Extractor

[Ron Young]

Question on extractors.

I have only used a small hobby type hand crank extractor, that holds two frames. Once you get part extracted, you flop the frames and extrace the other side. I have had no experience at all with the ones that load like a wagon wheel, and I am guessing that they extract both sides at one time? Am I correct.

Anyway, I was looking at one, RANGER RADIAL EXTRACTOR , but it holds six medium or shallow frames, and only three deeps if you purchase a seperate basket. What do most prefer? The type that loads like a wagon wheel, or the ones that you need to stop and flop the frames? Does one yeild to less damage in the way of blown out frames.

[alpha6]

Radial is what the "wagon wheel" type is called and it extracts both sides at the same time. The less switching you have to do the better, especially if you are having to extract lots of frames.

If you are going to put out the money for a motorized extractor I recommend going with the next bigger size then what you think you will need if you ever plan (or it even crosses your mind) on increasing your number of hives. Otherwise you will be buying a new extractor every couple of years.

[Ron Young]

The one I looked at is manual, hand crank, but it does take six medium frames. I am a hobiest, with only two hives, so this would be a vast step up for me for go from two frames, flipping them, to six with one sling.

What about the blow out frames. Is there less with a radial? Or more? Or no noticable variance.

[Karl]

Hi Ron: Don't really think there is any real difference in blowing out frames comparing one type to another. Always critical to try to get the extractor load balanced and then start spinning slowly at first, run for awile and increase your speed after some of the honey is off frame.

[Beehappy1950]

I dont know how much you are spending but I got a 9 18 Radial for 5.00 at Mann Lake . They are still selling them. Its a nice one.

[Beehappy1950]

That was 500.00 . Ha

[Ron Young]

I can only imagine what shipping would be to NC. The one that I looked at, holding 6 mediums, was 466.00.

[honeyman46408]

Ron
Always buy a little bigger than you think you need, I started out with a 3 frame extractor when I had 6 hives and later found a used "Dadant" 6/12 electric for half the catalogue price at the time.

Blow out
I have blown out comb in the radial but I didnt know it was wax foundation when I started,(to fast to start with) last year we extracted for a friend who had new wax with no corss wireing with no problems all you need to do is start slow and after the frames becomes lighter you can incress the speed to get the last of the honey out.

[BonnieBee]

later found a used "Dadant" 6/12 electric for half the catalogue price at the time.

HaHaHa, got you beat! I was able to pick up a slightly used Dadant 6/12 with stand for $200.00.

[honeyman46408]

HaHaHa, got you beat! I was able to pick up a slightly used Dadant 6/12 with stand for $200.00.

Yes you did because I paid more than that @ half price

[Beehappy1950]

I think Mannlake has an 800 number and you could call for free to find shipping costs.

[Ron Young]

Well, I am getting ready to process one super today. I will not take the other two, as I plan on splitting the hive next week. I am hoping to find one before next year. I was just curious as to how well the radial extractors worked. I cand see how it gets all the honey out, with the angle being perpindicular to the cells. Do you spin in each direction to get each side, or is it one directional?

[BonnieBee]

I was just curious as to how well the radial extractors worked. I cand see how it gets all the honey out, with the angle being perpindicular to the cells. Do you spin in each direction to get each side, or is it one directional?

The way a radial works is that after removing the caps (duh) you place the frames in the extractor with the top bar towards the outside (very important), much like a wagon wheel. As the extractor spins, centrifical force pulls the honey from the comb and slings it against the wall of the extractor drum, of course you already know that part.
If you were to look at a cross section of combs you will see that the comb is built with a slight upward angle to better hold the nectar in it's watery state. The radial takes advantage of this and am able to extract all the honey from both sides the comb at the same time.

[terri lynn]

Yes you did because I paid more than that @ half price

You guys are BOTH killing me! I gave up on finding anything preowned. The first year sure is hard on a budget! How are ya'll liking the Mann Lake and other extractors you ended up with? I'm trying to decide on the size I want at the moment. I like Maxant for a lot of reasons. But have been curious about some of the others I haven't heard as much about. Don't want Dadant. Seems they cost more, aren't nearly as good to deal with as Maxant and have had problems with them on other items, with inferior (ie, totally unusable) equipment and charging me way over what they told me on the phone for shipping. A couple of dollars I could have seen.

[BonnieBee]

You guys are BOTH killing me! I gave up on finding anything preowned.

We were first year beekeeps and were looking into getting more equipment. Told the wife it'd be nice to have an extractor and the various other things used in extraction but we can do without since the bee club has a couple of set ups for rent.
What we did was we 'cast a net' for beekeeping equipment/supplies out on the HomeSchool email chain we were a part of to see what may come up.
A couple days later we get an email from a homeschool mom saying her husband's father was a beekeep and they have some of his things in the basement. She wasn't sure what, needed to talk to her husband. Found out the only thing he had was the extractor. His ex-wife somehow ended up with the rest of the stuff. Said he'll take $200 for it.
So the wife and I go to take a look and we were expecting a small 2 - 4 frame hand-crank. Walked in and I just about passed out!
Asked him if he was sure he wanted $200. He said he researched it and that's what he came up with. "Okay, I'll think about it." Needed to think about it due to it's size. I wasn't quite ready for something as large.
Went back the next day and got it.

All that to say, steer away from classifies and cast a net. Somebody out there may have what you want sitting in the basement collecting dust and they just need a little reminder to sell.

The first year sure is hard on a budget!

You got that right!!!
By being able to get that extractor at such a great price we were able to get the rest of the extraction equipment without too much of a strain on the wallet.
After the first year or two and you got most of the stuff you want and your number of hives is where you want, in my view, beekeeping gets real cheap!

[beedeetee]

There was a thread a while back questioning whether a radial took longer than a tangential to get the honey out. I don't know if the question actually got answered but if I was getting a hand crank I would want to know how long I would have to crank.

I have only used a motorized radial and a hand crank tangential. It seems to take longer with the radial but I don't care since I just turn it on and leave it. I never noticed more blowouts with one over the other.

Tuning the frames on the hand crank tangential was a nice break in cranking.

[Konrad]

I don't mind using my 2 frame hand crank, since I'm a hobbyist, stay at around 5 hives, get my workout and can say my honey is hand extracted.
Theoretically tangential would work better because the honey cells lay more preferable in line with drum and therefore a faster evacuation of honey, but then, like beedee mentioned, it doesn't really matter when under power.
I think was reading that really hard to extract honey goes better the tangential way.

Konrad

[ccar2000]

Hey, I have a beginner question if you don't mind. How does one extract honey without a centrifugal extractor and a hot knife?

[NasalSponge]

You could do cut comb or crush and strain.....do a search and you will find much about it.

[KQ6AR]

If you're in NC, check out www.brushymountain.com
They have some nice units & you could pick one up yourself.