using the big extractor

[bill]

well I finally got the big extractor set up in the green house, and exracted a small super. I got over a gallon of honey. but a lot of the wax got slung out of the frame, and it didn't get all the honey out. It is still better than squeezing it out. I didn't have a hot knife so I just cut off the tops with a serrated long knife. I think that made a lot of the problems with the honey coming out and the wax slinging out. The funniest thing was that I took the cappings in the house and warmed them on the stove so I could seperate the honey from the was. I put them on a low heat so as get it hot enough to seperate. Well like a dummie I forgot about it and started doing something else. I was on the tractor and my wife came out of the house and was yelling at me , so I drove up to the yard. The wax and the honey was bubbling on the stove and the whole kitchen and dining room was full of bees. Also my wife was very angry. I took the concoction out into the yard, and about half of the bees followed me. I left it there and came back in with my little 12 volt little wet dry vac. and caught the rest of them by the time I got back into the yard every bee in this part of the country was there so I put the stainless steel bown into a hive w/bottom and top. and after about thirty of vacuuming and closing the entrance I got everything calmed down except my wife who said I am going to have to put my bees at the very back of the property and build a honey house there. that is a quarter of a mile away frome the house. She has calmed down a little now. but she is allergic to insect stings and bites and they scare her. although no one was stung through all this. Never a dull moment eh? At least I have honey now. NOw I can start planning to split that hive, divide and conquer. wish me luck lol.   oh the extractor worked fine with a little bit of tinkering. Now I think I will buy all new frames if I can afford it as I can see they must be in good shape to withstand the centrifugal force and come out in good shape and I assume that a hot knife will help to save my drawn comb frome being thrown all out. feel free to comment, laugh, or advise. I did all this in the green house as it is super hot in there, and I am wondering if it was too hot for the wax to throw out like that.

[TREBOR]

well at least you have a good reason to build a honey house now!
I read some were it wasn't good to over heat honey.

[TwT]

bill when I extract mine ( I use a kitchen knife too) I put a new pair of panty-hose over my extractor valve and strain it coming out of the extractor ( you have to let the panty-hose hang about 6 inches and the honey will ball up and strain out). Take my capping inside and tilt the pan i have the capping in up on one side and just get a big spoon every now to dip out the honey and then to strain it throw panty-hose, i move the cappings around everynow and then until a get about all of it , then take the cappings in the yard and the girls clean it up good, then i got the wax, this is just what I did this year and it worked good I think, hope this helps, that was funny story though  

[Miss Chick-a-BEE]

Oh My!! LOL Some story. Hope the wife calms down. :)

Beth

[TwT]

to be honest, my wife was the one that told me about a more expensive pair that would strain it better ( smaller mesh), dont know witch one it was but worked real good  

[FordGuy]

... The wax and the honey was bubbling on the stove and the whole kitchen and dining room was full of bees. Also my wife was very angry.

I'll take the bees anyday over an angry wife.