Best value and quality extractor for the hobby beekeper

[dgoodman]

Hello All,

This spring I will have 3 hives operating. Until now, I have rented an extractor for harvest. I was wondering if there was a favorite extractor for my size operation. Best value, quality, etc.

Thanks.


DG

[Michael Bush]

My favorite for your size operation has always been a five gallon double bucket strainer and crush and strain technique. smile.gif That's what I did for 26 years. Then I bought a 9/18 radial from Mann Lake. Any bigger won't fit through my kitchen door. Any smaller and the bang for the buck falls off fast. I can put 18 frames in it, and with 9 frames per ten frame super that's two supers worth. If I ever expand I'll just buy another one and then I'll have one running while I fill the other. smile.gif

[The Honey House]

With just three hives, a unit like this would fit nicely into your operation.

http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=1249

As you grow, you can sell the smaller unit and then purchase a larger extractors.

[BeeBear]

I borrowed an old 4-frame extractor this year from friends who no longer keep bees. I figured I would use it until I got something better, but was surprised that a 4-frame unit worked very well. The unit at BetterBee in the post above looks very nice, and is similar to the one that I used.

[King bee apiary]

I found a very good used extrator from a fellow BK that had upgraded to bigger model.I have not had a chance to use it yet,I think it is a 9/12 but not sure made by dadant.Paid half price.

[Michael Bush]

I used a 9/18 and worked long into the night for four nights. I don't even want to THINK about a four frame extractor. And I got a very dissapointing honey crop this year.

In a good year I've gotten 160 frames of honey off of four hives. If you have a nonreversible four frame that's loading and unloading the extractor 120 times (load spin half out, unload and reload spin the other side out, unload and load and spin the other half of the first side out). With a 9/18 radial that's loading and unloading the extractor 8 times.

[Barry Tolson]

In the past I have used a friends extractor. This year, though, I did the crush and strain method. It worked very well and it was lots less trouble than borrowing a friends extractor. I also have 3 hives and will have to have lots more before investing in an extractor. The buckets I used were throw-aways from a local bakery...cost...zero.
Barry
Indianapolis

[Robert Hawkins]

I followed that link to Betterbee. It was a bit irksome not knowing if it's radial or tangential. And because of MB's post above I would question why it's not radial.(that is assuming it's not.

Is it me? Can you guys tell from that web page?

Hawk

[jdb5949]

Hawk,

Betterbee's Honey Processing catalog page (the one before the link given) shows all their extractors. From the prices given, this one is tangential, since the price is comparable with the others. All the radials cost sustantially more.

[Ross]

Here's the spreadsheet I did last year on small and medium extractors.
http://www.myoldtools.com/extractors.htm

[jb skiatook]

I built a separator using a 32 gal plastic garbage can, some 1X4 wood, some 1/2 inch hardware cloth and some all thread rod. I spin it with an electric drill. I can spin 4 frames at a time. I have used this for over 12 years and sure the plans are on the net somewhere. If not tell me and I will send you one. I have never had more than 5 hives.

[Michael Bush]

>In the past I have used a friends extractor. This year, though, I did the crush and strain method. It worked very well and it was lots less trouble than borrowing a friends extractor.

That's my point. I can process four frames in the crush and strain method in less than a minute. It takes a lot more than that to do it in an extractor. Yes, I have to wait more than a minute for it to run through the strainer, but it only takes me a few seconds a frame to tear out the comb and crush it into balls with my hands. If someone cuts the comb out for me while I crush I can go three times as fast as that.

Yes, it's nice to have drawn comb, but for me, it's not worth spending $250 dollars or more four a three or four frame extractor and loading and unloaded three times for every load AND hand cranking it.

I think Mann Lake has a 3 frame that can be used as a radial with shallows, but not mediums. It also seems like I've seen a six frame radial somewhere, probably Walter T. Kelly. I know Brushy Mt has a nine, but for a lot less than twice as much you can buy an 18 frame and do twice as many.

[Brown's Organic Farm]

I am just starting out this year with two hives, hoping to build to 10 in the next year or two. I purchased the Maxant 3100 radial extractor from Betterbee this year which worked very well for me. Obviously a bit more than is probably needed for two hives, but if you are like me, I have trouble stopping when I start a hobby. I would make one suggestion, get the electric model instead of the hand crank. Even with a few hives, I can see an electric upgrade in my future.

[Mitch]

Just a few thoughts for all wanting to get an extractor.First has bees said here many times "I only have a few hives and plan on only a few hives".Replie You have the bee bug and I challeng you to only have a few hives.The point is where are you going with your bees,i had the same thoughts a few years back now i have 9 hives and 10 packages orderd for this spring.I got the 9/18 a few years ago with only 5 hives knowing i had the bug and was going to grow alot.Me i think cranking bites a motor is well worth it.Another thought i help a friend i ment right here on this site extract his honey.A few might be able to get one extractor if you live close enough.But be sure to plan ahead once the bee gug sets in who knows what might happen.

[Dwight]

I also keep bees as a hobby. I keep 10 to 12 hives and use an old galvanized four frame with a hand crank. It gets the job done and provides me with good exercise. I won't upgrade unless I increase the size of my operation by quite a lot.