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Author Topic: First time pulling honey!  (Read 8015 times)

Moots

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First time pulling honey!
« on: August 05, 2013, 09:57:49 pm »
 As a new Beek, I took another step on the long Journey of new experiences this weekend when I pulled and extracted my first honey.  :)

All and all, I think it went well, I started in mid January with two Nucs and lost one along the way.  Since then I had added a number of swarms (some from my hives, many not), as well as a few cut outs...with a few shake outs and newspaper combines thrown in the mix along the way.  :)

Most importantly, I wanted to make sure I wasn't too aggressive in how much Honey I decided to take.  I had ten hives...The only downer of the day was I discovered that wax moths had overrun one of my hives and it was a total loss.  Of the remaining nine, I felt that three weren't strong enough to take anything from the bees.  Of the remaining six, I ended up with 264.2 pounds of honey. 

I have to give a shout-out to my friend Schawee who was nice enough, as always, to take the time to field a few phone calls and answer question throughout the weekend to help out this greenhorn.  :laugh:

Bottles ordered, labels being designed...should be interesting.  The journey continues.....


Offline bud1

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2013, 10:28:41 pm »
moot, since our old buddie got outa that hospital room. he ready fo anything to get him out even doing it over the phone
kep him busy   my job is to get him to slow down
to bee or not to bee

Offline sc-bee

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2013, 11:21:26 pm »
Congrats Moot
John 3:16

Moots

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2013, 11:38:21 pm »
Stay on him Bud, we have to get him back to full speed.  :)

Thanks, SC.....

A question about bottling...First, I strained it once through a 600 micron strainer coming out of the extractor.  I know there's no "right" answer here and everyone does it different, but I wasn't planning on any more straining, I wanted to keep it as pure and natural as possible, while avoiding bee parts and bits of wax.  Wondering what other do and what's their thoughts on this....

Second, I only have one 5 gallon bucket with a honey gate.  If I bottle out of that bucket.  When I pour another bucket into it...How long should I leave it sit for it to settle and let the air and whatever make it to the top before resuming bottling?

Offline sc-bee

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2013, 01:53:54 am »
You are right.....no right answer and I think also depends on temps and thickness of honey. I have a friend that waits one month, I bottle mine in about one - two weeks, depending on how quick I need it. I imagine some go less. Let it sit the period you wish, pour one up and inspect in good light and go from there.
I use either the 400 or 600 strainer. I have a friend that basically lets everything gravity settle except large chunks. His honey is often a little more cloudy. Someone on here recently said, they don't mind their honey having a little cloudy look because to them it advertises a raw product unlike the store junk.

A bottling tip, crack the pail lid a little for a vent
« Last Edit: August 06, 2013, 06:44:03 am by sc-bee »
John 3:16

Offline RC

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2013, 08:25:25 am »
Congratulations, Moot. I also pulled honey for the first time this year. Best honey I ever et.

Offline Carol

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2013, 05:11:25 pm »
We only have one hive and it swarmed twice so pulled a total of 8 medium frames. 3 after the first swarm and 5 after the second in case they were not strong enough to keep up with hive beetles and wax moths...didn't want to lose it all.

As you said....best tasting honey ever..!!! We just did crush and strain....and should have used 2 nice combs for comb honey....maybe next time.


Offline Kathyp

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2013, 01:07:32 am »
i strain mine once through a paint strainer as it comes out of the extractor.  as for settling, depends on how quickly i need it and who it's going to.  if it's for our use, family, or my close friend, i might put it in bottle that day so that i can give it out.  

make more buckets!
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline Joe D

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2013, 01:37:01 am »
Bet it was the best you ever had, first extraction usually is.  I goes from the extractor into a 5 gal bucket.  I put a lid on it and in a few days skim the wax pieces off.  Then I pour it in another 5 gal bucket with hole drilled in the bottom, with a 5 gal paint strainer in it, into another bucket under that one.  OK, I cut a lid so just a little of the top bucket is in the second bucket.  And it is ready to bottle.  Walmart has food grade buckets and lids, the white ones, and cheaper than most other places around here.  Good going Moots




Joe

Offline danno

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2013, 09:51:05 am »
Moots
if you buy one of these, wrap you bucket with the thermostat bulb pushed down between the bucket and pad and set at about 100, the bubbles will be gone over night and the honey will flow like water

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AQUA-QUEEN-MODEL-5000-TEMPERATURE-CONTROL-WATER-BED-HEATER-/221264539238?pt=US_Bed_and_Waterbed_Accessories&hash=item338464ee66#ht_239wt_646

Offline Palouse

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2013, 06:55:00 pm »
I ended up with 264.2 pounds of honey. 



