Honey Extractor – How It Works
The capacity of a honey extractor depends
on the number of frames a container can hold. The smallest capacity is a
two-frame extractor, while a large commercial one is able to hold more than
hundred frames. The small ones are suitable for the hobbyist, where you the
option to use a manual or an electric powered one.
Depending on how the frames are placed in
the container, the type of an extractor can be divided into a tangential and
radial extractor. A tangential extractor allows the honey comb to be placed
with one side of the frame facing outwards, while the radial extractor allows the
frames to be placed with the top bar facing outwards.
The radial type provides you with an
advantage where you can reduce the amount of extraction work. You do not need
to turn over the frames to extract the other side, since all the honey goes
outwards already and can be directly tapped or pumped out.
After placing the honey into the
honeycombs, the bees naturally cap the frames to keep the honey as storage.
Thus the initial step of the extraction process is breaking and removing all
the caps before the frames are placed in the honey extractor.
The uncapping task can be done with the
help of an automated uncapper, but you can do it manually using a knife that is
heated prior to cutting of the caps. The uncappings, which are the removed
small pieces of wax, are actually rich in honey which needs to be drained by
the means of a little heating.
While the automated uncapping machine works
by grinding the wax surface using moving chains or prickles, but it is a bit cluttered
compared to the manual uncapping. But on the other hand it needs lesser work.
Prior to uncapping, several hobbyist or noncommercial beekeepers separate and
keep the propolis by scraping it manually.
Those uncapped frames will be placed in the
container of the honey extractor. Be sure that all the frames are placed
properly to the right direction. You should place the comb a little upward to
avoid the honey flowing out and then let it spin. The yield of the honey still
contains small pieces of wax hence you need to filter it through a strainer to
obtain the clear honey.
After extraction you will find a thin film
of honey left on the frames which should be removed and put back in the hives.
Putting this left over back into the hives should be done in the early morning
or late evening which is the time where the bees will take this treat
aggressively. Avoid doing this when food is scarce, since other foraging bees
from another nearby colony will rob the honey.
To assure hygiene, it
is recommended to perform honey extraction in a special room, with an adequate
temperature to allow a smooth honey flow with all the required tools and equipment
ready in place. Seal the room securely to minimize the possibility of honey
robbing by other foraging bees or insects.
