In a message dated 11/04/03 05:02:05 GMT Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< P.S., Chris Slade, you asked me one time what to do with cappings to get
 the honey out. Well, I've almost got an answer, and it is relevant to this
 thread. :-) >>

Tim,

First, there is nothing one can do to improve honey quality. One can hope
only not to spoil the perfect product too much.

With drained cappings, some I use to let the bees pick over for winter feed.
Some I may wash for mead.  Some comb including cappings I have pressed in a
fruit press to get honey out but the resulting cakes of wax are so heavy that
they must contain a lot of honey still.  Some are sitting in buckets and
plastic bags waiting for me to decide what to do with them.

If I melt the wax cakes and other drained cappings I will be able to separate
the wax from the honey.  The resulting honey will have a raised level of HMF
because of the heating. I have no way of telling by how much.  If I dilute
this honey with water and use to feed to bees that need it will I end up with
extracted honey with raised HMF levels at the harvest?

Chris

PS, Tim, next time I see you I may pick your brains about siphons so be
prepared.

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