September is extracting time.  You have removed the bees from the honey supers via escape board, and have the extractor and hot knife.

You can purchase an un-capping tank for about $90.00.  I do the following, which you can improve upon since I am a klutz.

I use a Pyrex baking dish 14” x 10”.  Over this I put a hardware cloth which will catch wax carvings and allow honey to drain into Pyrex dish.  Between dish and screen I put a block of word (wrapped in plastic food wrap).  Through the board there is a heavy screw or nail which is long enough to be above the top of the screen.  This screw allows you to rest the end bar of the frame to pivot as you uncap and allows the cappings to land on the screen.

When the extractor is full, the honey should go through a strainer.  You can purchase a double screen strainer or use nylon paint strainer cloth, or pantyhose with the legs securely tie around the rim of a 5 gallon bucket which the honey flows into.  The bucket should have a gate for easy bottling.

Whether using jars or beers, tip these at an angle to reduce air bubbles.

Pick a day to extract that is not humid, as honey absorbs moisture.  Extract in a room where insects and bees cannot enter.  The smell of honey will have every flying insect trying to get in. If you use smaller extractors you will have to periodically drain the honey out so that it doesn't rise above the level of the frame racks.

You will note that a white foam comes to the top in the honey bucket.  I try to skim off as much as possible.  I have seen jars with foam in stores, but a little bit should be acceptable.

Save a jar or two for our honey judging in October at our Harvest Dinner and Field Day.

Bernie