Brushy Mountian Bee Farm

[Rob-bee]

I received my order from Brushy Mt today. And one of the supers was broken. I called them and they said “another one is on the way sorry for the damage”. Do you want me to send the other one back I asked, No that’s okay we will send you another don’t worry about it. I have ordered 98% of my supplies from them and my bees also, and they have been great people to deal with. I would recommend them to anyone. Just my 2 cents worth.

[Branman]

I can't say enough good stuff about those two. I buy from them when they come to all the local GA shows.

[Sourwood]

I have had good dealings with them also. As a matter of fact, I ordered a 3# package of bees through them that came from Wilbanks of Georgia. They are my best hive by far. Already I am supering them for surplus honey!

I recommend Brushy Mountain as well.

[Rob]

Rob-bee,
If you can't fish,don't get in the boat.

If you don't get in the boat,how will you learn to fish.

[Branman]

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

[Ribster]

My only problem with brushy Mtn. is their hobbyist smoker. The one I ordered a couple of years ago never stayed lit and required constant attention.

The bellows went out in a year and a half. My dadant smoker that I had for the 6 years before that still works on its last leg.

The diversity in products among suppliers is nice, but I hate having to order from 4 companies to get everything I want, but you can't have everything.

[artic]

From what I can tell they seem to be a worthwhile company, with good pricing and inventory, but for whatever reason I can't get them to send me a catalog. I've requested one several times, I even received a e-mail stating that it would be on its way, yet I still have no catalog. If I can't even manage to get a print catalog to look through and pour over I'm hesitant to make an order when they can't/won't do that right.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

I ditto the good company sentiments. What I really like is the diversity of products they carry that others don't.

I had a minor problem once that they took care of in a heartbeat and a smile.

[Konrad]

This is just good business practice....customers come first!
The word goes around.
Have bought a few seedlings from a Nursery, the plants look like they are all dead and Nursery is not willing to replace them...but at the end it hurts them!

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fruit/msg042247162138.html?14

[TwT]

I have only bought from Mannlakes & BetterBee and very pleased with both and would recommend both.

[chemistbert]

I wont's recommend Mann Lake but will do business with BetterBee and Brushy Mountain again. And Dadant too, I've yet to have a problem with Dadant but fell confident they would fix it.

[athiker]

I have been to Brushy Mountain a couple of times and order most of my equipment from them. I have been lucky enough to meet both Steve and Martha. Can't say enough about them, or their operation. Just quality people.

[Doug Reineke]

I too have nothing but praise for Brushy Mountain. I have been buying from them for a number of years.

Robert, you can download and print their catalog from their web site, < http://www.beeequipment.com/ >. Once you've ordered from them you will get catalogs, never fear.

[WG Bee Farm]

I had two of the hobbyist bottling strainer bucket set ups from Brushy Mountain. The plastic thumb holders at the bottleing valve broke on both of them, one on night and the other the next night-with honey in them. I called BM and they told me they would send them to me. I waited and called back, waited & never received them. I changed these out to SS bolts. At the last NC meeting I mentioned this to Martha and was told she would send them to me when they got back to the shop. I have not received them, yet. Its been a loonngg time. My SS bolts work fine. I'm not waiting on BM. I still buy some items from them but only for convenience. Most everything I get from Mann Lake or BetterBee.

[Michael Bush]

I buy a lot from Brushy Mt. They are my only supply for Italian hive tools and all sorts of eight frame eqiupment.

[Rooster4473]

I like brushy mtn. I have bought a ton of 8 frame equiptment from them. They forgot to ship a feeder once and I called and got it the next week.

I also really like Mann Lake, escecially thier on line catalog, it has nice pictures, pictures really help out the beginner.

[Lew Best]

WG wrote:

"I had two of the hobbyist bottling strainer bucket set ups from Brushy Mountain"

What is your overall opinion of this strainer? I need something for final straining & it certainly looks interesting. Maybe I just don't know how to properly search for something to filter/strain with but I haven't found anything else? Anyone have another type/brand to recommend?

Thanks!

Lew

[Jim Fischer]

> What is your overall opinion of this strainer?

I made one of these gizmos long ago, and I may
have been one of the first people to scrap the
bags (we used nylon stockings back then) and
convert to "paint strainer" type filters.

The "bag" approach simply does not strain to
a fine enough level for my taste. They also
have a habit of filling up with honey, and
pulling out of the "rubber band" that holds
them in place.

The "paint strainer" type of filter is compatible
with the same bucket system, and comes in various
mesh sizes from 600 micron to 250 micron.

One can buy them from multiple places, including
bee supply houses.
http://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=421&osCsid=7bf5bb9b0be5c87b23c6758d43b1c9d6

While the "bags" have higher capacity than the
"paint strainers", one can adjust the gate opening
from one's extractor tank to get a flow rate that
does not overflow the paint strainer.

A wise beekeeper would put a colander atop any
stainer assembly to catch the "big stuff".

With a warm day, and enough 5-gallon buckets,
one really does not need a sump, a pump, or
any heating at all to get near show-quality
honey with the 200-250 micron strainers.

Are they "food grade"? Well, they are just as
"food grade" as nylon stockings, the bags sold
by bee supply houses, and so on. smile.gif

[Lew Best]

Thanks Jim

That strainer looks good & price definitely right! I'm guessing that 600 micron is a larger mesh than 200-250 (apparently that's the size particle allowed to come through?) so do I search for an insert or something to get it to the finer filtration (maybe something made on the order of a paper coffee filter)?

I really hate being so ignorant on this subject; producing quality honey is as important as proper management of the girls!

Lew

[Lew Best]

oops! Just did the catalog search & found they offer it in 200, 400, & 600 sizes.

Lew

[BULLSEYE BILL]

I have two sets of them. I will put the metal coarse strainer on top of the three stacked with the finest on bottom. When one set plugs up, and they do, I switch out with the other set and wash out the pluged set.

If I am starting out with fairly clean honey I will just use the 600 by itself.

[Dick Allen]

I've dealt with all the suppliers mentioned. They're all good IMO. When they do ok, they generally don't get any attaboys for their efforts. Remember, it only takes one "Aw-Sh*t!" to wipe out about 10 attaboys. If they haven't received any attaboys to begin with, then they're screwed.....

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Oops, I meant 200, the finest one.

[WG Bee Farm]

Lew,
I just got back in. I would always dble the filter socks that I ran the honey through. Go to a paint store and you can purchase several different mesh grades for straining the honey.
Mike is right about the bands slipping, but adustable strapping can be used to prevent this.
Use warm honey +/- 95 deg. and your process will go along faster.
Frank