Q. Is there any way of getting liquid honey without using a centrifuge extractor? - from RW, 10/21/96
A. Regarding extracting small quantities of honey...
If the honey is in new, white combs, you can cut the comb into small pieces, mash it up, and put it into micro-wave proof containers, zap it for one or two minutes at a time, stir, watch closely so the wax doesn't overheat (it can burn!) and scoop off the wax that comes to the surface. The same thing can be done on the stove, but be careful not to overheat the bottom, and not to let the stuff get hot enough to cathc the wax on fire... It can be very dangerous.
We use the microwave with the few hives we have today, and only treat new wax combs with honey in this manner. We produce mostly comb honey, but also like to have a few jars of honey around. We use tough, disposable plastic food continers so we don't have to wash up afterwards, we just throw out the dirty, waxy, sticky container, after re-using it for several batches.
When the honey is pretty warm, it can be strained through a good quality, fine-mesh nylon food straining cloth. COOL the warm honey down quickly (put your final, strained jars into a cold water bath) and the honey will be fine.
Your other alternatives include sharing an extractor with a bee club or bee freinds, or looking for a cheap, used extractor... I have seen four-frame extractors sell for as little as $25.

Q. Can I use a microwave to separate wax from honey? - from CS, 6/4/96
A. If the honey is in new, white combs, you can cut the comb into small pieces, mash it up, and put it into micro-wave proof containers, zap it for one or two minutes at a time, stir, watch closely so the wax doesn't overheat (it can burn!) and scoop off the wax that comes to the surface. The same thing can be done on the stove, but be careful not to overheat the bottom, and not to let the stuff get hot enough to cathc the wax on fire... It can be very dangerous.
We use the microwave with the few hives we have today, and only treat new wax combs with honey in this manner. We produce mostly comb honey, but also like to have a few jars of honey around. We use tough, disposable plastic food continers so we don't have to wash up afterwards, we just throw out the dirty, waxy, sticky container, after re-using it for several batches.
When the honey is pretty warm, it can be strained through a good quality, fine-mesh nylon food straining cloth. COOL the warm honey down quickly (put your final, strained jars into a cold water bath) and the honey will be fine.

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