Double stainer in 5-gal bucket

[Ronnie Elliott]

I have a 5-gal bucket of honey comb. I was thinking about putting the comb with the honey in the wife's nylon stocking, and hand crushing, and squeezing. I was then going to let the honey strain through the double stainless screen filter from Dadant. Do I have the right idea on capturing the honey in the bottling 5-gal bucket? My only concerns are that my hands will give out with my arthritis. I have a 9-frame electric radial.

[Michael Bush]

I would make a bucket strainer because it will hold a lot of comb. Take one five gallon bucket and a drill and dril a lot of holes in the bottom of the bucket. I try to stay a couple of inches in from the edge. I use a 1/2" drill but it doesn't really matter as long as it's big enough to let the honey through without clogging up. Then cut a circle out of a bucket lid with about an inch left all the way around to hold the bucket. Then you put this lid on top of a regular bucket and the bucket with the holes on top of that. Youc can put whatever you like for a filter. Nylon, cheescloth, nylon screen door screen, whatever. Then crush all the comb into the top bucket (the one with the holes). I try to make the comb into little balls with my hands. Once it's all crushed I like to leave it to drain at least overnight. The volume of combs and the need to drain long enough to get most of the honey are why I use a double bucket for this.

[power napper]

Right now we have a four gallon bucket draining just like MB suggests, only I use my "lover girls" (wifes) old handled potatoe smasher that has a handle with zig zaggy rods on the bottom, it crushes the comb honey easily then pour crushed honey and wax into panty hose and set in the top bucket with the drain holes, let gravity do its thing. We sold too much honey and with the baking season for Christmas it was the only way to get some more honey.
I am envious of your 9 frame radial electric extractor East Texas Pine rooter.

[Aspera]

Its pretty obvious, but don't forget to warm the comb up to 90 degrees farenheit or so. It makes a big difference (its kind of theurapeutic to crush warm comb and watch the honey drip).

[power napper]

You are right with that Aspera, we just place the pot of crushed comb in the oven overnight with the oven light turned on for the heat source, in the morning it is warm and ready to pour into the strainer.

[Robert Hawkins]

PN, The potatoe masher seems like just another object to clean afterwards. Gotta wash you hands anyway. Any need to use the masher? Is it more efficient or something?

Thanks MB. I was going to ask you to post the instructions for your double bucket. Now for the limerick...

Hawk

[power napper]

RH, don't know if the masher is any more efficient or not, just know that it works and also know that my hands were not covered with my "precious and scarce" honey. I just spotted the masher in the drawer and decided to try it, works like a champ as long at the pan or container has a flat bottom so the masher makes good contact. People with sore or arthritic hands have trouble squeezing things and this method might just help to make it a bit easier.