honey extractor

min7854 · May 18, 2008, 11:34:53 PM

Hello folks..........This is my maiden post.....I recently have returned to the hobby of beekeeping from a 5 year departure.....At this time I am trying to reestablish a hive....I had one that survived;basically the super is glued to the brood chamber, and the hive is really only held together by the propolis..the box is very rotten, and so I put a new box above the super with 10 frames of new foundation...not sure if maybe there is a queen in the super, even though there is an excluder between the brood box and the super, since the hive has been so negelected, and I know that it has swarmed at least 3 times that I know of. My plan is to let the bees draw out the foundation, and monitor it for eggs and larvae...If I do not see any soon, the I think the thing to do is get a queen and take the new box with new queen and take it off a few miles away and let it get established....Then continue to work on the old colony... probably add another brood chamber and repeat the process, until I feel like the old one can be dismantled and gotten rid of... Any help on this would be appreciated, as it has been awhile since I have been involved in this, and I want to do it right... Now the reason I posted in this section was because I have an old extractor, galvanized steel I guess...quit old.....it does have information stamped on it....Anyways, I used it about 7 years ago, and it has been stored in my shed since then...it has an electric motor on it which I think no longer works,(not sure); anyways....is this safe to use? I know that the new extractors are all stainless steel.....I really need to find out this information before I get totally involve :?ed in this hobby again....as this could be quite expensive to replace....Thank you in advance for any help...

Brian D. Bray · May 19, 2008, 12:59:00 AM

You plan for the hive is workable. I would let them build up in a super then put that super on a bottom board add another super and shake all the bees out of the rotten hive, if it breaks apart in the process so what. The bees will have a new home on new equipment and you should be able to harvest some honey via crush and strain.

Test the motor on the extractor. If it's a 1 speed motor get your self a variable speed rotor control from some place like Harbor Freight. Food grade grease of FGMO will lubricate the works. It should be still usuable unless rusted badly. If rusted use some steel wool on it and paint with a food grade paint or latex.

min7854 · May 20, 2008, 12:49:08 AM

Thanks for your response...Today, I couldn't help myself, and peeked into the new box.....loaded with bees, working away....I think in a couple of days I will really take a good look and see if any signs of a queen up there.... I've got the name and number of the local bee guy, so if needed I can get a queen...fast..... I've also put a feeder as close to the entrance as I could, as the bottom board is rotted off and no place to put the entrance feeder...I've just put together another brood box which tomorrow I will put on top of the new brood box with the foundation, and put the feeder up there...I just ran out of time today to get that done.... Also; about that extractor....I looked at it today and it is a mess! Rusty and dirty....Do you think if I pressure washed it again then had it sandblasted and then coated with the foodgrade paint it would be okay, or should I give up and donate it to a museum.... I do appreciate the input....

Brian D. Bray · May 22, 2008, 02:59:34 AM

Try to operate the extractor. If it works well it might be worth refurbishing, your call.

MustbeeNuts · May 22, 2008, 08:56:27 AM

You might be able to get an insert for it made up by a tinsmith, or the likes, then just rivit it in place. that would make it good as new inside. Seal and use. Errr well maybe. Just a thought. Still cheaper than a new one.

my-smokepole · May 22, 2008, 09:55:02 AM

Depend on you But if it was me I would sand blast the and paint. If you blow through the sides of it. I would reline with some SS. Witch I like this Idea best. Of course Between my shop and freinds I may build my own some day.
My-smokepole

min7854 · May 30, 2008, 10:15:43 PM

Wow! Thanks to everyone who replied to my original post.... The update on this whole thing is that I've now gotten the tank separated from the baskets and turning apparatus...so, basically, everything is apart and ready for sandblasting...Now about the motor, it is a Maxi-Torq..model 6z078..and though I have not had it running, simply because the cord has been torn off it...leaving a couple of wires sticking out.....also, I remember that it had a capacitor on it or something....so I ordered one and it should be here in a couple of days....The thing turns , so I'm thinking it will run if I can get it a power supply. If anyone has some knowhow on wiring it up, I would surely appreciate it.....Thanks...Min

Brian D. Bray · June 01, 2008, 12:22:05 AM

Electronics I know something about. I would advise getting yourself a router speed control and putting it in line with the motor so you can ramp the speedstarting slow and the speeding it up. Also, is the motor 2 wires or 3? For electronics red is hot and black is ground--always, for electricians white is hot, black is opposite phase, and bare is ground. As long as you connect like colored wires together you should be okay. If your motor has red and black and your new cord has white and black connect the blacks and then the red to white and it should work okay.