Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: bernsad on October 19, 2011, 07:50:47 am

Title: Cappings and honey.
Post by: bernsad on October 19, 2011, 07:50:47 am
Sorry for all the questions tonight.

How do people treat their cappings, do you try and recover the honey out of them or just sacrifice it to the wash?
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: west end apiary on October 19, 2011, 08:49:17 pm
just get some fly screen and a 20L bucket and some string and hang them in the bucket with the lid on and they will drain an dbingo more honey.
Nick
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: Mardak on October 20, 2011, 05:42:23 am
Waste nothing, get the honey out and keep the wax for trading. Kilos of it it can be traded/sold for new foundation or even have your wax rolled into foundation. Great feeling when you have your own wax rolled and you put it frames.
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: Johnny253 on October 20, 2011, 10:39:07 am
How do you get your own wax rolled?
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: OzBuzz on October 20, 2011, 08:39:09 pm
I find honey from the cappings tastes a little sweeter than that from the comb too - maybe it's just me
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: SRJ on October 20, 2011, 10:52:37 pm
Usually with all the wax bits, cappings and burr comb I throw it all in together and melt it all down. Honey separates from the wax, let it cool and the wax solidifies on top. Although that's only small amounts of wax, if you did more than a few hives worth you'd have to separate it while it's still liquid and get it into molds/containers.
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: Mardak on October 21, 2011, 04:56:12 am
There are few beeks around who roll the foundation. The mould is very expensive hence why only commercial types roll it. Most will trade wax for foundation. The trade will not be kilo for kilo as the beek has to make some money or profit for doing. Ring Des O'toole over at Daylesford. Nice fella to yack about it.
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: bernsad on October 21, 2011, 07:14:40 pm
Has anyone used a mesh bag that can be placed in the extractor? I've seen some available online.
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: Mardak on October 22, 2011, 01:31:56 am
Yes, they work or you can make one yourself for about $6.00
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: bernsad on October 22, 2011, 03:09:02 am
Do they work well Mardak, better than just draining through a seive?
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: Mardak on October 22, 2011, 06:14:28 am
If you have the extractor running its very easy with the mesh bag and its all over after a few hours and less to clean up. I clean the extractor after each session whereas some me mate beeks just cover theirs over for the next time.
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: bernsad on October 22, 2011, 08:39:31 am
What materials would you use to make one yourself?
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: Mardak on October 23, 2011, 04:26:28 am
I used very fine nylon mesh from Spotlight and clear sewing thread on the sewing machine. My wonderful wife simply laughed her head almost off when she seen me fiddling with the machine trying to thread it. You learn heaps about sewing machines when you know where it is kept in the house. She helped lots when I said I was saving money. She threaded the machine real easy. Showed me how to straight stitch, reverse it and how to do zig zag. I put a shoe lace drawstring at the top of the bag to keep the cappings and honey in. Spun it in the extractor and then turned it over and spun it again. Took just about all of the honey it out of the cappings. Lot less messy than the squeeze method. the room needs to be warm(not hot) to get the honey really flowing. Got the design from looking at one for sale on Ebay. You could peg it into the frame holder for added holding power when extacting.
Title: Re: Cappings and honey.
Post by: bernsad on October 24, 2011, 07:06:09 am
I didn't consider making one myself, I foolishly bought one off ebay. Maybe I'll make some if this wears out.
Cheers,
b