I've narrowed my decision down to a Maxant 3100 or Brushy Mountain deluxe 9 frame hand extractor. I am strictly a hobbyist and don't plan on more than 8-10 hives. Any thoughts from anyone who has either would really be really helpful. :?
Maxant= Made in USA.
Where is Brushy's made?
I can tell you the Brushy 9 Frame radial is a nice unit. It is stronger built than some others of equal price. The Stainless used is 18 ga. and I like how the legs extend up the sides to the top of the can where a very heavy ring bolts it on eliminating the need to purchase a optional stand.
Maxant Made in USA. and about 35 mi down the road
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
>I am strictly a hobbyist and don't plan on more than 8-10 hives
I would not buy an extractor for 8 hives unless you have some money you just want to spend...
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesharvest.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesharvest.htm)
"All this seems obvious enough, and yet time after time I have seen novice beekeepers, as soon as they had built their apiaries up to a half dozen or so hives, begin to look around for an extractor. It is as if one were to establish a small garden by the kitchen door, and then at once begin looking for a tractor to till it with. Unless then, you have, or plan eventually to have, perhaps fifty or more colonies of bees, you should try to resist looking in bee catalogs at the extractors and other enchanting and tempting tools that are offered and instead look with renewed fondness at your little pocket knife, so symbolic of the simplicity that is the mark of every truly good life." -- Richard Taylor, The Comb Honey Book
I would bet that you could either borrow or rent one. In my area, we have a commercial beekeeper that also resells Brushy Mt. supplies. He has a couple of 9 frame rigs that he will rent out at $8 per day.
...Tim
I did crush and strain and cut comb in the beginning but kept my eyes open for used deals. A few years ago I got a 30 frame Maxant, a 20 gal water jacketed clarifier, a stainless capping tank and 3 hot knives for 400.00. The next year I found 2 waterjacketed wax melters for 150.00. Then the next year I found a bronze gear pump for 100.00. This year I found a 300gal double walled, with heating coils between walls, stainless milk tank for the scrap price of 250.00. I have spent 900.00 or less than 1/3 the cost of a new maxant. Point is crush and strain works great for practically free until a deal shows up
I am a cheap person and go with the cheapest, but you need to remember, you get what you pay for. Some things may be cheaper, but they might be disposable also. But, for me, I might go with Brushy, and see if they would do the free shipping in December.
AllenF.......
No free shipping in December to TX.
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
It must suck to be west of the river. This is how I feel when I find a deal on the west coast.
Quote from: Michael Bush on August 17, 2010, 07:58:13 AM
>I am strictly a hobbyist and don't plan on more than 8-10 hives
I would not buy an extractor for 8 hives unless you have some money you just want to spend...
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesharvest.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesharvest.htm)
"All this seems obvious enough, and yet time after time I have seen novice beekeepers, as soon as they had built their apiaries up to a half dozen or so hives, begin to look around for an extractor. It is as if one were to establish a small garden by the kitchen door, and then at once begin looking for a tractor to till it with. Unless then, you have, or plan eventually to have, perhaps fifty or more colonies of bees, you should try to resist looking in bee catalogs at the extractors and other enchanting and tempting tools that are offered and instead look with renewed fondness at your little pocket knife, so symbolic of the simplicity that is the mark of every truly good life." -- Richard Taylor, The Comb Honey Book
guilty, but I'm not returning the tractor.
thanks for all the advice, y'all. You've given me some things to think about. And Iddee, the Brushy model is made in Italy. I too prefer made in the good old US of A.
Go with maxant. I extact with one that is 20 years old now and still runs like a champ!
i got a 20 frame maxant and love it. :-D
Quote from: AllenF on August 17, 2010, 10:51:20 AM
I am a cheap person and go with the cheapest, but you need to remember, you get what you pay for. Some things may be cheaper, but they might be disposable also. But, for me, I might go with Brushy, and see if they would do the free shipping in December.
I just got my new Mann Lake catalog and they are doing free shipping on most, not all, orders over $100. I havent looked at it thoroughly to find out what items are excluded.
I like to buy quality, regardless of where it is made.
Maxant is made in U.S.A and that is good and it is a good extractor. Brushy is indeed made in Italy and is also a very good extractor.
Maxant has their 9 frame radial hand extractor for $499, I know where the Brushy 9 frame radial can be had for $400
I know people with either of those and both are very good quality machines.
Big Bear
I would choose the Maxant. If there were ever any problems (not likely but possible) I understand they are tops in customer relations. I don't know how easy it would be to order parts from Italy.
Scott
Just to keep this in mind, there are several other companies here in the U.S. that make extractors. Check all the bee catalogs to get the best prices.
I have a 30 something year old Dandant extractor that will works like a dream. Next year I am going to call them and see about putting a motor on that joker finally.
my 30 frame maxant was made in the early 70's. It is a 500-30 model and was discountinued years back. One thing I like about it parts will always be available. The friction wheel or fiber drive wheel is still original. It will out live me. A new one is 116.00 and if it were any other company I would get one and put it on the shelve but with maxant this is not needed
Has anyone tried converting a lettuce spinner? I know it's too small in height, and diameter would only fit one frame...BF is a geneticist and forced his lab to use one instead of the $500,000 centrifuge they wanted to use, saving us the taxpayers from buying an outdated piece of equipment! They were mad at him, but now other labs are using lettuce spinners for their more basic centrifuge needs. It's an easier conversion I imagine than for comb frames, but there are lots of creative (and cheap) people on this blog. :-*
I have been watching this post closely as I'm in the same boat. The thing I like about the Brushy Mountain unit is it appears to hold nine super frames at the same time whereas the Maxant holds only 6. The Brushy Mountain comes with the stand included for $795 whereas the Maxant for $749 has it as an accessory for $39.99 (total $785). I've dealt with Brushy Mountain a few times and found they support what they sell very well and I read about how very well Maxant handles customer service too, though I've not bought anything from them before. In short it appears service is covered either way.
Other than "Made in the USA" (Where did the steel, electric motor, and other components actually come from though?) is there a feature that someone can add that will overcome doing 9 frames (a super) at a time versus the Maxant 6? If the Maxant held 9 frames and even cost a little more (>$100) I'd buy it. However, feature for feature the Brushy Mountain appears to be a better value for my needs.
Well, I went with Maxant. I researched other extractors, but like that they are US made and that the family business has been around for a while. I also like the fact that parts are more than likely to be available and easy to find. Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.
Quote from: schawee on August 18, 2010, 11:46:26 PM
i got a 20 frame maxant and love it. :-D
Did you get the one with legs and how much was the shipping if you don't mind me asking ?
Quote from: donm on August 22, 2010, 02:41:18 PM
Well, I went with Maxant. I researched other extractors, but like that they are US made and that the family business has been around for a while. I also like the fact that parts are more than likely to be available and easy to find. Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.
You will never regret buying the maxant. My 30 frame is going on 40 years old and still works great. I'm the 4th owner that I know of. The man that I bought it from just upsized to a 2nd 60 frame Dadant.
I just got the Brushy Mtn model from Bee Commerce last night and put it together. Seems like it will work well, the gears are smooth, the basket spins well, and the price was right. I think most of the cost is in the shipping from Italy, but I haven't seen the Maxant in person.