# Alternative extraction methods- Honey presses, etc **URL:** \ **Category:** Equipment\ **Created:** [March 5, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284 "2018-03-05T01:26:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 10:56am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/21 "2018-03-07T10:56:48Z")
But I’d have thought that’d be ok as all the oil floats to the top? Time to hit up google for the straight dope… Edit- here it is: > **[How not to Make Olive Oil](http://blog.countrytrading.co/2014/05/28/how-not-to-make-olive-oil/)** > > So you’ve planted some olive trees eh?  Good for you. Terracotta urns stuffed with marinated olives, virgin green oil and general romantic Mediterranean abundance are filling your thoughts no… > **[How to Make Olive Oil](http://blog.countrytrading.co/2014/06/02/how-to-make-olive-oil/)** > > So last week we shared how not to press olive oil at home  and all the things that didn’t work. This week we’re on a more positive tack talking about how to not only press olive oil but… Dan I think the ‘how not to’ part might be relevant to your idea- and the ‘how to’ seems to indicate that the Apple press would be up to the job… I think I’ve concluded it’s too much hard work 🤫 I think I’d be better placed to swap honey for olive oil. ---
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 4:32am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/22 "2018-03-13T04:32:34Z")
Ok- press arrived- review time: Pros: simple yet robust- bucket and mesh bucket quite thick steel- strong. Cons: I don’t think this will work well for honey unless you consistently do very large volumes l. 1. spout not wide enough or in base- only 1cm wide- different than pictured on eBay 2. works best with a full load- hard to always do with honey and not ideal 3. the jack slips and loses compresino before it’s getting to full extension (made loud pop)- not sure what pressures I’m achieving- might work better with a higher quality jack… 4. I think it won’t squash down far enough to fully compact wax- wax to honey ratio too low… Dang! False economy again. I tested it with grapes and got a lot less juice than I thought I would… about 1 liter- with some effort (too much effort). Completely delicious- but wasteful I think. Might be able to make it work if you kept adding grapes or apples into the squashed pile? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/9/91e4b4beca944d3005213cca14d435521d80e586.jpeg) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/6/6d4e673a6041f742e382f1bba40c32f1661d295e.jpeg) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/2X/7/7b599f4fe1e23e905fa84b78bbeae8514ff1e1a7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 6:29am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/23 "2018-03-13T06:29:23Z")
Update: I played around more with this press- it really is very robust- but I think the jack isn’t quite up to the job. If you had a better quality and slightly larger one I think results would be better. Too much work for me to modify it… I’m sending it back ---
**Author:** ![Dan2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dan2/32/10463_2.png) [@Dan2](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dan2)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 6:57am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/24 "2018-03-13T06:57:11Z")
Hi Jack - shame. In an episode of the River Cottage Aus. they were using a press to get out comb honey. Not sure if you have seen that episode, but SBS has all the episodes…they used a slightly different system… ---
**Author:** ![Rodderick](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/rodderick/32/15174_2.png) [@Rodderick](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Rodderick)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 7:01am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/25 "2018-03-13T07:01:11Z")
Something similar that is designed for separating honey from wax. [http://hornsby-beekeeping.com/warre-extractor-comb-crusher/](http://hornsby-beekeeping.com/warre-extractor-comb-crusher/) ---
**Author:** ![Dan2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dan2/32/10463_2.png) [@Dan2](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dan2)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 7:25am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/26 "2018-03-13T07:25:09Z")
I think the one Adrian Lodice (I think it was him) used looked more like the $660 one on “related products” on that link Rod. I know nothing about them, but it looks like the one he used had no pipe to block up …if you get what I mean… ---
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 10:46am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/27 "2018-03-13T10:46:39Z")
I did see that. I’ve looked at that type- they cost more- but are probably worth it ---
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 2:18am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/28 "2018-03-14T02:18:41Z")
$660 is so much to spend (for me)- I can’t quite justify it- there are cheaper ones- but once again- it’s probably a false economy. ---
**Author:** ![AdamMaskew](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/adammaskew/32/16818_2.png) [@AdamMaskew](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/AdamMaskew)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/29 "2018-03-14T03:47:14Z")
I just received the latest news from The Urban Beekehive in Sydney and saw they had a sale on their economy press. Mind you the flasher one does look really good. I kinda like the theory behind the screw press rather than the jack… Adam [https://shop.theurbanbeehive.com.au/collections/extractors-and-presses/products/honey-press-basic](https://shop.theurbanbeehive.com.au/collections/extractors-and-presses/products/honey-press-basic) ---
