Bottling Honey with Hillco Dripless Valve & BeesWax Foundation Crayons S7E32

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Here's a link to a similar bucket perch, and also my wax melting pot shown in this video: Bucket perch: amzn.to/3Z2Jqmb Wax Pot: amzn.to/3L6RoF7

[@lavenderbridges]

I really appreciate your videos. Thank you for creating this content. You always just share with us what you’re doing with a calm and gentle demeanor. I am able to learn easily from you. Have a great weekend!

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hi Lavenderbridges. Thank you so much for the comment. I’ve been doing this channel for seven years now and this time of year I struggle to keep it going. Comments like this make it worth while. Have an awesome weekend. 👍👍🐝🐝🐝

[@Vermicompost]

Awesome system and bottling tank you have!! Love seeing that golden honey come out into the bottles!! So cool how you use the wax as well!! Excellent video Jerome!!🪱🪱🪱

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hey Patrick. Yeah, I love that tank. I used to use a 5 gal bucket with a little dinky valve on it. Took forever. This one is awesome. They make heated ones too, but they are very pricey. I sent a lady 2 lbs of wax last week. She's a bluegrass musician and hand made guidar craftsman in Cosby TN. She uses it to mask the varnish in her process. She got a lot of honey too. lol Thanks for stopping in.

[@Vermicompost]

@@JeromeBeeFarm That’s awesome! So cool to be able to help people and have little to no waste in the process!!

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Thanks for the shoutout! Like the new valve. Makes filling so much easier. I’m going to use that wax idea to fill in some wonky comb they drew out this year. Thanks again and take care.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hey GEEZBEEZ, no worries, I'll try to get a card on there. I love the HillCo Valve for sure. I got that wax technique from Justin at Sweet Stingers. @sweetstingers , and the big toilet paper crayon from Jason Chrisman. Thanks for stopping in .

[@jennifercooper9194]

I raise the bottler on a box. That way I can put the bottles on the table so I do not have to hold in air. It make life easy just slide the bottles under the bottler.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I'd do that, but it's so tall up on that counter top I'd need a stool to stand on to pour it in the top. It's kinda scary. I'm always afraid I'll pour honey all over the place. lol Thanks for watching.

[@jerrylsmith1955]

I put mine in the freezer for a few minutes works ok,I use the paper towel tube. Thanks

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Thanks for watching and commenting Jerry.

[@danschneider9219]

Oh the fun of filling jars, the valve might be dripless but we sure aren't.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hey Dan. That's a fact. If my mouth isn't running, I tend to pay better attention to what I'm doing. LOL. Thanks for watching.

[@highlandhoneybee]

After days of triple digits and high humidity, this cooler weather is a blessing for both man and beast. It was only 84°F yesterday, and I woke up to 55°F this morning...it's beautiful. I really like that bottling set up. I'd love to have one, but just not doing quite enough volume to justify an upgrade at this time. Hopefully soon, though.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hey there highland honey. Yes a 90 degree day feels so much cooler after going through that. I went down to Ft Worth one weekend and it was 115. That's crazy. I thought Texas was going to burst into flames. Hillco equpment is reasonably priced I've found. I usually purchase new things and more bottles with honey sales, so it's not so hard on me. I just bought 900 bottles and like 1000 lids in bulk. Much cheaper per bottle that way, and I'm all set for next year. Thanks for watching.

[@daverowden-RowdyBeeFarms]

Been deciding if that bottling tank was something I needed to buy at the Bee Expo in Louisville

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Oh, dude, you must have a decent bottling tank. Saves so much time. Have an awesome weekend.

[@TheBeeLadyApiary9992]

Hey Jerome! Long time no see (although we love your channel & the videos). Looks like you are having as much fun with your bees as we are! Take care. 🐝🍯

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hey Bee Lady! Good to hear from you. How's things down in FL now? Hopefully you didn't get any of that hurricane and your bees are doing well. Take care.

[@KodiakFarmBeesLee]

When you finish filling a jar... If you rub the rim of the jar across the valve, you will not get any drip. I have the dripless valve that I got from Better Bee. It does the same thing.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hey Kodiak. I will usually do that on the last bottle. (If I remember) lol That's why there's an old towel on the floor down there. Thanks for watching.

