Any opinions on honey jar filling

[Garry R]

Have been looking at honey jar filling rather than using the tried, tested but sticky honey gate and came across these and wondered if anyone had used or have experience of them, Not a huge production each year so not in the market for anything industrial but would be good not to have to tip buckets at a ridiculous angle etc etc . Here are a couple I came across and would welcome any comments on these - not necessarily the exact models but in the same vein. Thanks in advance



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Filling-Ma...ef-8410-38825cd8adcd&pd_rd_i=B0D2TVYWDG&psc=1


or


https://www.oldcastlefarmhives.com/product/manual-honey-filler/?v=79cba1185463#

 

[Newbeeneil]

Have been looking at honey jar filling rather than using the tried, tested but sticky honey gate and came across these and wondered if anyone had used or have experience of them, Not a huge production each year so not in the market for anything industrial but would be good not to have to tip buckets at a ridiculous angle etc etc . Here are a couple I came across and would welcome any comments on these - not necessarily the exact models but in the same vein. Thanks in advance



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Filling-Ma...ef-8410-38825cd8adcd&pd_rd_i=B0D2TVYWDG&psc=1


or


https://www.oldcastlefarmhives.com/product/manual-honey-filler/?v=79cba1185463#

I have a gravity fed system that Thornes and Maisemore sell which is equivalent to the first example but from what @ericbeaumont says the pump version is superior
@Moobee is selling a manual machine at the moment

 

[Nannysbees]

What a worthwhile thread I'm looking forward to the comments.i like the first link!!

 

[Sutty]

Very tempting!
I'd be interested in hearing how quickly the 1st one pumps.
Edit; I see max rate of 3.2l/minute for water, which would be about 5 seconds to fill a 340g jar. I expect honey will be quite a bit slower, though better if warm.

 

[pargyle]

I was looking at these a few years back after a big order and lots of contuous filling. However, for my crop and the fact that I usually jar up in relatively small batches, two good drip-free jugs and a decent digital scale, I decided, was probably the quickest and easiest clean up option. I think I would invest in one if I expanded my beekeeping to a size where I was filling dozens of jars regularly.

Having said that I liked this one on Amazon ..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Viscous-Filling-Automatic-Weighing/dp/B0BWH692CG

It is stainless and has a brass pump - rather than the plastic ones on a lot of these machines. They have gone up dramatically in price - when I was looking previously they were less than £300 !!

 

[Sutty]

I was looking at these a few years back after a big order and lots of contuous filling. However, for my crop and the fact that I usually jar up in relatively small batches, two good drip-free jugs and a decent digital scale, I decided, was probably the quickest and easiest clean up option. I think I would invest in one if I expanded my beekeeping to a size where I was filling dozens of jars regularly.

Having said that I liked this one on Amazon ..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Viscous-Filling-Automatic-Weighing/dp/B0BWH692CG

It is stainless and has a brass pump - rather than the plastic ones on a lot of these machines. They have gone up dramatically in price - when I was looking previously they were less than £300 !!

15 l/min so much faster.
Not convinced a brass pump is best for acidic fluids though.

 

[Sutty]

This one is interesting as it's a peristaltic pump so no honey would be in a part you couldn't see - good for cleanup.
No details on fill rate though.

Honey Bottle Filling Machine, Viscous Liquid Filling Machine, Bottle Filling Weighing Filling Machine for Sesame Paste, Paste Filling Machine Shampoo Filling Machine https://amzn.eu/d/0Idw4QN

Edit: found the flow rate - 1.2 l/min, not great.

 

[pargyle]

15 l/min so much faster.
Not convinced a brass pump is best for acidic fluids though.

I think for the short time the honey would be in contact with the brass components I would not worry too much. Honey is 3.9 on the pH scale when 7.0 is considered neutral so nor that reactive. I've never done a litmus test on honey but I suspect it would take a while to turn red.

 

[drex]

Sulphuric acid pH is 1-3 depending on concentration. I would not leave honey in contact with reactive metals for any length of time as pargyle suggests above. OK if cleaned up well after use I expect

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

one way of keeping your brasses shiny

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Sulphuric acid pH is 1-3 depending on concentration. I would not leave honey in contact with reactive metals for any length of time as pargyle suggests above. OK if cleaned up well after use I expect

Traditional jam pans were always brass with an iron handle. Boiling fruit and sugar in the brass pans was often a longish job. I aren't aware of significant effects on the jam eaters. (Me included as a child)

 

[Moobee]

Have been looking at honey jar filling rather than using the tried, tested but sticky honey gate and came across these and wondered if anyone had used or have experience of them, Not a huge production each year so not in the market for anything industrial but would be good not to have to tip buckets at a ridiculous angle etc etc . Here are a couple I came across and would welcome any comments on these - not necessarily the exact models but in the same vein. Thanks in advance



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Filling-Ma...ef-8410-38825cd8adcd&pd_rd_i=B0D2TVYWDG&psc=1


or


https://www.oldcastlefarmhives.com/product/manual-honey-filler/?v=79cba1185463#

I'm selling the Old Castle Farm Hives one if interested although postage might be a bit prohibitive....
Haven't actually used it as it was an impulse purchase and it's a bit big for what I actually need. Still in it's original box.

 

[Garry R]

I'm selling the Old Castle Farm Hives one if interested although postage might be a bit prohibitive....
Haven't actually used it as it was an impulse purchase and it's a bit big for what I actually need. Still in it's original box.

I would be interested - can you give an idea of how much you want for it? Also are you happy to arrange a courier

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ooo I like the look of the manual one
It’s almost not too expensive

 

[pargyle]

Ooo I like the look of the manual one
It’s almost not too expensive

Ive blown my beekeeping budget for the next two years ... I either need to increase my colonies and sell more honey or .... not sure what the alternative is !

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ive blown my beekeeping budget for the next two years ... I either need to increase my colonies and sell more honey or .... not sure what the alternative is !

I used to think that but it’s a hobby and I indulge it. I just don’t buy new clothes, go abroad on expensive holidays and grow a lot of my own food.
I probably spend more than I should on books.

 

[ericbeaumont]

the pump version is superior

'Thorne jar filling set up' https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/threads/thorne-jar-filling-set-up.56104/

Post 16, in which Henry of Becontree Bees reviews of the options.