Hi Jeff, just read most of the topic Honey Flooding Extraction. I now know what “wet caps” means and I can see that the caps are right at the end (and almost still inside of,) the plastic cells. I presume that you mean that usually the bees extend the cells further out before they cap them.
The honey today seems quite thin. I am at Banora Point/Tweed Heads NSW and the honey I have got over the years, with several different queens, has always seemed a bit thin. Is it a location thing?
In summary, the problem is the caps tearing and your answer about one cause being that the caps are right on the plastic and cannot flex looks very right. Now how do I tell the bees to build out further…
Your other theory that dry caps which have a tiny air gap between the cap and the honey are less likely to tear is interesting. My capped cells looked dark so are probably wet caps. I presume the theory is that the air gap allows the honey to flow away without pulling at it by capillary action?
Thanks very much for prompt and informative comments. I understand a lot more now. (Can I blame the bees?)