My home made extractor!

So last year I decided I would build my own motorized extractor since I didnt have the funds to buy an extractor and was not going to go through the hassle of a hand crank one. After rounding up the materials, it was built in no time. I did have access to a welder which was a plus. I put about $90 into this project, which is cheaper than the cheapest two frame hand crank model I could find! And yes, everything that touches the honey is food grade, and what wasnt food grade was sanded and coated three times with Camcoate that I ordered from BrushyMountain.

The Beast, a four frame extractor!
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...eextractor.jpg

The frame holder which can accomidate a deep or medium frame.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ctorframes.jpg

The brain of the extractor, control board and motor/pulley/belt assembly from a free treadmill I got!
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...admillpart.jpg

I used it last year to extract what few medium frames I had and it worked like a charm, and everything breaks down for cleaning, including removing the barrel to hose out.

Just thought I'd share this!!

>I put about $90 into this project,
And $9000 of hours.

Sorry, but I am very efficient and have the tools to work with! The welding was 3 hours, only because I was being very exact and not country boy welding! The frame was built in minutes. Even if it took me 10 hours at my current pay scale, it would have cost me about $400 total. How much is a motorized extractor these days???

I imagine if you added up your gas, milage on your vehicle, time spent collecting and putting out swarm traps, tending to the bees and such..........your paying people to collect swarms...........right? You are up to what, 50 swarms just in traps this year? At an hour per swarm retrieval, your at atleast $1500 just in time alone, not with the added factors of gas and such. But why do you continue to do it? Maybe because you like to? Am I right? Maybe I like to build things because I like a challenge.

Somethings you cant factor in time. Heck if you go to the fridge and grab a beer that is worth something aint it? How much does a butler make?

Lets see if I can make some more posts and have you jump on them with negativity............if there is a problem between you and I Frank, lets hash it out either on the phone or in PM's.

As a Systems Engineer, I appreciate things that are home made. Especially projects that are professionally completed.
Let us know how this year's harvest goes!!

This is a great extractor, using the treadmill motor is genius! I am still going to crush and strain this season but this winter's project is an extractor. I do not have access to a welder but will have to figure something out. I also like the wooden frame for mounting peripherals. Is the barrel just a cut-down 50 gal plastic barrel?

Impressive. It's always cool to see what people can build on their own. I just bought an hand crank extractor someone built from a motorboat prop.

Sorry, I meant no negativity. You are a talented engineer of homemade equipment. It is a hobby, labor is priceless.

Awesomness, i love it

You should have left the tread mill to power it! working out and spinning honey.:lpf:
I got to say I am impressed. I do all my wooden ware, includeing frames myself and it gives me great satisfaction. Too bad you did not do the frame holder in super strut, I would have copied it.

Very, very Nice!!! The great thing about home made equipment is that you know how to fix it when something goes bad and you will always have the opportunity to make it better over the years!! I think this is great! :applause:

Satisfaction from the finished project needs to be counted also. Great job! I especially like the welding! I am jealous - I am bad at welding... Also - recycling parts is good for environment; it needs to be counted also! Sergey

Nice BG! Must have been a blast to make. I love the treadmill controller.

Beeghost.....You are exactly right, if you factor in your time, in any phase of beekeeping, you can do better as a Greeter at WalMart. HA!!! HI, Welcome to WalMart. I used to keep bees.

cchoganjr

Time??
Time to a retired guy dosen`t mean as much as it used to:lpf::popcorn:

I do enjoy seeing people that can do with their hands, I like tinkering a lot but never make a project that neat

GOOD JOB!!!

Very Nice
can you show (explain)a pic of the bottom "Pin?" holder
The part that the main shaft is sitting in/on or fastened too?
Is it a bearing? or a ?

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Originally Posted by odfrank

Sorry, I meant no negativity. You are a talented engineer of homemade equipment. It is a hobby, labor is priceless.

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Thanks Frank, I appreciate that. I have a lot of respect for you and your knowledge and dont want any bad blood between us. Your someone I would like to be able to turn to with questions and pick your brain as well. Take care bud.

Very creative, Well done!

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Originally Posted by BeeGhost

Thanks Frank, I appreciate that. I have a lot of respect for you and your knowledge and dont want any bad blood between us. Your someone I would like to be able to turn to with questions and pick your brain as well. Take care bud.

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I'm still in the process of training him to be less abrupt BG, it's a labor of love on my part! ;)

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Originally Posted by Charlie B

I'm still in the process of training him to be less abrupt BG, it's a labor of love on my part! ;)

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With the last name Frank, you have your work cut out for you. I wish I could remember where those posts are in which you have insulted more people than I have. Maybe it's this San Francisco fog that makes us two so obnoxious.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tommyt

Very Nice
can you show (explain)a pic of the bottom "Pin?" holder
The part that the main shaft is sitting in/on or fastened too?
Is it a bearing? or a ?

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I second this request. I've been contemplating building my own extractor and this is one thing that's holding me up