We harvested 27 frames this time, split into two batches. The first batch was new spring honey (about 22 pounds collected). The second batch was honey that has been in the hive since the fall (I'm still waiting on the filtering, so no final weight). I tried to divide up this honey because the fall honey crystalizes so quickly. Brandon and I really want to get some nice clear spring honey to use as wedding favors, so that 22 pounds is going straight in to some adorable glass jars. The fall honey we'll either sell/gift/brew or use ourselves.
Here is the honey extraction team in action:
With the new extractor, we can spin the frames much faster. Since this is a radial extractor, there is less of a risk of destroying the comb by spinning too fast. In a tangential extractor, you risk the honey on the inside of the frame pushing through the middle of the frame - destroying the comb on it's way. However the extractor can get really wobbly when we spin faster, but luckily the legs have holes drilled in the bottom so that you can bolt it down. So some of the men folk ventured to the hardware store to find a solution:
They were pretty close to solving the problem - but the screws that they got didn't quite work out. We'll probably grab some bolts before we try to harvest again.
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