Honey Extractor Recommendations

[Rogan]

I aplogize if this is not the proper forum for this topic, but I have questions on honey extractors.  After doing a forum search, I saw the latest discussion was in 2006 and was looking for the latest oppinions.

I'm a first year b-keeper and hope to benefit from my fruits of labor with my package this year, and get my first bit of honey next year.  I've noticed several of the beekeeping suppliers have sales going on this time of year.  I hope to eventually have 5-6 hives and would like to buy an extractor between now and next year's honey harvest.

My questions are as follows:

1.  Are the honey extractor prices typically better in the fall with the suppliers trying to get rid of their inventory?

2.  Are manual extractors all that hard, or tiring to operate?  Or will it not be that big a deal with only 5-6 hives?  Are they as effective at extracting as the motorized extractors?

3.  Radial versus tangential?

4.  Manufacturer and model recommendations??  Several people say they like Mann Lake and yet others prefer some "Italian" extractor that apparantly has a large reservoir of storage and a fine screen.  Anyone familier with that?

Your input and experiences are appreciated.  Thank You

[utahbeekeeper]

Just three hives here but I wanted to bee self sufficient so purchased this Italian 9 frame import outfit.  I sure am happy with it.  3rd year on hand crank and I don't mind it at all.  If times get harder and I can't pay power bill, I can still spin the honey.  Honey flies outa the comb when it is 95 degrees.  I found prices and the all important shipping to vary so shop around. When I purchased, Rossman was the least expensive.

1.  The price has gone up on this extractor every year.  I don't think it varies with season tho

2.  No   not tiring . . . packing full supers in from the back yard is tiring.

3.  This outfit has baskets included for three full frames tangential . . .  dual modes.

4.  No reservoir or screen here . . . I let it run into fine nylon paint strainers for 5 gallon pails.  I bungee cord the "sock" strainer to the outside of the pail.

[Moonshae]

I would definitely go with a radial. I think tangenitals are more likely to cause blowouts, since you have all the honey on the back side trying to push through the comb. To avoid that, you have to keep flipping and have well wired frames. I got a 9/3 from Brushy Mtn in December (they offer free shipping on the web at that time...I saved $250 that way). It comes with a screen and 250 lb holding tank right below. It's a hand crank, and it isn't too bad to do manually.

IMHO, if there's a possibility that you're going to expand for a while, get an extractor that will take care of you for a few years. You don't want to spend the money on one, and then need to lay out the money for another one in two years. My 9/3 will do a super at a time, and that's pretty reasonable for me.

[TwT]

Rogan ask yourself this, how many hives am I wanting or will handle then buy a extractor to fit those needs, if you want 1-5 hives a small extractor is what you want but if you plan on going to 10+ then get a extractor for your needs, radial is the best, I have a 20 frame from Kelly and couldn't imagine having to turn frames, this one just uncap the frames and place 20 of them in, start it turning slow the speed it up, about 3 minutes turn it off and remove frames then load again, takes longer to uncap than to spin out, my next investment is a uncapper  ;) .

[Rogan]

Utahbeekeeper-  Thanks for your suggestion.

How do you keep the honey at 95 degrees?

Others have told me that those who do not have honey houses, they usually try to extract on a warm/hot day.  But where I live, it will easily reach 85 degrees on mid-summer days and sometimes up to 90, but rarely 95 to 100.

[buzzbee]

use an enclosed shed on a 80 degree sunny day,and I'm sure it will see 90 inside if it is in the sun.

[eivindm]

I guess there could be many different motifs for deciding which extractor to buy.  So your special needs would be vital to what is best for you. I only have two hives at the moment and live in a small apartment, så when I bought an extractor, storage space and being able to move it through my small kitchen door was actually decisive in my extractor choice.

I have a small two frame handheld.  I don't find it hard to work (although I can't compare with a motorized as I have never operated one), but I had some trouble making the frames rest at the right place.  They tended to slide to one side and making the weight distribution all wrong which again caused the extractor to jump as a great monster. And the lid on the top had a very silly open/close design.

So my best advice is to be certain to check your fourth point on the list thoroughly to find advantages/disadvantages with your extractor candidate.

[MustbeeNuts]

HI, well im first year myself, and I just got a 4 framer, works fine, even in the house with the air on. I bring the honey in and uncap it while its still warm from outside. I really just used it for the first time last night, but I COULDN'T  be happier, beats the heck out of crush and strain. takes me about 15 mins per 4 frames. I have four hives and in spring going for 20, and think it'll do fine for a year or two yet. Its a hand cranker,, got off ebay for a resonalbe price.  Crankin anint so bad, besides I just about got the wife fully trained as an equipment operator. LOL