Section honey?

[Wmfd]

I am just about to start my fourth beekeeping year, and so far I have only extracted honey.

Some friends, and customers at a local shop, have asked about comb honey. I've got some thin unwired foundation which I was going to use in supers after we've got the OSR out of the way, especially if I can find some field beans.

I was wondering though, does anyone have views and experience of doing sections?

I have looked at traditional square sections and also Ross Rounds. I am put off dabbling by the high cost (particularly of the rounds) but both look good end products and seem easier than hacking up comb.

Does anyone have thoughts or experiences?

David

[GRIZZLY]

Just do cut comb. Then only expense is a knife to cut the comb into four or five pieces - each about 1/2 pound and some cut comb containers which are minimum cost. See how you get on then invest in sections if you find success.Remember bees don't like working in confined spaces so success with proper sections is a bit hit and miss.

[brothermoo]

I like the idea of cut comb but would like to find a nice container that better reflects the quality and effort of the product rather than the standard cut comb containers from main suppliers.

I did see a picture, can't remember if it was this forum or somewhere else but it was jars stacked upside down on a purpose built crownboard that the bees can build combs in the jars. If you could get the bees to draw that out well and cap it full of honey and top up the jar with extracted honey it might sell well.

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[gavin]

The new Thorne cut comb containers are much nicer and my cut comb flew off the shelves at the Dundee show, thanks to Feckless Drone's excellent marketing.

Cut comb (5 pieces from a well filled super comb) is easy. Here in prime heather migration country many produce cut comb but I don't know one person persisting with sections.

A well filled super could in theory produce 10 x 5 boxes at around £6 each, ie £300. Of course the reality is a lot less after wastage, poorly filled comb and all those free boxes I give my landladies.

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[Adam]

I've received no interest in comb honey myself. And I do wonder if I trust myself to cut the comb and not make an almighty mess!
Brothermoo, I also recall seeing the upturned jars - somewhere - maybe that's the way I should do it if I don't want to make a pigs ear of it!

Are there requirements for weight of comb to be shown on the box?

[Pete L]

The new Thorne cut comb containers are much nicer

I like the new cut comb containers, vast improvement to the old margarine tub type containers, the new type certainly sell much better because of this more attractive appearance.

[Trog]

Thorne's sell a comb-cutter which is around £8 if I remember correctly. Makes the job very easy and much less messy. On an average size comb, each piece is exactly 8oz and the perfect size for the boxes. I then check the weights of each box with my Victorian scales and any underweight ones are marked as such and sold as 'seconds' or given away.

[crabbitdave]

Hi all I was thinking of trying just one super of cut comb, but I've not had anybody ask me for it but do like it myself, I was wondering if you all thought it would sell or would I be stuck with it.


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[gavin]

Hi all I was thinking of trying just one super of cut comb, but I've not had anybody ask me for it but do like it myself, I was wondering if you all thought it would sell or would I be stuck with it.


At the Dundee show the cut comb always sells first. Folk come and seek us out, more for cut comb than jarred honey.

(Get your orders in early for mine before I sell it all again at the start of September ...... )

[gavin]

I don't use a comb cutter but a long, thin sharp knife. Lay the frame down on a clean board, best face upwards. I usually start with a clean piece of card to judge the positions to cut, then just do it by eye. Cut right round just a bit under a cm in from the frame. Lift off the wooden frame. For a good piece, make four parallel equally spaced cuts (to generate 5 pieces) right through with a slicing motion from the cleaned knife. Lift by sliding the knife under each piece (or a similar thin kitchen utensil) and place on a wire rack over a dish to catch drips. Scrape spare honey off the board and into the dish. After a few minutes just lift the comb, again sliding the knife under will help, and carefully place in the box. Carefully wipe off any drips with clean kitchen paper towel. Snap the lid on and apply your own design of label following the rules on content, producer, weight. We sell by weight, rounding up to the nearest 20g (or is it 10g). Digital scales are inexpensive on eBay or from your favourite discount supermarket, although you may have to prove that you verify your scales' performance.

[Jimbo]

I get asked all the time for cut comb and do a few frames each year. Similar to Gavin I just use a sharp knife and a cake slice to lift the comb. The ones I have made a mess off or not to size or weight I place in piece in a honey jar and top up with runny honey and sell it as chunk honey (at a higher price than the usual jar of honey)

[Wmfd]

Superb, thanks ever so much for the advice. I think I'll stick to cut comb to begin with and see how it goes.

I bought some cut comb containers cheap from Thorne a couple of years ago, presume that was them clearing out the old design!

[prakel]

Superb, thanks ever so much for the advice. I think I'll stick to cut comb to begin with and see how it goes.

I bought some cut comb containers cheap from Thorne a couple of years ago, presume that was them clearing out the old design!

Assuming from the above that you still have the old style containers, their '4C' sleeves (http://www.thorne.co.uk/image/cache/data/Sale%20Items/4cp-800-228x228.jpg)(if you can get them) are well worth the few extra pence and turn a rather sad little tub into a far more attractive package all round. Purple and Red are good to my eye...

[Wmfd]

Assuming from the above that you still have the old style containers, their '4C' sleeves (http://www.thorne.co.uk/image/cache/data/Sale%20Items/4cp-800-228x228.jpg)(if you can get them) are well worth the few extra pence and turn a rather sad little tub into a far more attractive package all round. Purple and Red are good to my eye...

That's the ones. I have found the 4C sleeves but Thornes are only selling them but bundled with yet more tubs!

So much for my original 'bargain'. ;)

One to keep an eye open for at the association auction.

[Beefever]

To get the right weight in the cut comb container, howmany frames do you put in the super? 9, 10, 11?

[Pete L]

To get the right weight in the cut comb container, howmany frames do you put in the super? 9, 10, 11?

National on ten castellated spacing gets the combs as perfect as it can be, cappings just under cover of container with the majority of combs...or ten Manley frames are the same.

[Beefever]

Many thanks, Pete L.

[prakel]

That's the ones. I have found the 4C sleeves but Thornes are only selling them but bundled with yet more tubs!

So much for my original 'bargain'. ;)

One to keep an eye open for at the association auction.

I see that there's a new variant of Thorne's type boxes on the market

http://northernbees.co.uk/images/Cut_comb_cartons.jpg

don't look quite as nice to me -not keen on the wbc image but overall I'd say that they look like a good alternative. The linked image is from 'northern bees' but they're available direct from Maisemore too.