extracting by mashing?

[rober]

I posted asking how to extract loose pieces of comb & was advised to mash it. I have a couple of snow days & would like to get this done. I'm guessing you'd put it in a bowl & mash it with a heavy fork or potato masher & then strain it thru a colander. any other tips or advise?

[Steel Tiger]

 I extracted an entire medium by crash and strain. I used my hands (wearing nitrile gloves) to crush all the comb then poured everything into a sanitized bucket with holes drilled in the bottom and cheesecloth and let to strain for a couple days into another bucket. After I bottled all the honey I could, I put the buckets into the backyard and the bees cleaned them.

[Michael Bush]

Now isn't when I would usually be harvesting.  Where did the "loose pieces of comb" come from in February in MO?

But yes, just crush them and strain them through whatever.  If you have a lot to do I would make a double bucket strainer.  If it's only a little a colander will work fine.  The honey will have to be warm before it will run...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesharvest.htm#crushandstrain

[iddee]

http://online-efile.rhcloud.com/files/lindas-bees-honey-harvest-crush-and-strain/

Linda did a good job demo'ing it here.

[rober]

Michael
the comb came from a late fall removal. I combined those bees with another hive. this comb has been in the freezer.
iddee
thanks for the link

[biggraham610]

I used a potato masher in a pot, then poured it into a colander lined with cheesecloth set in a deep pot. Couple days covered in the rafters and got a very clean product. G

[rober]

before I actually mashed anything I uncapped the honey & put the comb in a colander over a 3 gallon bucket. I set a halogen work light about 18" away to warm but not overheat anything. i'll let gravity do it's thing for a couple of days. after that i'll mash it & strain.

[Cedar Hill]

     Often wonder about the water content of the honey that results from crush and strain.   Honey is very hydroscopic, it grabs water from the air quicker than most other such liquids.   Leaving honey exposed to the air for a couple of days would greatly affect its water content in my area - coast of Mass.   Here, the sooner the raw honey is in a sealed container, the better.   OMTCW

[Joe D]

You can also watch Kirk Anderson (kirko beeo) on you tube, Backwards beekeeping.  He has several videos and one is on crush and strain.

I use the 5 gal bucket with a paint strainer to remove the capping coming out of the extractor. 
Good luck to you and your bees.



Joe

[jayj200]

got an extractor?

a cheese cloth bag tied inside may speed up the operation.

we did last year the crush and strain. that was for a full honey super.

my slaves mutinied. I am just say en. it is less of a mess to clean up the extractor then counters floors Walls pots pans fingers (the best part)

wife doesn't like it when I nip

[mwe22114]

Hey how about this http://www.honeyflow.com/, promises to to remove the need for honey extractors altogether.

[Maggiesdad]

How about that.

But I like getting hunny

EVERWHERE!

[sc-bee]

Stay away from cheesecloth. If you get small particles of lint in the honey it may speed up crystallization.

[biggraham610]

Stay away from cheesecloth. If you get small particles of lint in the honey it may speed up crystallization.

What do you use. I used cheesecloth last year and I cant beg mine to start crystalizing. Poplar sumac and clover mostly if that matters. G