Brushy Mountain 18 Frame Radial

Anyone have any experiences with the 18 frame BM extractor (good or bad)? I have +-25 hives and at age 61 plan on just keeping that many...... I looked at the Maxant 20 Frame Radial...........it's $1495 the Brushy Mountain 18 Framer is $995........ that's a lot of $$$ difference for just an additional 4 frames. I'm leaning (a lot) to the BM extractor unless I hear something "bad" about them.





Thanks!

Here's an earlier thread that may be useful - just ignore the screaming. :eek: Note that Brushy Mountain indicates their product is actually made by SAF.

http://www.beesource.com/forums/arch.../t-243231.html

Thanks....... excuse my ignorance, but who or what is SAF? Also, hope to hear from some who may have had the BM extractor for some time.......

Larry

I just used my 18 frame Mann Lake extractor for the first time. The price was great, the machine is great and the freight was free. I think its worth looking at. I don't know who makes it but someone else on here may know. http://www.mannlakeltd.com/beekeepin...es/page98.html

The unit comes fully assembled w/legs attached and the interior basket is all stainless, no plastic.

We bought the 18 frame Mann Lake extractor this year. It has worked well. Good price. Free shipping. Good performance.

Video of my wife operating it below.

http://youtu.be/GhmlpKODtAo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snl

excuse my ignorance, but who or what is SAF?

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SAF is actually SAF Natura, and they are based in Italy. They make a variety of beekeeping equipment. Their main website is in ... surprise ... Italian, but they have less polished site in English, here:
http://www.safnatura.com/down.php?lingua=ENG

Think I'll go with the 18 framer by Mann Lake. My supers are either 8 or 9 framers and all I really wanted to do was extract 2 supers at a time. The BM looks like a fine machine and a little less than ML. But if you add shipping to BM the difference is not all that great but the service and reputation of ML is beyond reproach. Maxant has a fine machine also, but I can't justify the price difference esp when you add freight to the mix.

Thanks for all your input.

Sounds like the Mann Lake extractor is a good choice. Does anyone make a small/hobbyist radial extractor, something that does three to five frames or so?

Larry, if you can hold off until your state association has an annual meeting BM would probably deliver free of charge. I know that Kelleys, Rossman, BM, Dadant, etc., will deliver to our state convention for free. Just a thought.

My mentor has the 9-frame version of the SAF Natura and it seems to be a fine extractor. He bought it from his best friend so I think the extractor is probably several years old now. My mentor has been at around 50 hives for several years but downsized to around 35 hives this year...he just hit the 80-year young mark and figured he'd take it a little easier. :)

From what folks are reporting the ML extractor does a fine job, too.

Ed

I have been using the BM SAF for 6 years with absolutely no problem. I extract honey from 100 hives plus I do custom extracting for about another hundred hives. Great machine.