching there ?
LJ
The second video has got to be plastic and in both cases you are doing away with the comb. I don't think that is what the OP was after.