Which one would you buy???

[donm]

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.   :?

[iddee]

Maxant= Made in USA.
Where is Brushy's made?

[Sparky]

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.

[Jim134]

Maxant Made in USA. and about 35 mi down the road




   BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[Michael Bush]

>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

"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

[tshnc01]

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

[danno]

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

[AllenF]

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.

[Jim134]

 AllenF.......

 No  free shipping in December to TX.


   BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[AllenF]

It must suck to be west of the river.  This is how I feel when I find a deal on the west coast.

[Bee Happy]

>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

"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.

[donm]

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. 

[jason58104]

Go with maxant.  I extact with one that is 20 years old now and still runs like a champ!

[schawee]

i got a 20 frame maxant and love it. :-D

[VolunteerK9]

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.

[bigbearomaha]

 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

[hardwood]

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

[AllenF]

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.   

[danno]

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   

[winginit]

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.  :-*