Which extractor?

[power napper]

Finally prepared to get a stainless electric extractor and not positive which one to buy. My choice so far is one of these three.
Dadant 6 frame, Brushy Mountain 9 medium frame or the Mann Lake 9/18. I feel that Dadant makes the best extractor material wise but Mann Lake gives the most for the buck, any suggestions would be appreciated. The prices of these three extractors are from $727 to $800 without shipping.
Plan at staying around twelve hives but possibly up to twenty, our old two frame hand crank galvanized extractor is just too hard to use and it is time to upgrade. Thanks!

[Joel]

Actually I think Maxant makes the best extractor.
I would not buy the 9 frame medium, at some point you will have deeps to extract for one reason or another. I would likely go with the 9/18 of the choices you've listed. Have you looked at Betterbee.com? I don't know where you are in PA but Dadant is just over the border in Waverly NY so shipping could be eliminated. You could also check with Royal Draper @ draperbee.com, they ususally have some good used equipment. They are in Millerton Pa. They would have any listed on their site. SVann still has a Maxant 20/40 which I think is $1100 if I could ever find him to ask I'd post it. It's about 3 or 4 yrs old and in new condition.

[power napper]

Thanks for the input Joel, I appreciate it.
We have been looking for at least six months and almost succeeded several times on ebay but close does not count except in horse shoes. John Seets had a good one that I just missed by moments. A good used one would fit our needs quite nicely but if we must buy a new one that is okay!

[Michael Bush]

I bought the Mann Lake 9/18 in 1999 and have never regretted it. For 12 to 20 hives I wouldn't buy anything smaller unless you're going to get two of them. smile.gif

[LEAD PIPE]

dibbs on the old one smile.gif

pm sent

[power napper]

Thanks Michael Bush--just how hard is it to manage the 9/18 into the kitchen, can you manage to get it inside without assistance or do you require a helper to bring it in to the kitchen?

Lead Pipe--You will have first dibbs once we get a new one.

[Michael Bush]

I usually haul it around by myself, but it is much easier with some help. It fits through my doors easily. Any bigger wouldn't.

[BusyBee]

I also have the Mann Lake 9/18 frame extractor. Mine is the motorized version. I have not moved it out of the honey house, but it is quite light, just large and awkward. I live in MN, so I took a trip north and picked mine up. I love the extractor and wouldn't trade it for anything but a larger one from Mann Lake. I need more hives for that first...

edit: close counts in horse shoes, and hand grenades... stick to horse shoes though smile.gif

[ February 06, 2006, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: BusyBee ]

[Michael Bush]

>Mine is the motorized version.

As is mine.

>I love the extractor and wouldn't trade it for anything but a larger one from Mann Lake.

I think I'd rather just get a second one and then I'd be able to load one while the other one spins.

[Troutsqueezer]

Close counts with Atom bombs too...

[Ross]

http://www.myoldtools.com/Bees/extractors.htm

This is now a couple of years out of date. If anyone wants to research the new pricing, I'll update it or send you the file to update.