Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1875 — Honey Extractor. [ARTICLE]

Honey Extractor.

As we have occasional inquiries for plain directions how to make a cheap honey extractor, we give the following, which, if well made, will answer the purpose very well in warm weather, while the honey is thin; but in cold weather, and in throwing out old, thick honey, we by all means recommend the more perfect machines, of which there are many of about equal merit now before the public, ranging in price from $12.00 to SIB.OO, according to finish, and with careful usage will last for many years. The machine consists of an outer case, with a revolving frame within, having two sides covered with wire cloth, through which the honey passes from the comb on the inside and against the wire case, being thrown out by centrifugal force. By the use of this machine combs may be emptied and returned to the hive, saving much time to the bees in <knnb-building. increasing the honey collected during the rich honey harvests, besides often affording empty cells for the queen when the colony would otherwise be greatly weak-

ened, as a surplus of honey often occupies room that should be devoted to breeding. Sealed brood is not injtu*ed, but youqg larvae and honey uncapped will soon quit the cells when the machine is once in motion. Hence comb with uncapped brood should not be taken, and unsealed honey must be uncapped. By using a knife with a bent shank, like a brick-mason’s trowel, but shorter, and dipping it frequently in boiling water, to prevent the edge clogging, two cards of comb can be uncapped and emptied clean and dry in five minutes, and returned uninjured to the hive. The honey is clear, and the flavor unimpaired, even when taken from old dark combs partly filled with bee bread, which -would injure both flavor and e cojor if the honey were ex traded by heating or pressure. The honey put up in self-sealing glass fruit jars, .aside from mere show, is more preferable for table use than comb honey. The size and depth of both the inner and outer case will depend upon the size of frame to be used. The outer case is made water-tight; a tub or part of a barrel may be Used, and only needs to be large enough to allow the inner case to revolve without contact. The upright shaft sets in an auger hole in a cross piece at the bottom, and passes through a hole in a stem across the top of the outer case. The ends and bottom of the inner cases are made of boards about ten inches wide, with a strip from corner to corner on each edge of end pieces at top and bottom, on which to nail the wire cloth. The strip in the center through which the shaft passes is about four inches wide, leaving room each side to insert and remove combs. When constructed without gearing, a tenon is made on the upper end of the shaft, to fit in a mortise in a horizontal piece of wood projecting eight or ten inches, with an upright handle near the outer end. The wire cloth should be coarse and tinned, leaving about one-fourth of an inch meshes. Use the extractor where bees will not be attracted and their robbing propensities developed. — Bee-Keepers' Magazine.