Thats exactly what I do except I set my supers on 2x4's so the air blows out the bottom.The seem to dry faster that way.This works really good on a poor mans honey processing!!!
The thing i hate about these Refractometers is you have to recalculate it with extra virgin olive oil every time room temp changes 5°, but im glad i read that in instructions cause its usually. 5 to 1 # out of calibration everytime i get ready to check. Hope to get one of those electronic ones like Kaymon one day, but they are pricy
Great video, I place two 2x4's under the bottom of the stack to allow the fan air to blow out the bottom of the stack. Each stack is on a wheeled platform like Jeff Horchoff Bees does it (learned that from his videos). With the dehumidifier and fans I am usually able to bring it down a point. I run the fans for 2 days and then harvest. Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you for everything ya put out, I know it's extra work. I would think that box fans could work real good actually. 🙂 put it on the tool lol eat the rest. Tasted my first season honey yesterday was clearer then I though it would be. Sweet guess mostly just flower with some black berry back end, I like honey that has back end flavor. Ty for sharing your timer Gus, Blessed Days...
Thanks Gus for a timely video. I use a dehumidifier also and in my very small operation I drop the moisture level from 20 to 17% in three days. My air goes all the way through top to bottom so maybe that helps. It sure is a effective way to ensure that your honey has a low moisture content. Off the extractor today I saw 16.7%
Gus I've found that for some reason if you offset stack the supers you seem to get a better cycling airflow. They always dry a bit more/faster that simplify square stacking them.
I’ve tried it both ways. Offsetting them in the honeyhouse I got weaker airflow and not enough air reaching the bottom supers. Stacking them tightly I can feel a much stronger airflow circulating all the way back up and out which is what I want. I need the hot dry air circulating through the entire stack to help prevent small hive beetle as well as drying.
Well yes and no. I feel like much of this honey wasn’t quite ripe. Had it been ripened and the bees capped it then probably would have been drier. In late summer here and fall the bees seldom cap the honey it will be dry. Honestly moisture content is a battle for us here in the Memphis area.
Depends, I dropped this a point in a day and a half. SHB are a huge problem, fans help. If you pulled some brood you have very little time, just honey up to 3 days.
@@gusmitchellcranesnesthoney6529 what do the small hive beetles do that messes up the honey? Do they just eat it? What else could look for to make sure they're not starting to ruin it. Thank you!!
@@gusmitchellcranesnesthoney6529 that’s awesome! Love the money making ideas, we got 100 hives here in Athens,ga. We’re always looking for ways to bring more value to the trade.
What was the humidity in the building when you started the dehumidifiers. Where we are located the summer humidity is around 55 percent. I wonder if a dehumidifier would be able to lower our humidity very much? Thanks for sharing.
Your customer needs to learn not to pull uncapped honey , learn beekeeping! Uncapped honey is not worth the risk trying to harvest due to not only moisture but fermentation in jar.. Bad decision to pull supers
I'll have to disagree on not pulling uncapped honey, I extracted some last year that the capped honey was 18.5% and the uncapped was 17.5%. I've heard somewhere in Florida its rare to pull capped honey due to high humidity , they have to pull and dry. I check frames before extracting, if it reads 18.5% or lower its fine
Thats exactly what I do except I set my supers on 2x4's so the air blows out the bottom.The seem to dry faster that way.This works really good on a poor mans honey processing!!!
Gus, I would love to see you do a follow up video checking the moisture content on honey from that same frame after the drying process. Thanks!
That’s next
The thing i hate about these Refractometers is you have to recalculate it with extra virgin olive oil every time room temp changes 5°, but im glad i read that in instructions cause its usually. 5 to 1 # out of calibration everytime i get ready to check. Hope to get one of those electronic ones like Kaymon one day, but they are pricy
I've only ever had 1 harvest turn out a hair high. Dehumidifier for a day or two and it was good. Nice explanation Gus.
Great explanation Gus, as always we appreciate your videos!
Great information Gus. The box fans and dehumidifier works great. Thanks for sharing.
