Thorne Beehives Warming Cabinet - Stewart Spinks The Norfolk Honey Co.

[@davidmcdowell-Rowantree-Honey]

Great video, very expensive for what it is, I’m going to make one as I’ve got engineering experience, the heater cable would cost about £15, the controller and probe prob about £80, wood £40, insulation £50

[@petervanstone4097]

You can make one of these with ply wood,a light bulb,2 inch insulation.thermostat from water cylinder,baton holder and old type light bulb,two tubs liquid in two days at 118 f. Can be lower temp and slower if required.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi David, Thanks for your comments. I wish I had the time, space and ability to make a lot of this beekeeping equipment, I'm envious of your skills! It probably does seem expensive to those who have the ability to make them but for anyone who maybe just wants to get the kit and carry on with other stuff I think it's a choice to be made. I hope you've had a great beekeeping season this year. Stewart

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Peter, Yes, it is possible to make, I've seen old refrigerators used too in the manner you describe. Stewart

[@NorfolkBeekeepingExperience]

How long does firm set honey stay in the liquid state once it's been warmed please?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi, Sorry I missed your question. A lot depends on the type of honey and the temperature it is raised to when warmed. OSR and Ivy honey will granulate fairly readily once it cools again, whereas SUmmer honey, such as blackberry and Borage will stay liquid for longer. Unfirtundately, there's no one answer. For runny honey to put into jars, I would go with something around 45-50°C for 24-48hrs to go from set to liquid. Again, this is very "ball-park" in terms of temperature and timing because of the make up of individual honey types. I'm not sure that helps a lot but the best way is to experiment, stick to the cautious side and check regularly. Stewart

[@SimonOSullivan-e3j]

Do you loosen the lid when you put jars in?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi SImon, We never have on any of our warming cabinets for jars or buckets and have never had any issues. Stewart

[@Ashley10304]

Great video, Stewart! Do you ever find that some honey won’t fully return to a liquid state after being in the warming cabinet?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Ashley, Yes, particularly any that has been sitting around for an extended time. This we warm and then stir, or it goes back into a settling tank and get's returned to it's liquid state with a bulk run. Stewart

[@denisecamilleri4134]

Why would you want to return the honey to a liquid state? It’s perfectly fine crystallised it’s what my customers look for

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Denise, I'm with you, I love soft set honey , not so keen on heavily granulated honey though. INterestingly, looking at our honey sales the vast majority of our customers want runny honey! It outsells our granulated types something like 3:1 Hence the need to return honey to it's runny state. Stewart

[@denisecamilleri4134]

@@TheNorfolkHoneyCo initially my customers would ask why isn’t the hunny runny. I also joked because Winnie the Pooh ate all of that! I would always then explain why honey crystallises and how a good quality raw honey should look and now more and more people request it ! I refuse to compromise my honey by heating it and I ve never had problems selling all of it!😁keep up the good work love your channel!

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

We also sell unheated honey as "Raw" and this is gaining popularity, starts runny and quickly turns granular. Interestingly, once it's been explained to them they get it. I think it's the ones who are adamant that they want runny that our stockists are trying to keep happy, but I certainly take on board your comments. Stewart

[@weirjwerijrweurhuewhr588]

If you have so much honey you don’t sell everything right away and have pails of hard crystallized honey it’s nice to be able to return them to liquid again for filling. Many customers put honey in tea / for cooking too, so heating gently is not always an issue. It’s warm inside the beehive too. 40 degrees shouldn’t ruin honey.