Heat Mats for warming honey

[Stickyfingers]

Anyone tried using a vivarium/reptile heat matt to warm up honey buckets?

 

[breezybee]

I have used propagators. I stand the propagator floor onto a 2 inch slab of polystyrene then stand the honey bucket in the propagator. I then wrap the lot in a thick duvet. I have managed to get the temp up to 52 C. Over 2 days even OSR is fluid and crystal free.

 

[peteinwilts]

I think I read somewhere 40 degrees kills pollen....

I do not take the chance myself. I use a steady 35 degrees for as long as it takes...

 

[peteinwilts]

google gives lots of similar replys...

this one will do. 95F=35C

http://www.honeytraveler.com/types-of-honey/raw-honey/

.... unless you are planning to pasturise!

 

[Stickyfingers]

google gives lots of similar replys...

this one will do. 95F=35C

http://www.honeytraveler.com/types-of-honey/raw-honey/

.... unless you are planning to pasturise!

Interesting article. Do you fine filter then?

 

[peteinwilts]

not me personally...

I only filter with a sieve, but then I don't show my honey

 

[Arfermo]

As soon as I have extracted I put the buckets on my winemaking heated mat which allows any wax and air to rise to the surface over a couple of days and then be skimmed off. Keeps honey at about 35C which so low it cannot spoil the honey. Then I bung the bucket(s) in a cool place to crystallise until I need some. That is when I warm it to whatever temp is required depending on what I want to do - creaming etc etc. Ted Hoopers book and various other places give all the info on Bucket to Jar techniques.

 

[Finman]

Anyone tried using a vivarium/reptile heat matt to warm up honey buckets?

No one. It does not work.

You have two ways if the honey has crystallized:

1) keep in warm water bath 50 C couple of hours. If you try 40C, nothing happens.

2) put the hot air blower (heater) to blow against buckets.

If you want exctracted honey run through sieve, use wram water baths or warming cabinet
Warmed steell sieve is expencive.

For extracting honehy frames are good to heat first in warming cabinet 35C. It takes some hours with thermostat air heater,

.

 

[BBG]

Like the thermostat heater - good idea Finman, will get one..

 

[mbc]

Sounds better if you say, "meat hats for harming womey"

 

[peteinwilts]

No one. It does not work.

You have two ways if the honey has crystallized:

1) keep in warm water bath 50 C couple of hours. If you try 40C, nothing happens.

QUOTE]

I have never needed to de-crystalise **** honey, but for completely solid 'normal' crystalised honey, I use 30lb buckets and leave it in a 35-40 degree bath for as long as it takes, stiring twice a day (when possible!)

I have known it to take over a week...

 

[Finman]

.
I have used mostly this system
- 350 kg steel barrel
- warm cabinet around
- heat fanning 35C one week
And ready to put in jars. My wife is quick. She jars this amount in 4 hours.

Quality will be splended and soft.

20 kg buckets are better later. I can jar them in my city home.

 

[peteinwilts]

.
I have used mostly this system
- 350 kg steel barrel
- warm cabinet around
- heat fanning 35C one week
And ready to put in jars. My wife is quick. She jars this amount in 4 hours.

Quality will be splended and soft.

20 kg buckets are better later. I can jar them in my city home.

your wife helps!!! i'll have to show my wife this post!

 

[Hawklord]

.
I have used mostly this system
- 350 kg steel barrel
- warm cabinet around
- heat fanning 35C one week
And ready to put in jars. My wife is quick. She jars this amount in 4 hours.

Quality will be splended and soft.

20 kg buckets are better later. I can jar them in my city home.

What is your electricity cost?

 

[Chris Luck]

I do hope you make it clear to your customers that the honey has been heated to over 35°C...

and I really do wish labelling laws were stricter showing any treatments used as well...

and no, I haven't tried a heat mat. I can't imagine it would warm much.

Chris

 

[BBG]

I do hope you make it clear to your customers that the honey has been heated to over 35°C...

and I really do wish labelling laws were stricter showing any treatments used as well...

and no, I haven't tried a heat mat. I can't imagine it would warm much.

Chris

OOOOOOHH get her!!!

An old Stowed-in-the-Wolds beekeeper in the making.

Finman did say 35C, not above and I reckon he will know what he's doing.

Well done on Mrs Finman! The training does pay off!

 

[peteinwilts]

I have often wondered how many 'cook' their honey, and particularly this year, how much sugar syrup will be ending up in peoples honeypots

 

[Chris Luck]

Exactly Pete and then sell it as "a premium product".

I like my honey to stand apart from the stuff that's been precessed and I really would like labelling laws increased to cover heating, treating hives and degree of filtration.

BTW, for future reference BBG, I'm a bloke so behave yourself and mind your manners.

Chris

 

[Stickyfingers]

I can't imagine it would warm much.

Chris

I wasn't thinking of using this to deal with crystallised honey but just to warm slightly to filter better.

 

[peteinwilts]

I wasn't thinking of using this to deal with crystallised honey but just to warm slightly to filter better.

I guess it would depend on how much honey you are warming.

basically, the wattage needs to not only warm the honey, but must have sufficient power to offset the cooling effect of the ambient temperature.

This is why emmersion is more efficient as more of the surface area of the container is in contact with the warm water...