Replies

1. 
   Seth_Frankel_ | Mar 10, 2002 10:06pm | #1

   *
   Jose,

   Is this "raw and unfiltered" honey of the store variety that claims "raw and unfiltered" or is this honey that has been collected and has
   i not
   been processed by any means. Honey that is sold as raw and unfiltered is filtered, but to a lesser extent. Wax, dead bees, propolis and other stuff that is always collected in harvesting is filtered out after extraction from the frames using increasingly finer mesh sieves and filtering media. No one would purchase truly "unfiltered" honey for consuption.

   If this is honey that has not been processed you can expect 7-9 pounds of honey to produce about a pound of wax through filtration. By the way, honey should be filtered immediately after collection and is best worked with when warm.

   Once the wax and debris is removed from the honey, the wax is melted using a double boiler and not heated beyond 185 degrees F. The wax is then filtered through a cloth filter such as cotton and may be filtered as many as three times. Be very careful when melting beeswax. It is extremely flammable and the fire that may ensue is difficult to extinguish. The remaining gummy stuff (called slumgum) is very compostable.

   I suggest you get a couple of beekeeping catalogs (http://www.dadant.com and many others) and purchase materials that way. Also, the most oftenly referred to book in the area of amateur beekeeping is
   i The Beekeeper's Handbook
   by Sammataro and Avitabile, but does not extensively discuss just wax removal.

   Pour the melted wax into containers lightly coated with talcum powder for removal. Once removed, the wax needs to be stored in airtight containers. That's it.

   You can do this using inexpensive materials, but I'd look at the industry resources available to help you determine what you'll need to substitute for. Feel free to contact me is you have further questions.

   Best,
   Seth

1. 
   Jose_Prado | Mar 11, 2002 07:24am | #2

   *Thanks! Jose