Barrel Heater- Dealing with Crystalized Honey
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- Опубліковано 20 січ 2023
- Dealing with crystalized honey can be a chore, dealing with it in the barrel/ drum can become a bigger chore. In this video I'm trying out some inexpensive band heaters to see if they fit the bill.
Absolutely awesome result. We love good tryers.
3 tips. Put a piece of insulation on the floor under the drum.
Wrap the drum in insulation over the top of the band heater.
Put the bottom band as close to the bottom of barrel as possible. Heat rises.
I've been using the 5 gal version of those and have been pleased, especially since each one is about 100 bucks cheaper than the bee supply bucket heaters. I initially set mine at 40c since I think that's about 104ish F. I was checking with my temp probe and I had that temperature spike as well, the pad was hitting the high 140s F before the thermostat cycled off. My honey never exceeded 100, but my temperature probe also couldn't reach the bottom of the bucket where the band was. Next time I use it I'll put the band at the top, at least for a little while, so I can see how hot the honey gets right next to it. Thanks for the videos, I always enjoy your insights.
Good Job Gus! Great video and thanks for sharing! Take care
You are right about the buckets getting upthere in price, doesn't make sense for a plastic bucket to cost more than $5 but that's me lol, Looks like the heat bans working great. Someone I know uses them and he spoke of the heat spike and he said if you start at a lower temp then slowly bring the temp up it will be less of a high spike. Great video Gus
Good tip
Great video Gus
Beeconomics, like everything in beekeeping has its trade offs. Thanks Gus.👍
I’m moving to drums next year. I’m done with buckets and you’re right they are way too expensive. Good video!
I have my drums on roller dollies and i looked at my honey a few days ago and much to my surprise it is still liquid in my unheated lean to. i have had the same honey in bottles granulate this winter sitting in the floor in my home. i am thinking that having the drums off the floor in those dollies helps prevent granulation due to elimination cold convection from the cold concrete floor. With them sitting directly on the floor the cold temperature of the concrete continuously convects into the barrels and the honey whereas the air gap off the floor elimanates this.
Hey ROUGHNECK Whered an ole Tool Pusher ever find Barrell Heaters! Awesome! God Bless!!! And No People! Roughnecks are what we are! It Just Means We Have Worked Drill Rigs!!!!! Term Of Endearment to guys like us! Not That Gus is like me! Mabe Im Like Him! haha!
I bought one of their smaller ones, for use on a 5 gallon bucket. It's really meant for a drum, so the tapered sides of the bucket leave it a little loose on the bottom. I've used it a couple of times, so far, to make the honey warm enough to put in jars. Like Gus says, it spikes in temp, cycling on and off, but I didn't get any burnt honey or signs of damage to the buckets. So far, so good, for me
Hey Bubby! Both us Hillbillies Done crystalization Videos at same time Lol! Wana Know a secret? MC Donalds Throws away 1 and 2 gallon pickle buckets every day! They have to pay for trash haul and will give the buckets to you! Exact same 1 and 2 gallon buckets we use. just gotta drill the hole n get a plug! God Bless you and your Bees!!!
Yeah I just seen your video!
@@gusmitchellcranesnesthoney6529 Thanks! God Bless!!!
Ya I also was wounded if some kind of a wrap around the outside of the heaters may help with the spike but do not want to create a fire hazard also . Also the difference in the price as far as the heater that goes inside. Thanks for the info but will like to see more after you have done more drums . THANKS
I seen a video on Jeff Horchoff’s UA-cam channel where he uses a heated blanket. He had it up last year. It looked like it did a good job.
Has UA-cam screwed up my subscription or have I just missed Guses videos. If all is well and Gus and you just don't have time to vlog, we miss you!
Great video Gus, Thanks! Hey how long did it take to totally melt the crystalized honey?
About 36 hours or so
Thanks for sharing! Do you think it crystallized because of the type of honey or because of the temperatures in your honey house? Some of our spring honey is just starting to crystalize.
It’s fall honey, ours tends to crystallize quickly, I’m sure the temp helped speed the process
Hey Gus I liked you drum mounted stainer. Where did you get if from? Thanks
Dadant I think 🤔
Gus at one point you noted that the heater would go up to around 200 degrees. Do you think there is a danger it getting the honey too hot and killing the natural enzymes that we all want in our raw honey? I try to keep my warming cabinet at about 98 for buckets.
It doesn’t stay at that temp just spiked and drops.
As far as enzymes I think I had it at a safe temp.
If I could bottle and sell it all crystallized I would, unfortunately people don’t want it that way.
I may have missed it in other videos, but what pump do you run and are you pleased with it?
Maxant, yeah overall I am, but it’s kind of slow.
Hey Gus I know you probably won’t see this but I really hate you haven’t put any videos in forever but sure do miss you! I hope your doing well!
I use a beeblanket for my 5 gal buckets. Then I restrain thru 400 mesh strainer before putting into jars . Slow but worth the effort for small operation its not a overnite thing for sure. Question .do you restrain your honey after this process or do you find it not needed.
Just a strainer bag
I've got to know man.. will those orange bands really get hot enough to theoretically boil water in a drum after enough time? So like.. do you think they can handle repeatedly holding say 85 Celsius (180F) for more than an hour at a time. Maybe this is a question you've never explored.
Crystallization is annoying... I have to rely on placing buckets in warm water. This year may require some, with 15 hives I could get over 2000lbs of honey and dipping that many pails in the sink (or even a bathtub heh) would not be viable >.
LAGRANGE Bees I had the same issue. I invested in a couple of Bee Blankets from BetterBee (and others). Preset for 110 degrees. I also have a 16 gallon water jacketed warming/bottling tank (one of best investments I've made). Once it is getting liquid I dump bucket in the large tank and finish decrystallizing.
@@glennsnaturalhoney4571 bee blankets (or bucket heaters) are on a looonng list of "to acquire" items :D
Where do you get your drums?
From a buddy, not a steady source just got some he didn’t want
Do you use a pump to get the honey from the drum to the bottling tank?
Yes
I have a question Gus. Once Honey crystallizes, then heated to reliquify, does it crystallize faster than before?
Yes it does, generally.
You could heat it up hotter than I would be comfortable with and get longer time out of it though.
One thing you could do is to put a second thermostat control on the unit as a safety/backup. Run the temp probe against the wall of the drum. If the unit goes crazy, it will shut it off. Also, I am thinking about 30 gallon drums. Easier to deal with. Thoughts? Happy New Year.