Extracting oil seed rape honey

[nicholaskeene]

Just extracted a couple of frames of osr honey. A couple of issues.. hand driven, 2 frame extractor extracted almost the complete frame twice, leaving a latge wired hole in the middle. Honey seems a bit thin and on some frames alot of honey failed to extract. Any advice?

 

[enrico]

Just extracted a couple of frames of osr honey. A couple of issues.. hand driven, 2 frame extractor extracted almost the complete frame twice, leaving a latge wired hole in the middle. Honey seems a bit thin and on some frames alot of honey failed to extract. Any advice?

You need to spin slower and turn regularly. Keep frames as warm as possible after removal from hive and extract as soon as you can. Give any frames that have crystallised honey in back to the bees in a way they will ingest it for a second time. E.g. above a crown board with a hole in. After the second digestion it doesn't set as hard in my experience. Buy a cheap eBay honey refractometer and test the thinner honey. If it has a high water content it may ferment.

 

[Ian123]

Not really ….osr will set in the frames and even when you extract as the flowers are going over, there’s often still some that’s set. I’m afraid your only real option is to give the frames back once you’ve extracted all you can.

 

[ericbeaumont]

wired hole in the middle

Too fast, too soon.

75% slow, 20 % faster, 5 % very fast. When you've done a few boxes you'll look for an electric conversion.

Honey seems a bit thin

As Enrico said, it may ferment. Before that happens (above 19% is risky) blend with another honey at 16. If you don't have other honey, sell it as Bakers' Honey; I get £21/kg in London.

Main job is to get it out of the combs and into a bucket asap. It'll set like concrete but can be liquified in a warming cabinet.

a lot of honey failed to extract

Yes, it's on the way to concrete. If you put it above a crownboard, pray for a June gap, because then bees will clear it. If the flow continues, they'll add to it.