Shake Test HaHa

[Millet]

To any new bees out there the shake test for honey supers is a stone age joke..
I pulled three supers of today most of which where uncapped.. the shake test was done getting rid of the bees from the comb and nothing dripped out.

NOT one single drop of honey/nectar dropped from the frames when shaking the bees from them so i brought them home for extraction.

I checked each side of every uncapped frame and they ranged from 16% to 24% ..
So any new bees out there ignore the shake test as it is dog ***** advice.. a Refractometer is the way forward..

 

[Hachi]

To any new bees out there the shake test for honey supers is a stone age joke..
I pulled three supers of today most of which where uncapped.. the shake test was done getting rid of the bees from the comb and nothing dripped out.

NOT one single drop of honey/nectar dropped from the frames when shaking the bees from them so i brought them home for extraction.

I checked each side of every uncapped frame and they ranged from 16% to 24% ..
So any new bees out there ignore the shake test as it is dog ***** advice.. a Refractometer is the way forward..

Agreed I lost several hundred pounds of honey a few years back following this utter ***** advice.

 

[Ian123]

To any new bees out there the shake test for honey supers is a stone age joke..
I pulled three supers of today most of which where uncapped.. the shake test was done getting rid of the bees from the comb and nothing dripped out.

NOT one single drop of honey/nectar dropped from the frames when shaking the bees from them so i brought them home for extraction.

I checked each side of every uncapped frame and they ranged from 16% to 24% ..
So any new bees out there ignore the shake test as it is dog ***** advice.. a Refractometer is the way forward..

Should I point out that gives you an average of 20%

 

[enrico]

And also the shake test should be done with the face of the comb downwards, not the same way you shake bees off. Face down, one hard shake!
E

 

[Millet]

And also the shake test should be done with the face of the comb downwards, not the same way you shake bees off. Face down, one hard shake!
E

I did that also on the fully uncapped frames..

 

[Eyeman]

And also the shake test should be done with the face of the comb downwards, not the same way you shake bees off. Face down, one hard shake!
E

Never had a problem and I check all my honey buckets before they go into storage with a refractometer.
If you only get some nectar out after a hard shake then it's still probably OK
It's when it comes out after a limp wristed shake that I would be most worried.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Never had a problem with using the shake test - good rough and ready check before clearing the supers down and taking home for double checking with the refractometer, nine times out of ten, the shake test was correct.
Doesn't work with heather though ripe or not!
I'd rather take my advice from someone with a bit more knowledge and experience of the job.

 

[For want of a better word]

Never had a problem with using the shake test - good rough and ready check before clearing the supers down and taking home for double checking with the refractometer, nine times out of ten, the shake test was correct.
Doesn't work with heather though ripe or not!
I'd rather take my advice from someone with a bit more knowledge and experience of the job.

Refractometers are fine if correctly calibrated... but as an at the hive check the shake test works fine.
Elsewhere was advice to check the extracted honey in buckets from the top as more liquid honey ( Higher water content) will be on top.

Grandfather would let his honey rest and mature in a honey ripener.. we ripen in buckets for some time ( up to 2 years!)...

but there seems to be a new less experienced cohort of beekeepers who bottle direct from the centrifuge... quicker turnaround for the communal extracting lot I suppose..... wonder how much of their honey will ferment?

 

[Murox]

Refractometers are fine if correctly calibrated... but as an at the hive check the shake test works fine.
Elsewhere was advice to check the extracted honey in buckets from the top as more liquid honey ( Higher water content) will be on top.

Grandfather would let his honey rest and mature in a honey ripener.. we ripen in buckets for some time ( up to 2 years!)...

but there seems to be a new less experienced cohort of beekeepers who bottle direct from the centrifuge... quicker turnaround for the communal extracting lot I suppose..... wonder how much of their honey will ferment?

That is exactly how my Grandfather did it in the 50's and 60's before reflectometers were so cheaply available.

 

[Millet]

That is exactly how my Grandfather did it in the 50's and 60's before reflectometers were so cheaply available.

I wonder how much honey was over the permitted moisture content back in the day before refractometers.

 

[Hachi]

Well I done it just like the old masters on here described above and done it this year and both times , the water percentage too high.

My refractometer is calibrated thanks, its an easy job.

Funnily enough when I've relied on my refractometer (correctly calibrated) I've never had a problem so I know what method I'll be sticking with.

 

[user 6228]

To any new bees out there the shake test for honey supers is a stone age joke..
I pulled three supers of today most of which where uncapped.. the shake test was done getting rid of the bees from the comb and nothing dripped out.

NOT one single drop of honey/nectar dropped from the frames when shaking the bees from them so i brought them home for extraction.

I checked each side of every uncapped frame and they ranged from 16% to 24% ..
So any new bees out there ignore the shake test as it is dog ***** advice.. a Refractometer is the way forward..

%? water content or sugar content?

if thats water content then thats actually ok as its the extraction batch average that counts

 

[Millet]

%? water content or sugar content?

if thats water content then thats actually ok as its the extraction batch average that counts

I have a 30lb bucket of the stuff from past extractions with a moisture content of 23%... i will make sure i do not make the same mistake again..

 

[Beefriendly]

There are rare occasional times when even capped honey is not legal.
Has happened to me twice, the latest was this year at the start of the good summer and towards the end of the OSR flow.
Was 2 or 3 supers that looked a bit runny when uncapped (all were either fully to 60% capped frames). Didn't think anything of it but buckets were 22/23% with refractometer after extraction (and yes Olly it was properly calibrated). Found another use for my heated creamer with stirring paddle.

Happened on the heather a few moons ago. I was checking the capped stuff before doing cut comb and it was 25% water content.

The only common denominator was excellent weather and an excellent flow of nectar. Makes me think that large double brood workforces "rush their jobs" at these times.