Honey from th solar wax melter

[SlickMick]

Is the honey that drains from cappings etc in the solar wax melter ok to use/sell given its being subjected to temperatures high enough to melt the wax?

Mick

[homer]

I don't think you'd want to sell it as "raw" but there isn't a thing wrong with it.  Lots of honey that is sold in stores is processed at a high temp to extend the shelf life before it crystallizes.

[mgmoore7]

Don't sell it but you could feed it back to the bees. 

[Grandma_DOG]

Don't sell it but you could feed it back to the bees. 

Ditto.

You should have enough honey for everyone, this second rate honey should be saved for the bees.

[gaucho10]

I believe that any honey that is heated to a high temperature looses its enzymes.  Enzymes affect bee health as well as humans.  My solar wax melter popped the thermometer last year at its max. temp of 120 deg. F.  I had to throw the thermometer away.  I don't know at what temperature the enzymes get destroyed but I know that when I touch the melted wax in the solar wax melter my fingers burn...Ouch! :shock:   Good honey produces healthy bees.  Burnt honey probably does not.  Any honey I remove from cappings/melter I use for personal consumption, cooking, etc.  I do not feed back to the bees nor do I sell or give away.

[Finski]

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Honey in solar melter has an awfull taste. It is better give sugar to bees if they need.

I stopped use the solar melter because honey and rubbish  have diseases and bees have often opportunity to lick the stuff.

AFB nees 130C temp and spores will remain alive in sun melter.

[Robo]

Heating honey raises the level of HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural) which is toxic to bees.

[gaucho10]

Finski,

I know what you mean by the bad taste but I think there is a reason for that.  If you take cappings from recently made wax you won't get that bad taste even if you run it through a solar wax melter.  The honey will still taste similar to "store bought honey".  BUT if you melt dark wax from an old frame or from a cutout the taste will be deffinitely odd.  I think that this has to do with the leftover cocoons, brood, etc. which affect the taste of any remaining honey.

[Finski]

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I bought this one to take off the rest honey from cappings.
It will pay itself back soon.

In Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/5-5-LITRE-WINE-FRUIT-PRESS/dp/B001CLSZYO



Or in US

160 $

[gaucho10]

Looks like you can use that to press some grapes and make wine!!!!! :-D :evil:

[USC Beeman in TN]

Just feed the honey/cappings mixture back to the bees.  I do it in an open area away from the hives to prevent robbing.  My mentor told me about this.  They will clean up the cappings to the point that all that is left is the wax.  There will be like only 30% left of what you put out for the bees.  It will not be sticky.  Just very clean wax waiting to be melted down.

[Cindi]

Brian Bray uses a cider press to get his honey out, all of it out, not sure if he still does, but I know that it is a powerful tool, if it can press the juice out of apples, picture what it can do to a honeycomb, smiling.  Beautiful days, love and live, with health.  Cindi