Economical Honey Extraction Methods for Small-Scale Beekeepers

How does a small beekeeping operation get all that sweet honey goodness out of the comb? There are two basic ways to remove honey from the cells of the honeycomb: the drip (or squeeze) method and spinning it out in a centrifuge extractor. For a beekeeper with only one Langstroth style hive, the drip method may suffice. Cut off the wax cappings and lay the frame over a container. After a few hours, the honey will have dripped out of the cells. Repeat with the other side. To harvest a top bar hive, cut off the honeycomb, place in several layers of cheesecloth and squeeze. This is slow but economical in terms of tools and machinery.