On Sun, 2 Nov 1997 08:02:37 -0600 "Excerpts from BEE-L"
<[log in to unmask]> writes:
<<<<<<Does anyone fine-filter honey direct from the extractor?  I only
have 3
hives at the moment, but my experience is that honey straight from the
extractor is too cool to run through the finish filter.  It just clogs
too quickly.>>>>>>
 
   As a hobbyist, I work with 5 gallon plastic buckets of honey, one of
which has a plastic gate valve ("honey gate" in the catalogs) screwed
into a hole cut in the bottom of the side.
 
   I let the honey settle a few days like Sid mentioned, and then pour it
into this gated bucket, which is then set on the edge of the kitchen
counter.  I then allow the honey to run from the valve through new pair
of woman's (washed) pantyhose (with one leg turned into the other to
provide two layers) into another clean bucket on the floor.  It's quick
and easy, and it provides plenty of surface area for straining, so the
honey need not be heated.  It also saves the floating wax bits to the
end, so they don't clog anything.  It also provides a surface for the
honey to run down, so it doesn't introduce air bubbles from falling honey
 
   I have done five 5-gallon buckets into one pair of pantyhose.  When
the last is drained out enough, it's a simple job to hold the pantyhose
and it's wax cappings under the kitchen faucet to wash out the excess
stickiness and leave nice clean cappings for candles, etc.  Learned this
from an old beekeeper friend who is now keeping the Lord's bees.
 
   To minimize the amount of cappings, try melting them off with a hot
air gun.  A friend showed me this this year, and it worked slick!  When
the honey was right up against the caps, it took more heat, (or the
cappings fork,) but it went very fast without much loose cappings.  Just
be careful where the cells are not filled or capped as the heat will melt
the comb down some.  Nothing the beeses couldn't repair, I'm sure.