Heather honey presses for hire

 

Thorne’s Economy heather honey press. Trays and tools are not included in the hire.

 

 

The Conwy Beekeepers’ honey presses are available for members to hire @ £10 per week or part of a week, plus £20 deposit.

Please email Peter McFadden peterhoney914@gmail.com to book the kit.  Collect from Ynys Goch, Ty’n y Groes, Conwy LL32 8UH.
Also, see our website page  Heather honey, beekeeping with altitude Click here

We can provide…

1. Thorne Economy honey press with a straining cloth.
Please check that the kit is clean before hiring it and before returning it.

2.  Love Brewing press, model V20 10-litre, Inox all-stainless steel with a straining cloth.
See https://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/

Instructions for the Thorne’s Economy press…
1. The press legs are not fitted with plastic feet. Use the press on an old table, or stand it on a piece of cardboard to avoid marking your table.

2. Wash the straining cloth in warm water before use, and allow to dry.

You will need to provide a tray or trays, a bread knife and a spatula to mash up the combs, disposable gloves and a honey bucket.

Honey pressing should be done with the combs warm. The honey will flow much more easily than in a cold room.

Set up the press on a table, with the bucket on a chair.

Remove the two hand bolts, and lift off the cross beam and the press mechanism complete.

Fit the straining cloth inside the basket.

Cut the combs from the frames carefully and place in the perforated basket.

Mash up the combs with the spatula, to loosen the honey.
Fold the straining cloth over the mashed-up combs.

Refit the cross beam and the press mechanism.

Wind down the handles.

Honey should start to flow.

Do not use excessive force on the handles!

Honey pressing is a slow job. Be patient.

When the honey flow ceases, try warming the pressed combs in a very low oven in one of the metal trays, while you press the next combs.

Press the warmed up combs a second time.

When you’ve finished pressing, clean the equipment, and wash the straining cloth in warm water.

Give the sticky frames and pressed combs back to the bees to clean out any residual honey.

Ensure that no pieces of foundation wire find their way into the finished honey. I always use unwired foundation to avoid this.

Compiled by Peter McFadden, updated October 2022.