Wow!  :th_thumbsupup:

Offline sc-bee

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2013, 09:12:40 pm »
Moots
if you buy one of these, wrap you bucket with the thermostat bulb pushed down between the bucket and pad and set at about 100, the bubbles will be gone over night and the honey will flow like water

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AQUA-QUEEN-MODEL-5000-TEMPERATURE-CONTROL-WATER-BED-HEATER-/221264539238?pt=US_Bed_and_Waterbed_Accessories&hash=item338464ee66#ht_239wt_646

I suppose it won't get hot enough to liquefy crystallized honey ?
John 3:16

Moots

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2013, 11:09:29 pm »
make more buckets!

Kathy...As always, simple, solid, logical advice...Thanks!  :)

Danno, Thanks for the waterbed heater tip...Great suggestion.  I might have to give that one a try.

Joe and Palouse, Thanks!  I was pretty please with the entire experience.

SC, Don't know if it's practical for large quantities, but someone on the forum (can't remember who) suggested placing containers of crystallized honey on your dash in your vehicle on a warm day.  I tried it earlier this week with a small container of crystallized honey...worked like a charm.  I think it's my new method of choice.  :) 

Offline sc-bee

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2013, 11:15:57 pm »
SC, Don't know if it's practical for large quantities, but someone on the forum (can't remember who) suggested placing containers of crystallized honey on your dash in your vehicle on a warm day.  I tried it earlier this week with a small container of crystallized honey...worked like a charm.  I think it's my new method of choice.  :) 

I will put them in the hatchback in the summer, don't work to good in cool weather.

I guess the pad comes with the water bed heater? Looks like a good idea and cheaper than pail heaters. I see that one is used. Wonder how often they come up for sale.
John 3:16

Offline danno

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2013, 08:15:30 am »
There are always a lot for sale on ebay.   They really do work great.  The heating pads are just the right width to match the height of a bucket and they are long enough to wrap completely around.  they can be dialed in to heat anywhere between 70 and 110.  The will liquefy crystalized buckets but you would need to do some stirring to speed up the process

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #15 on: August 08, 2013, 01:31:13 pm »
Keep in mind that water bed heaters are designed to be placed under the water mattress with the thermostat up against the mattress to control it. I have been using water beds for years and if you forget to unplug the heater before you empty the water out it can destroy it's self and anything it is touching. In other words it needs full contact with the bucket and the probe needs to be in the honey.
Jim
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Offline danno

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #16 on: August 08, 2013, 03:21:30 pm »
Keep in mind that water bed heaters are designed to be placed under the water mattress with the thermostat up against the mattress to control it. I have been using water beds for years and if you forget to unplug the heater before you empty the water out it can destroy it's self and anything it is touching. In other words it needs full contact with the bucket and the probe needs to be in the honey.
Jim
I disagree Jim.   If the unit is used as intended on a waterbed the probe is not in the water.  Its is between the heating pad and the mattress or in the case of heating honey it is put between the pad and bucket.   If you put it in the honey you would most likely overheat and darken the outside edge of it.  The heater I have I started using in 2007 and it is still working fine.   

Offline BeeMaster2

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #17 on: August 08, 2013, 05:45:36 pm »
Keep in mind that water bed heaters are designed to be placed under the water mattress with the thermostat up against the mattress to control it. I have been using water beds for years and if you forget to unplug the heater before you empty the water out it can destroy it's self and anything it is touching. In other words it needs full contact with the bucket and the probe needs to be in the honey.
Jim
I disagree Jim.   If the unit is used as intended on a waterbed the probe is not in the water.  Its is between the heating pad and the mattress or in the case of heating honey it is put between the pad and bucket.   If you put it in the honey you would most likely overheat and darken the outside edge of it.  The heater I have I started using in 2007 and it is still working fine.   


I have not tried using one of these heaters on a bucket but the instructions say to place the probe in an area away from the heater so that it is detecting the water temp. If it is between the heater and the bucket, as soon as the heater gets warm it turns off then waits until the heater cools down and then it does they same thing over and over again. That might work for honey because it would keep the temperature from ever getting hot.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

Offline sc-bee

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #18 on: August 08, 2013, 06:51:14 pm »
The heater I have I started using in 2007 and it is still working fine.   


Good enough for me - sounds like hands on  :-D
John 3:16

Offline Brian D. Bray

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Re: First time pulling honey!
« Reply #19 on: August 08, 2013, 10:52:59 pm »
My younger brother and I went together this year and bought a new 18-9 radial extractor from Mann Lake. 

You can drool now.
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