Extractor speed

OPAVP · September 09, 2016, 11:52:50 PM

Hi every one!;

What is the ideal speed for a small 2 frame extractor?
I have a small electric extractor that turns at 180 RPM.

I think if the thing turned a little faster it would work better.Clean the frames better?

OPAVP

Joe D · September 10, 2016, 02:09:11 AM

I don't know what the ideal speed is, but assuming it has either pulleys or gears, you could change the ratio or size for a different speed. I built a 8 frame extractor for medium and shallow frames. I used a tread mill motor and controls, with that I can start off slow and speed it up and back down. It has enough speed you can sling a frame apart, did once.

Good luck to you and your bees

Joe D

BeeMaster2 · September 10, 2016, 05:47:07 AM

Opapv,
Is it a radial extractor?
I suspect not if it is a 2 frame extractor. I have a 18 frame motorized extractor that I spin at a lot higher speed than 180 rpm. The biggest factor limiting a radial is getting the frames balanced.
If it is spinning them flat, then increasing the speed will probably start blowing out the frames.
The reason I bought the radial is because on my first extraction, I paid a guy to do it and watched several frames blow out because he went to fast.
Jim

NikTheGreek · September 10, 2016, 08:13:35 AM

Quote from: OPAVP on September 09, 2016, 11:52:50 PM
Hi every one!;

What is the ideal speed for a small 2 frame extractor?
I have a small electric extractor that turns at 180 RPM.

I think if the thing turned a little faster it would work better.Clean the frames better?

OPAVP

Is depending on the type of the honey.
Thin honey can be easily extracted at slower speeds(RPM) than thicker honey.
We extracted oak tree honey this year and i can assure you that no low rpm or radial extractor can be used for this kind thick honey.

flyboy · September 10, 2016, 02:49:45 PM

I was wondering the same thing. I have a sewing machine motor and was wondering if that was strong enough. It has a pedal for governing the speed.

Acebird · September 10, 2016, 03:46:39 PM

Quote from: flyboy on September 10, 2016, 02:49:45 PM
I was wondering the same thing. I have a sewing machine motor and was wondering if that was strong enough. It has a pedal for governing the speed.

If it had a dial where you could turn the speed up slowly it would be fine. The motor in a battery powered hand drill is smaller. It doesn't take much to keep the extractor going it is the acceleration that requires the torque and amps. My ceiling fan motor that drives my four frame extractor has flee power but it spins up to 400 rpm when not loaded. I think that is why it only takes about 4 minutes to run the frames dry.

GSF · September 11, 2016, 05:31:45 PM

My Mannlake 18/9 has 100 rpm tops on the dial. After 3-4 years of extracting I can say - that's plenty 'nuff.

divemaster1963 · September 11, 2016, 06:56:03 PM

Quote from: flyboy on September 10, 2016, 02:49:45 PM
I was wondering the same thing. I have a sewing machine motor and was wondering if that was strong enough. It has a pedal for governing the speed.

Don't use the sewing machine motor. I used one on mine and it can not take the torque of stat up. i burned mine up in three min of first use. I still use the foot pedal to control the speed on my 3/4 HP motor i mounted. works great. now.

john