Bee question

Hammer · #1 08/06/05, 09:16 PM

I wondered if there is a way to get honey out of hive without an extractor and all the tools the pros use. I guess that the boxes that the bees are in are called supers and they have the five trays or what ever they are called. I wondered if I did remove the comb from those, if I have to put trays back in with the man made wax combs back or just the empty tray [as I call it]
to keep the bees making more honey.

Hammer · #2 08/06/05, 09:41 PM

I just scrolled down and seen a section for bee questions and I have been coming here for nearly 2 years.

Judy in IN · #3 08/06/05, 10:38 PM

Hammer,

You don't have to have an extractor. You can take a fork and scratch the cappings ( the cover of the cells) off and lay the frame of honey over a cake pan on a warm day. The honey will drip down into the cake pan. Then turn and repeat with the other side.

If you have a regular deep super, you should have 10 frames--not five. Methinks you may have a nuc there....

If you want to be able to pull the frames back out again after you give them back to the bees, leave the wax foundation in them. The bees will refill the cells. The bees will build foundation in MANY configurations without the straight foundation for a pattern. This may make it impossible to remove the frames from the hive easily.

Good luck with your bees! I hope you enjoy the bee forum.

Beeman · #4 08/07/05, 06:53 AM

Do not do any of this outside? You will be covered in bees in a matter of minutes.

**Terri** · #5 08/07/05, 07:37 AM

I never thought of letting them drip over a cake pan: I have been scraping the combs over the kitchen strainer. (I use plastic foundation with a wax coating on it)

Every pound of wax you crush will cost you 7 pounds of honey. IF you have a BUNCH of frames it adds up, but with just a couple of hives I decided to put off buying an extractor.

Hammer · #6 08/07/05, 09:06 AM

Thanks ya all. There may be 10 frames to each hive. We have not opened them up yet. Some one left 2 hives at my friend's place and we wanted to try and get the honey but not disturb the bees too much.

Judy in IN · #7 08/07/05, 09:31 AM

I would just lightly scratch the cappings off the top of the cells.....just enough so the honey can drip out. Try not to destroy the sides of the cells. I had an uncapping knife, but found that I prefer using a fork.

I do have a 4 frame manual extractor that I've had for years. That thing over the cake pan will work for a few frames, but is time consuming.

But, if you're not into bees, or not sure you want to be, it wouldn't make sense to invest in all the equipment. You can buy a package of kneehigh panty hose to strain your honey through after you've got it. That will take care of the little bits of wax.

GOOD LUCK! I hope you get bit by the beekeeping bug and decide to maintain your new hives.

**Terri** · #8 08/07/05, 09:57 AM

You WILL want a source of smoke.

The first time I opened a hive I built a little fire in a large aluminum bowl, and I blew the smoke it. It worked, but i would recomend a proper smoker because you can direct the direction of the smoke.

As for a veil, you need one. Of course, at K-Mart or whatever you CAN buy a net that goes over your head to keep the mosquitos off: I suspect it would keep the bees off of your face as well. You do not need a sting on your face, eyes ears, etc.

Wear light colored clothes. Most bee predators are black or dark brown, and they are calmer if you do not look like a bear. Bears are dark and smash and grab: Be light-colored and gentle and you will not have much trouble.

I do not wear a bee suit, I just wear old (slightly faded) jeans and I often pull my socks over the cuffs. That prevents a lost bee from climbing up. That has never happened to me even if I DON'T pull my socks over my cuffs, but I have HEARD that it can happen!

Do you know those plastic gloves they sell for washing dishes? Those work fairly well for bee gloves, and only cost $2 or so. They are sold at every grocery store. That is what I usually wear. I have SEEN bees try to sting those gloves, but I only felt one pin prick, one time, over the past 2 years.

If you move rather slowly, and use smoke, and wear light colored clothes the bees will usually not try to sting. Usually. But use a net or a veil to protect your eyes, you cannot afford a rare occurance there.

In our climate, 2 boxes are for the bees, and anything else you may have. Here in zone 5, that much is needed for winter feed. The AWKWARD part is that sometimes the bees fill the top boxes while the lkower boxes are empty.

If the comb is 80% capped, it is ready to be taken. Anything less than that, it will be too thin and not keep without spoiling. Honey that is ready does not spoil.

Oh, yes. Bees glue things down. You will need something to pry with. When I cannot find my hive tool I use a large scredriver. A hive tool is better, though.

mary,tx · #9 08/09/05, 10:11 PM

Check to see if there are any bee keepers in the area. They may let you use their equipment and share some advice at the same time. Check with your state bee keepers association for a local club as well as your extention agent.
Dale (DH of Mary, TX)

Mid Tn Mama · #10 08/10/05, 01:39 PM

Paint scrapers make good hive tools.