Separating honey from capping

[forestbee]

Separating honey from capping

Since I am done with bees out side I started to think about the equipment which I will need next summer, one thing I really need some idea about it is the honey separator, I red about the capping dryer but I think this will be to much for our operation (about 15 hive next summer and thinking to go to between 40 to 60 range in the next three years), also I saw this capping melter http://www.fwjones.com/extra2.html which I like about it is it seem to separate all the honey from the wax but it is still a little to big for our operation also to expensive for us to start with.

So I am wondering if there is any other way to separate the honey and melt the wax? I am planning to use the honey I get from the separation as cooking honey and/or feed.

Any thought will be so much appreciated.

Regards, http://www.geocities.com/cn448/

[Ian]

I bought an old wax spinner last year for $200 Canadian. Works like a charm, don't know how I managed without it. Before the spinner, I let the capping drip for a few days through a screen bottom box. Takes forever and leaves alot of honey. The capping spinner has paid for itself this year three times over this year.

Ian

[hoosierhiver]

the old fashioned way is to squeeze them through pantyhose.i've been told an old crockpot works well for melting wax,after it's melted unplug it and let it solidify,then turn it back on just long enough to melt the wax along the edges and you can dump out the wax cake.

[dickm]

I took a couple of frames and covered them with #8 wire. Then I put the cappings inside the contraptions and spun them in the extractor. This invention was a total dud.
This year I simply put the cappings above a grate in a plastic box. I put the box in a honey warmer I built and let them drain. Then I put the cappings in some panty hose and hosed them off with hot water. This particular product is fairly clean and content to wait while I decide on how to melt them. I'll put them in a double boiler and the wax will go through the stockings while the junk remains inside. I don't think there will be enough honey in the water to worry about. I'd hate to have to do this with 50 hives in a good year but it works for small people.

Dickm

[Russ]

If you use an old crockpot to melt your wax, try putting a little water in with the wax. When it melts the wax will float on the water and when it cools it will pull away from the sides and can be removed.