Beyond the honey extractor, centrifuges are used to separate products where draining is too slow.

Cappings wax

The principal application. Cappings wax holds a considerable amount of honey, and draining takes days.

A centrifuge spins the honey out within minutes, without heating the wax.

That last is the advantage: heating to release the honey breaks down enzymes and raises the ageing marker in precisely that honey.

Why cappings wax is worth it

Cappings wax is the cleanest source of wax there is. It has never been brood and carries the fewest residues.

Keeping it separate and having your own foundation made from it breaks the residue cycle. The centrifuge makes that practical at larger quantities.

Other applications

• Separating uncapping wax containing brood remains
• Propolis during extraction, to separate plant material
• Comb with residual honey before rendering

Materials

Stainless steel or food-grade plastic on everything touching the product. Galvanised metal and untreated steel are unsuitable; honey is acidic.

Setting up

• Firm and level; imbalance sets the machine moving
• Secured or weighted if the machine is light
• Space beneath for collection

Cleaning

Warm water, dry completely, no detergent residue. Residual honey goes mouldy and becomes a source of contamination next season.

Where the small hive beetle occurs this matters particularly: the processing room is where it multiplies most.

The question of scale

For few colonies, draining over a few days is enough. A centrifuge becomes worthwhile when the quantity of cappings wax no longer allows that.