Instructions
Instructions on using the Extractor and Knife are available. Users should also supply a large cloth to catch removed capping in the upper tray. A fork or equivalent tool is useful to remove capping from some cells. A Nitrile cloth is used between the sieves to remove smaller particles from the honey draining from the extractor.
Drain honey from the extractor after a maximum of 8 frames have been spun out.
Equipment should be thoroughly cleaned with cold high pressure water. The extractor cage can be removed by undoing the 2 HEX nuts and lifting it out. Do not remove the gate valve.
After cleaning and re-assembly check it spins freely by hand.
Extracting Honey
It is good to extract homey in warm conditions, it makes uncapping easier and honey flows better.
The knife is eased down the frame and then can be eased up the frame using the other edge as it is hot also. A swing action is sometimes useful. Avoid digging into the cells, just remove the cappings.
The extractor spins ACW so frames should have the bottom bar vertical and facing the spin direction. Spin with moderate speed to avoid frame damage then rotate the frames and repeat.
If there are less than 4 frames to spin then insert a dummy piece of timber, about 1.5kg, to help with rotation balance. When all frames are cleaned return them to your hive, do not leave outside as it may encourage robber bees.
Honey drums can stand for several days to allow flotsam to rise. A piece of glad warp across the honey at the top can be used to lift flotsam away (basically wax & pollen bits). Bottle the honey and clean up the drums.
To minimize air bubbles in honey pour slowly down the side of the bottle and fill generously to reduce hydroscopic effects, tighten the lid also. Honey going candy is normal, gentle heating at 48C will return it to a liquid state.
