In July, Blue Ridge Bee Supply generously donated a 4 frame extractor to the Surry County Beekeepers. Members of SCBA may now borrow the extractor and a hot knife to uncap and extract their honey. Member Bill McArthur has volunteered to store the equipment and manage the check out process.

To borrow the extractor (or to get on the waiting list), contact Bill at (336) 590-2961. Bill lives at 178 Hickory Hill Drive in Mount Airy. Once you and Bill have an agreed upon pickup date and time, you will need to go pick up the equipment and also return the clean/dry, undamaged equipment to Bill.

To clean the extractor:

Water is a sufficient cleaning agency. Wash the extractor and let it drain and dry.

• if you are close to your bee yard, let the bees help just like you would have them clean up the freshly extracted frames. Leave the extractor open for a few hours on a sunny day and once the bees are done, use a garden hose to wash away residual honey and wax.
• if you aren’t close to your bee yard, just use the garden hose to wash away residual honey and wax.

To clean the hot knife:

• make a pad using clean, dry paper towels. Once you are done uncapping, wipe the hot knife (still plugged in) on paper towel pad to clean wax and honey from the knife. Do not use water to clean the knife or let it get on the knife. Let the clean knife cool, then use a damp cloth or paper towel to clean the honey from the cord.

Please be mindful of other beekeepers waiting to use the extractor and return as soon as possible.

Thank you to both Blue Ridge Bee Supply and Bill McArthur for making this benefit available to our beekeepers.