People seem to have this fixation with extractors which blinds them to other,
more practical, methods of getting the honey from the hive to the customer.
With smaller areas of set honey found when extracting I simply scrape the comb
down to the mid rib and chuck it in with the cappings to be dealt with later.

When several combs or a whole super of set are encountered, then they merit a
bucket of their own, to be dealt with later.  In Peter's situation with
thousands of acres of oilseed rape (Canola to him) where masses of spoon bending
honey are a certainty I wouldn't bother with foundation or even frames, but
merely use laths in castellated spacers with a bead of wax starter drawn at
appropriate intervals.  The comb can then be sliced off the laths and dealt with
later.

Dealing with later means separating the honey from the wax.  Put simply, this
means bashing it about to disrupt the cell structure, then putting it GENTLY
to warm.  Blood heat should be enough.  Peter is a scientist and will have the
figures available.  The wax will float above the honey which can be run off
through a tap at the bottom of the container.  GENTLE heating shouldn't damage
the honey unduly unless prolonged.

Inevitably the wax will retain a goodly amount of honey. This can be
recovered by wrapping the wax/honey in muslin and putting it in your fruit press.
Knowleable customers may ask you to put pressed honey aside for them. It is sought
after.

There may yet be a smidgeon of honey left in the cakes of wax. Turn it into
mead.

Chris

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::