A question about cut comb foundation....

Started by mysticantiques, May 12, 2010, 03:40:47 PM

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mysticantiques

May 12, 2010, 03:40:47 PM
I recently went from having 3 colonies to suddenly having 6. I did not have equipment prepared to handle a doubling in the number of colonies I have. (I'm really new at this and I didn't actually expect to be this successful really hadn't expected the bees to make it through the winter. I felt like a bungling, inept newbee, and still do!)
Included with the hives I'd inherited were 2 boxes of cut comb foundation. So being a really cheap sort of person, I installed the cut comb foundation into 30 frames. I took 3 frames of honey from each of the original 3 hives I had, replaced it with cut comb foundation frames and put the honey frames into the new hives, 3 each, with 7 frames of cut comb foundation.
So my question is, has anyone had experience with putting cut comb into an extractor? Will the velocity of the extractor destroy the comb? Will I be able to reuse it for honey again? Should I expect it will make one heck of a mess and resign myself to figuring out what to do with so much cut comb honey, (and break down and buy some foundation I can reuse)? What about putting frames in with mounted popsicle sticks and having them make their own comb? Having read it takes 17-20 pounds of honey to make one pound of wax, I wonder if having them make their own foundation is something I should try only one or 2 frames at a time.
I welcome any and all thoughts on this!
Janet
"When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof. The process of applying the precautionary principle must be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially affected parties. It must also involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, including no action." Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle, Jan. 1998

G3farms

#1
May 12, 2010, 05:08:11 PM
You can extract honey with cut comb foundation, just go slow and easy with the extractor.

If you are bottling honey use the cut comb in some of the bottles, light honey makes it look really good. You would be surprised at the people that will buy it just for the looks.

G3
those hot bees will have you steppin and a fetchin like your heads on fire and your keister is a catchin!!!

Bees will be bees and do as they please!

riverrat

#2
May 12, 2010, 09:08:26 PM
the key to extracting is start with a real slow rpm in the extractor and slowly build up speed as the frames become lighter. i rarely blow out frames but regardless sooner or later it will happen ive extracted foundationless frames with no problem but remember it is the starting speed that is the key to success
never take the top off a hive on a day that you wouldn't want the roof taken off your house

mysticantiques

#3
May 12, 2010, 09:44:56 PM
Great idea G3! I''l give it a try!
Thanks so much, guys. I will definitely go slow! I really want to conserve these frames so I don't have to invest any more money until I start bringing a little in... :-\
"When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof. The process of applying the precautionary principle must be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially affected parties. It must also involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, including no action." Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle, Jan. 1998

riverrat

#4
May 12, 2010, 10:00:26 PM
Quote from: mysticantiques on May 12, 2010, 09:44:56 PM
Great idea G3! I''l give it a try!
Thanks so much, guys. I will definitely go slow! I really want to conserve these frames so I don't have to invest any more money until I start bringing a little in... :-\

bringing in money? with bees? now thats a concept i cant hardly hold on to :-D
never take the top off a hive on a day that you wouldn't want the roof taken off your house

pondman

#5
May 12, 2010, 10:11:24 PM
Well just had to had my 2 cents worth....I like cut comb honey I sell more of that the I do pure honey. Not that i don't sale pure honey it's just I get more people wanting the cut comb for so reason. Good luck an have fun.
James

iddee

#6
May 12, 2010, 11:34:33 PM
All good info, but don't forget crush & strain. It's always another option, especially with the ones you blow out while learning.
"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me . . . Anything can happen, child. Anything can be"

*Shel Silverstein*
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