Beekeeper looking for making life easier

[Curly green finger's]

Sounds a faff using two jugs why not just use a bucket with a honey gate on and scales, my bucket holds two 10l buckets of honey.
I’ve tried it with jugs and what a pita

 

[Erichalfbee]

Sounds a faff using two jugs

Hobby keepers have all the time in the world.

 

[pargyle]

Sounds a faff using two jugs why not just use a bucket with a honey gate on and scales, my bucket holds two 10l buckets of honey.
I’ve tried it with jugs and what a pita

Clearly you have never tried it... but with thousands of jars to fill I assume you have a filling machine ? I've used a tub with a honey gate to fill. It's harder to judge the flow.. the plastic ones drip and you end up with drips on the scales you have to clean off and it actually takes longer for the honey to flow out if a gate than it dies out of a jug. You can judge the last few drops so that you get the jar weight spot on... with no drips on the scales.

 

[drex]

I usually use a honey gate, but recently only had honey enough for 10 jars ( remains of last years crop). I used a jug and was surprised how good it was. I will still use tank and gate for the bulk of my jarring. With a correctly adjusted gate (plastic) , I get no drips

 

[Murox]

I usually use a honey gate, but recently only had honey enough for 10 jars ( remains of last years crop). I used a jug and was surprised how good it was. I will still use tank and gate for the bulk of my jarring. With a correctly adjusted gate (plastic) , I get no drips

I get no drips as well, technique, flow rate and gate adjustment clearly matter.

 

[Newbeeneil]

The same with me. I have got pretty adept at removing practically every last drop of honey. I bought a 3 litre jug from TD (where I get my tubs from) and it pours without dripping too.

A 3L jug? Blimey Dani you must have developed biceps like Popeye if you can pour 5kg of honey accurately.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

still using a honey gate valve and never had a problem. Just a few precautions such as not bottling honey straight out of the warming cabinet (t's far too runny) and adjusting the screws on the gate. the first jar is the more fiddly one (takes a few more seconds to set up. Just pour the second, go back and put the lid/tamper free label on the first, by which time any 'drips' will have stopped with the second jar under the valve, slide that jar over whilst replacing with the next empty jar for filling and you've done a batch in no time at all.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Clearly you have never tried it... but with thousands of jars to fill I assume you have a filling machine ? I've used a tub with a honey gate to fill. It's harder to judge the flow.. the plastic ones drip and you end up with drips on the scales you have to clean off and it actually takes longer for the honey to flow out if a gate than it dies out of a jug. You can judge the last few drops so that you get the jar weight spot on... with no drips on the scales.

Thousands of jars I wish

 

[Curly green finger's]

Hobby keepers have all the time in the world.

I would say now I’m a hobbyist beek
I only have 8 retailers who are supplied all year round.
To the point of needing to buy honey in until I get my colony numbers back up.
Tbf this season from April onwards I have experience days for beginners and more experienced beeks up in shifnal Shropshire, im collaborating with one of my mentored beekeepers to run the courses

 

[Dodge]

Henry bought both types of bottling machine and reviewed them a year or two ago, after which he sold the Thorne pneumatic as the other was so much better. Post 16 here: https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/threads/thorne-jar-filling-set-up.56104/post-885997

I used this guide for my decision on the HQ machine. The other decision maker was that the more expensive bottlers from the main European manufacturers seem to use the rotating cogs system to draw honey through and not pneumatic. The other concern was the cleanliness of compressors. Compression pressing causes moisture and the concern that damp / moisture in components that can't be accessed and cleaned could cause contamination.

 

[peterleisner]

Okay - I see there's many different views on this topic here.
I think I'll close it off (from my side) with what I learned from talking to the guy developing the contraption I referred to in the beginning.

Besides for his dad (which I believe is not a good reference due to being his dad) he had two written references that had done around 500kg honey both and basically said that it will indeed help on getting the same amount in every jar and also saves a bit of time since one can get jars, label, cap etc. while the system takes care of the rest. And none had experienced any "accidents" with the system.

I know there are multiple approaches to filling, some more manual and some more professional (and expensive) and that I could do with the manual approach.

But I think I'll try it out - since it's relatively low cost, I like the approach he has taken and he convinced me that it actually works.

 

[Dodge]

Hobby keepers have all the time in the world.

Ha ha, not with a full time job too. I am fortunate that I work a 4 day week but even then with start times going from 04:20 in the morning one week to finishing at 00:30 the following week anythjng that saves me time is a great help as I am mostly tired and not quite sure what day of the week i am actually on. Faffing with just is a non started and I have left the honey gate open once too many times filling a jar to be happy with

 

[Erichalfbee]

A 3L jug? Blimey Dani you must have developed biceps like Popeye if you can pour 5kg of honey accurately.

Well I hold the jug by the handle and support it underneath. Never thought I needed to be that strong at all
I’m sure even the smallest lady can hold 5kg in two hands

 

[Erichalfbee]

I am fortunate that I work a 4 day week

I’m fortunate to be retired. I do forget sometimes.

 

[Erichalfbee]

A 3L jug? Blimey Dani you must have developed biceps like Popeye if you can pour 5kg of honey accurately.

4kg

 

[Midget Gem]

When I try and fill jars using the honey gate, the honey bulges over the top and back of the gate even if I just open the gate a bit. Could anyone explain the adjustments I need to make, please, either to the gate or my technique?

 

[drex]

If the bolt that the gate pivots on is wrongly adjusted you get leaks. It should be adjusted so that the gate opens parallel to the spout, and when closed is a good seal. You may need to keep a backwards pressure on the gate as you close it. Doing this mine no longer "overflows"

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

When I try and fill jars using the honey gate, the honey bulges over the top and back of the gate even if I just open the gate a bit. Could anyone explain the adjustments I need to make, please, either to the gate or my technique?

try tightening the 'hinge' nut and bolt on the gate a bit, and when closing the gate apply a little pressure towards the bucket on the handle so that it acts as a 'guillotine slicing through the honey - only slacken the wingnut enough so a little pressure is needed to open and close the gate.

 

[Midget Gem]

Thank you, both. I will have a go next time I am bottling.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

don't try bottling with honey straight from the warming cabinet, but wait until it cools a bit (about 30°C at a guess)