Great video, I place two 2x4's under the bottom of the stack to allow the fan air to blow out the bottom of the stack. Each stack is on a wheeled platform like Jeff Horchoff Bees does it (learned that from his videos). With the dehumidifier and fans I am usually able to bring it down a point. I run the fans for 2 days and then harvest. Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you for everything ya put out, I know it's extra work. I would think that box fans could work real good actually. 🙂 put it on the tool lol eat the rest. Tasted my first season honey yesterday was clearer then I though it would be. Sweet guess mostly just flower with some black berry back end, I like honey that has back end flavor. Ty for sharing your timer Gus, Blessed Days...
Thanks for the tip. I had a frame or 3 less capped than I'd like. Day in a small room with DH and a fan and it's at 18
Great video sir.
Thanks Gus for a timely video. I use a dehumidifier also and in my very small operation I drop the moisture level from 20 to 17% in three days. My air goes all the way through top to bottom so maybe that helps. It sure is a effective way to ensure that your honey has a low moisture content. Off the extractor today I saw 16.7%
Very nice!
Yeah It’s important that the dry air circulates all the way through.
Gus I've found that for some reason if you offset stack the supers you seem to get a better cycling airflow. They always dry a bit more/faster that simplify square stacking them.
I’ve tried it both ways.
Offsetting them in the honeyhouse I got weaker airflow and not enough air reaching the bottom supers.
Stacking them tightly I can feel a much stronger airflow circulating all the way back up and out which is what I want. I need the hot dry air circulating through the entire stack to help prevent small hive beetle as well as drying.
How long will it take to extract the 100 supers? Will you have any extra help? I like the fan idea. Thanks for sharing.
Next video I cover all that
So you are comfortable with honey as long as its at 18.5 or lower?
has anybody tried using a vacuum chamber to reduce moisture after spinning out the honey?
Great video, Gus! Thank you so much! Do you think the honey would have been drier if it had been capped?
Well yes and no.
I feel like much of this honey wasn’t quite ripe. Had it been ripened and the bees capped it then probably would have been drier.
In late summer here and fall the bees seldom cap the honey it will be dry.
Honestly moisture content is a battle for us here in the Memphis area.
How much do you charge for a frame of honey?
How many days of drying do you do? Are small hive beetles ever a problem if you wait to extract?
Depends, I dropped this a point in a day and a half.
SHB are a huge problem, fans help. If you pulled some brood you have very little time, just honey up to 3 days.
@@gusmitchellcranesnesthoney6529 what do the small hive beetles do that messes up the honey? Do they just eat it? What else could look for to make sure they're not starting to ruin it. Thank you!!
@@nszucs1 they slime it, defecate and cause bacteria, it’s nasty stuff
How much do you charge to extract honey for people? That’s sounds awesome
$10 per super and any materials
@@gusmitchellcranesnesthoney6529 that’s awesome! Love the money making ideas, we got 100 hives here in Athens,ga. We’re always looking for ways to bring more value to the trade.
@@dnlwilliams1987 me too, I won’t turn my nose up at a dollar!
What was the humidity in the building when you started the dehumidifiers. Where we are located the summer humidity is around 55 percent. I wonder if a dehumidifier would be able to lower our humidity very much? Thanks for sharing.
@@grantsimpson9211 I didn’t write it down but I want to say high 50’s
Nice honey house!
Thanks it’s a work in progress.
Like Johnny Cash, One piece at a time!
Your customer needs to learn not to pull uncapped honey , learn beekeeping! Uncapped honey is not worth the risk trying to harvest due to not only moisture but fermentation in jar.. Bad decision to pull supers
I offered some tips. Stuff happens we just have to do the best we can with the situations we are in.
I'll have to disagree on not pulling uncapped honey, I extracted some last year that the capped honey was 18.5% and the uncapped was 17.5%. I've heard somewhere in Florida its rare to pull capped honey due to high humidity , they have to pull and dry. I check frames before extracting, if it reads 18.5% or lower its fine