My wife's aunt gave us this extractor. It is galvanized and has four baskets. It has an electric motor that sits separate from the tub itself. The motor runs the extractor by belt. There is a lever that will, with a little convincing, switch the baskets from one side to the other (if that makes any sense). I believe the plate on it says A.I. Root. It is quite large, tub-wise. I guess it is only a 4 frame, but maybe you can give me a little info???
Another question is about reconditioning it and making it "food safe". I know there is a kit you can buy from one of the supply companies. Does it work well? Does it make the extractor usable indefinitely?
Also, how do you clean this thing? It has gunk, presumably old honey, in the very bottom edges. It also has quite a bit of rust.
Any advice, or direction would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Here are a few pics... I hope they help.
The first one is cropped to show the extractor top to bottom. In the pic it has a few things sitting on top, but hopefully you can make out the top of the extractor showing the pulleys etc. The triangular thing is nothing involved with the extractor. I have no idea what it was used for, and the other thing is an old pollen trap.
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9272/dscf54332.jpg
This pic is of the interior of the machine. It is of one of the baskets.
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/6827/dscf5448.jpg
These pics are better. I just now found them... of course, after I uploaded the previous ones.
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/667/dscf5457.jpg
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/6266/dscf5455.jpg
http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7536/dscf5461.jpg
If specific pics would help you help me, then feel free to ask. Thanks again!
Oh yeah.... Is this type of "wanna be" motorized extractor worth the time and effort to make useable??? Obviously I need to modify it to make it a little safer. Kinda an accident waiting to happen it seems LOL
What you have is an old A. I. Root reversable frame extractor, I wanted one so bad 50 years ago. The baskets flip or reverse so that the beekeeper doesn't have to remove the frame from the basket and rotate sides as is necessary on transgenial extractors. Clean it up, paint it with a good food grade epoxy paint, and you're good to go.
The popularity of the revesable frame extractor was short lived as the radial extractor soon followed.
Ahhhhhhh....I see. Thanks, Brian. That is what I suspected, but have never even touched another type of extractor, so I was not sure. Do I need to disassemble this extractor to coat it? I assume so. I think that the coating would freeze all of the moving parts. ???
It is so big and a little cumbersome, I wondered if I would be better off buying a small, stainless, handcrank extractor. What do you think? I like free, but was not sure if it was worth the space it consumes.
If you are handy with tools, yes they are well worth refurbishing.
That is too cool! That is a job I would enjoy...more than likely bungle it and then have to get someone to do it right. But it would be fun.
The folllowing two links will explain how to remove the rust by electrolysis. You will have to take it apart to strip the extractor parts and repaint them.
http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/rust/electrolytic_derusting.htm
I just redid one like that, I purchased a 9 frame radial basket to replace the original 4 frame from Kellys. Works wonderful! Can knock out 55 gal by myself in a day hand uncapping. You have a gem treat her right and she will serve you well.
Well, I will probably bungle it too, but I will give it a whirl. LOL
Thanks for the links. They will be a great help.
Glad to see that someone has done this. The 9 frame replacement might be a handy idea too.
I have no idea of the brand, but I used one exactly like it for years, and it worked like a charm! Wish I had never sold it.