Honey Extracting
Last Updated on Sunday, 07 September 2008 21:39
For most beekeepers, the year culminates in the honey harvest. A range of equipment is needed, and most clubs lend or rent equipment to club members for a small fee. Renting a larger radial extractor makes extracting a much quicker and simpler process.
Equipment needed to extract honey
Removing honey cappings from a frame
Removing honey cappings from a frame
Frames are placed, top bar to the outer edge, in an extractor
Most radial extractors can spin clockwise, and anti-clockwise
How a radial honey extractor works
Tangential extractors are cheaper, and often hand powered. As the frame is more likely to collapse due to the sideways forces, the frame has to be spun slowly on one side, then removed from the extractor and replaced with the opposite side facing the wall of the extractor. The frame can then be spun upto full speed. Finally, the frame is lifted out, flipped and placed in again with the original side facing the extractor wall and is spun at full speed. This process is neccasary to stop too much weight of honey causing the frame to collapse, and is the main reason using a tangential extractor is much slower than a radial extractor.
Frames after extraction are still "wet" with a residue of honey. They can be returned to the hive for the bees to lick them dry.
Transferring honey from an extractor to a settling tank, with filters to remove residues of wax
Filling honey jars
Jars waiting to be filled. A range of jars, lids and labels can be purchased from beekeeping suppliers.