[@kenlowrey5612]

Thanks for the video. I've been thinking about getting a HillCo bottling tank. I just need to make up my mind as to whether I want to spend the extra money for the heated tank or not.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hey Ken. I thought I wanted the heated one, but this one does just fine. If you wanted to store a bunch of honey in the tank and you have problems with crystalization, then I would consider it. My honey usually sits for a long time, just over a year before it starts to crystalize. I'm usually done bottling when it's still really warm. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@LindaSullivan-sw3mv]

Maybe just put a little wax in the bottomv of the tube and let it harden before filling it all the way. ;)

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

That's a good idea. After they cooled, I topped them off, and then they still shrunk a little bit. Thanks for watching.

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Hello Darren I was just looking at the same bottle fill tank from them but the main thing is that valve because I end up eating as much honey as I bottled having to wipe off my drippings LOL. Not complaining. It sure is good. I only thing I need four tanks become this year I had four different flavors to keep separate. Last year I had three different ones. I guess I am going to have to go ahead an but the bullet an get them an also going to try there pollen patties. Stay cool . THANKS

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hi Kathy. Interesting you have multiple flavors. Do you flavor it, or is it from different locations/forage?

[@kathyhathaway8823]

@@JeromeBeeFarm ya just different locations and plants .

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

That's interesting. My father in law lives about 70 miles west of me and his has similar flavor but more intense. He has some good forage out there.

[@gallowaylights]

You overfill jars for the look of it?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I fill them about 1/2" from the top normally. I don't consider that over filled.

[@emilandrusko8597]

Thanks for sharing Daren. Question - looks like you were able to fill the bottles without air bubbles. Is that honey temperature dependent or a feature of the bottling tank?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hi Emil. My honey will sit about a week in the 5 gallon buckets at around 90 deg F so all the bubbles go to the top. If I bottle the last little bit in the tank, it will get some of the bubble film in it. You can lay plastic saran wrap on top of the honey in the tank and then pull it off and that bubble film will come with it. I have never done that, I just bottle it all and will put that last bit in a jar and keep it for personal use, because it doesn't look "pretty". I think using the hot knife cuts down on bubbles as well, that might not be a fact though. Thanks for watching.

[@--SMA]

Where did you purchase your 5 gallon yellow pail perch?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

amzn.to/3N3OH8c

[@jerryinman4324]

Where do you get your jars ?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I got the big 1/2 and one gallon from US Plastic Corp. I got the 1 and 2 lb squeeze bottles from Better bee in the 100 bulk size. I recently purchased 3 boxes of 285 1 lb from webstaraunt store and bulk lids from better bee. I think I figured I got it down to .79 ea for the bottles with dripless lids. If I got standard lids (not dripless), they are a lot cheaper.

[@danielasanchez8252]

Where do you get your honey battle.?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

USA Plastics and Webstaurant.

[@rtxhoneybees]

I need to get at least one of those valves. Can you give more info on that wax melting pot? It looks like a deep fryer with a valve.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Here's the pot. It seems to have a lower temp control and heats more even than the other smaller one I have. Here's a link to the one in the video: amzn.to/3L6RoF7

[@MikeChamplin]

BTW - DO NOT try to bottle your honey with the bottling tank lid latched on tight.... it seals too well and causes the valve to "burp" causing a splooge of honey to come shooting out. Lesson learned.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

😂 Hey Mike - yeah that would not be good. I've noticed I had mine on one time and it got slow and I immediately knew what it was and moved it aside a bit to break the seal.

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

Did youbsee Jennifer Barry's newest data on OAV? She said you need to treat every 2 days to be effective?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I haven't seen that. I couldn't keep up with that schedule. Maybe if I was retired. Thanks for watching.

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

@@JeromeBeeFarm I believe I heard it mentioned on Bob Binnies channel. Said it wasn't very effective if you don't do it that often or wait until broodless. I'm watching more and more about the New Zealand strip method.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

The strips are good, but expensive.

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

You might want to weigh your jug. I believe that style is only 5 pounds?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I think they are 1/2 gallon or 6 lbs. I'll wegh it and let you know.

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

@JeromeBeeFarm I have types, one is half gallon but it has a longer neck and then the squat ones like you showed that are only 5 pounders. Other supply houses might have that dhape that are 6 pounds. Price of containers is killing me🤑

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I just bought three boxes of 295 1lb bottles from WebstarauntStore and a box of 850 dripless lids from Better Bee. I think I'm coming in around $.75/bottle now, (not counting label cost). Webstaurant had cheaper lids, but I wanted dripless.

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

@JeromeBeeFarm I've been ordering from Blue Sky as they seem to have the best prices. I'll have to check out your supplier and see if they can beat then. I have a sister in law that lives in Puerto Verde not far from you. If I ever get down for a visit I'll try to look you up.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

@@glennsnaturalhoney4571 I'll have to check out Blue Sky.