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 5:57am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/30 "2018-03-14T05:57:55Z")
Argh! That looks basic but extremely robust - all stainless- large capacity. I’ve just gone and grabbed a slightly cheaper one- that may or may not work for honey: [https://m.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Generation-5-3L-Italy-Style-Multi-purpose-Wine-cide-Honey-Mead-Cheese-Press-/161980448485](https://m.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Generation-5-3L-Italy-Style-Multi-purpose-Wine-cide-Honey-Mead-Cheese-Press-/161980448485) I prolly would have gone for the urban one if I had my time again. I’m worried about several issues with the one I got- spout blockage- honey pooling on top of the plate and not escaping fast enough through the basket- and the alloy thread wearing out- or breaking. But maybe I saved a few dollars 😬🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Anon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@Anon](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Anon)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/31 "2018-03-15T01:30:47Z")
[https://www.samsclub.com/sams/mason-jar-bee-hive-club-980097293/prod22170075.ip](https://www.samsclub.com/sams/mason-jar-bee-hive-club-980097293/prod22170075.ip) No extraction needed! ---
**Author:** ![AdamMaskew](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/adammaskew/32/16818_2.png) [@AdamMaskew](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/AdamMaskew)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/32 "2018-03-15T02:40:13Z")
I wonder how that is being received by the anti-flow crowd? ---
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 7:39am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/33 "2018-03-15T07:39:04Z")
bit silly that put the brood view window at the frame end side… Otherwise looks OK 😉 It looks like the jars each have individual queen excluder meshes. ---
**Author:** ![skeggley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/skeggley/32/27522_2.png) [@skeggley](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/skeggley)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/34 "2018-03-15T14:42:41Z")
Wait what, liquid smoke? What’s that about? ---
**Author:** ![Anon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@Anon](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Anon)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/35 "2018-03-15T16:36:50Z")
I can tell a lot by being able to count the frames of bees in a hive. With a side window we can see one side of one frame, usually a honey/drone frame. ---
**Author:** ![BeePeeker](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/beepeeker/32/30512_2.png) [@BeePeeker](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/BeePeeker)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/36 "2018-03-15T20:01:33Z")
It looks a bit tight, working in those jars… I think it would be difficult to get all the bees out. Variations on a theme 💜🐝🍯👌🏽 ---
**Author:** ![Anon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@Anon](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Anon)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/37 "2018-03-15T20:47:23Z")
It’s actually a very poplar method. All that’s needed is a sheet of plywood with holes drilled to fit the mouth’s of the jars. Pop the jars in and place it over a very populated hive over a queen excluder and during a honey flow. ---
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2018, 2:13am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/38 "2018-03-16T02:13:27Z")
Apparently it is wood smoke somehow ‘distilled’ - you add water and spray it onto the bees. supposedly it works OK- and may be an alternative for total fire ban times. @Anon maybe so- but i’d much rather look at the face of a frame than all the frame ends. And you can tell a lot from those honey/drone frames… Is there Honey? Are there drones? etc.🤨 ---
**Author:** ![Anon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@Anon](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Anon)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/39 "2018-03-16T02:16:45Z")
Trust me…from someone who experiences a real winter, being able to count pockets of bees is useful information. Looking at the outside of the last frame is useless. ---
**Author:** ![Semaphore](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/semaphore/32/14994_2.png) [@Semaphore](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Semaphore)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2018, 2:20am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284/40 "2018-03-16T02:20:49Z")
are you saying my Mediterranean climate ‘winter’ isn’t real? Why then do I have draw full of woolen socks and two sets of thermal underwear?? I tell you at times it get’s quite chilly here- as low as 4 degrees Centigrade !! 😉 Like I said- maybe so- but you go to far too say that view is ‘useless’. If there are drones: there is surplus- if there is honey- there is honey. I I have hives with windows like that into the brood and I can see the queen laying (sometimes), see if there are drones, get an idea on activity, watch bee dances and more. [Previous page](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/alternative-extraction-methods-honey-presses-etc/14284.md?page=3)