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!
The frame holder which can accomidate a deep or medium frame.
The brain of the extractor, control board and motor/pulley/belt assembly from a free treadmill I got!
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.
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.
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!
Excuse Me!!!! I am a country boy and my welds hold and they are exact too. Same as my carpenter work, I just had to say that,,,I really like your extractor.
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?
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.
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
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.
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 ?
I'll try to get pics up tomorrow evening of the frame holder and seat in the bottom of the barrel. Ran out of time today because I actually got to hang out with my bees after work before I went to a mandatory pre-fair meeting for 4-H!!
Thanks OHC!! And yes, it was a very nice compliment from MAXANT, and if I ever decide to go pro, I will be buying nothing but a MAXANT!!
Infact my mother was going to buy me a Maxant extractor for a fathers day/birthday combo present, but I told her to hold off until next year, after I see how the honey sales are going to go after this season!! If things go good, i'll be expanding the apiary and running two extractors next year!!LOL
Here is where the spinner attaches to the bottom. It is a bearing that I picked up at Orchard Supply, got home and boiled it in a pot of hot water to remove any grease. After rinsing and repeating a few times until it didnt have any sort of grease residue I camcoated it as well. The wood holding it is a piece of pine which is camcoated as well and the bolts holding it in are SS.
I did the same to the top of the spinner frame. Heck, even the 2x4 is camcoated!! Oh ya, after loading the extractor I have two pieces of lexan to help keep the honey from splattering everywhere out of the tub. The top of the frame is a bolt welded to the tubing then extends through the 2x4/bearing and the treadmill pulley is bolted to it. The bottom pin goes through the bottom bearing and into a camcoated metal "cup". I dont remember what it is called, but I think it pushes onto bolts as a cap or something.
Mr. Ghost mon - Verrry Cool - I live up in Angels Camp....Charlie B helped me with an ant problem....Could you E me at: lcrtb101@gmail.com,
I would pay to get a set of design plans for such an extractor as you have built - I see you move it about with a hand truck, excellent !
See Ya ! Chris
I'm glad I'm not the only one to use a treadmill motor for my extractor. They have plenty of power and unlimited speed control. I motorized maxant and it works great. My next treadmill motor project will probably be a potters wheel.
Would there be any problems inserting or removing frames from this style frame holder? Is a 1 1/2" wide space enough so the frames slides in/out without interfering with the comb?
Very nice extractor if I do say so myself. Hats off Odfrank to your classy apology. I'm sure everyone here will agree that responding to forum quotes at times allows you to slip in a reply from time to time that you question after you hit the "reply" button. I know I have asked myself before on more than one occasion if what I said in reply could be interpreted as mean spirited. I'm sure yours was not meant to be Odfrank.
I grew up with Frank.....he's a great guy....much like yourself; EXTREMELY OPINIONATED......I search Bee Source just to watch you two go at it !!!!!
Ghost - GREAT extractor...very clean and functional.
Chris Henderson alias Holiday
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Beesource Beekeeping Forums
1.8M posts
54.7K members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to beekeeping, bee owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, honey production, health, behavior, hives, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!