[UntamedConfections]

I have the same unit.

What was your liquid honey-to-seed honey ratio?
How long did you run the creamer?

I have not had to scoop out a gallon of creamed honey, but the last gallon is always the slowest. I usually do batches of 10 gallons of honey with 2 gallons of seed and I run it for 4 days. Of course, honeys are very different in viscosity and glucose/fructose content, so what works for me will not necessarily work for you.

With 12 gallons, you have a lot of head pressure while bottling the first 10 gallons. After that, I tilt the whole unit up at least 30 degrees where the creamed honey runs (slowly) towards the spout. I have had to "help" it with a spatula into the spout, but have not had to actually scoop it out.

Don't know if any of this really helps. I have had the creamer through 2 seasons now. I have 12 gallons churning as we speak.

I have the same unit.

What was your liquid honey-to-seed honey ratio?
How long did you run the creamer?

I have not had to scoop out a gallon of creamed honey, but the last gallon is always the slowest. I usually do batches of 10 gallons of honey with 2 gallons of seed and I run it for 4 days. Of course, honeys are very different in viscosity and glucose/fructose content, so what works for me will not necessarily work for you.

With 12 gallons, you have a lot of head pressure while bottling the first 10 gallons. After that, I tilt the whole unit up at least 30 degrees where the creamed honey runs (slowly) towards the spout. I have had to "help" it with a spatula into the spout, but have not had to actually scoop it out.

Don't know if any of this really helps. I have had the creamer through 2 seasons now. I have 12 gallons churning as we speak.

We are using mesquite honey with a 9:1 ratio of honey to seed. 25 gallons of honey. It ran fairly well until the last gallon. I then turned on the machine and that helped it push the honey through the gate. Have you cleaned your unit and, if so, how did you?

Thank you

 

[UntamedConfections]

If I make back-to-back runs, I do not clean the unit. However, if there is a break between runs, I do clean the unit. I do not know that it is necessary to do it, but I am concerned with larger crystals developing in the honey remnants left in the unit over time and also of moisture absorption of those honey remnants.

Cleaning it is a real pain in the ass. I place the unit beside my sink and overhang the spout into the sink. I boil about a gallon of water and pour this into the unit and close the unit up. This steams all of the interior and seems to loosen the honey. After it has steamed for a while, I take the sink spray nozzle and spray down the entire interior of the unit, making sure I get the ceiling and back portion of the unit. I flush everything out of the unit into the sink and then let it sit to dry.

Before I put it back into service, I use a heat gun and blow it into the interior of the unit as well as the exterior walls. I also make sure I put the heat gun down in the unit and thoroughly dry the ceiling of the unit. When I am done, the unit is very hot to the touch and COMPLETELY dry and ready to be reused.

I have taken the unit apart to clean, but I found the above method preferable.

Wow! Thank you. Great input. We do have a commercial kitchen and our sink has a strong spray nozzle. I was considering taking it apart, but that doesn't look fun either! I am on my second run right now, so I will tackle it with your suggestions at the end of this cycle. Thanks again.