> you can salvage the honey by scooping it > into a pair of panty hose or a paint strainer (available from > commercial painting stores, get the 5 gallon size) and wring the > mess out. The honey will be fine. That's good advice. I've been thinking about how many bees are in the mess. If there aren't too many, the main problem will be the wax. I've wondered about using a solar melter -- possibly jury-rigged for temporary use, seeing as it seems you have already started on the melting route, albeit accidently. This will avoid mashing the bees and allow the honey and wax to run off quietly. Another possibility is to put it into pails and place it in an oven or warming oven if your stove has one at a temperature around 200 degrees F -- warm enough to melt everything and cool enough not to melt the plastic pail. The wax will form a skin on top, and the bees and honey will be in layers below. I used this before I set up an old fridge with light bulbs for the job. If you time things right, the honey shouldn't be overheated (much). My main reservation is the number of bees. A few won't matter, but a large number might affect the honey -- even if they are candied, since wringing might cause the entire mashed bee to become part of the recovered honey. Good luck. Regards Allen W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper VE6CFK RR#1, Swalwell, Alberta Canada T0M 1Y0 Internet:[log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask] Honey. Bees, & Art <http://www.internode.net/~allend/>