In this type of machine, the frames are placed inside similar to the spokes of a bicycle wheel. This is mainly due to the surge in interest in beekeeping as a hobby. Radial extractors have become more popular in recent years. They hold from 4 to 9 frames (or more) at a time. They work very well but do require more time due having to repeat the process for each side of a frame. Tangential extractors are the most economical choice in most cases. In the other type, only one side is spun out and you have to flip the frame and repeat the spinning process for side two (tangential). This simply means that one kind of machine slings the liquid out of both sides of the frame at the same time (radial). ![]() Honey extractors come in two different types: Tangential and Radial. Choose at least a 4 frame unit if possible. But, they will work you to death if you have more than 1 or 2 hives. The smallest 2-frame models are okay to use. These may require a bit of frame manipulation or extra time to complete the extraction process. However, most also accommodate medium frames or even a small number of deep frames. If you have more hives, you might want a larger machine.Īll extractors work with shallow frames because this is the most common size used for honey collection. A small 4-frame honey spinner is fine for a backyard beekeeper with a few hives. In general, beekeepers choose an extractor based on the number of hives in their apiary. Therefore, the more frames you can put into the machine at one time – the faster your extraction job will go. ![]() Once all of the liquid is slung out, it is time to remove the empty frames of comb and refill. This means that you fill the extractor with the required number of frames and run the machine. A small one works the same as a larger model – it just takes more time.Įxtractors are measured by the number of frames they hold – at one time. This is due to speed or the amount of time you must spend to process your crop. Size is an issue when choosing this piece of beekeeping equipment. In addition to cost, (let’s face it – the cost of beekeeping can be depressing) there are several other factors to think about. When a beekeeper is considering what to buy, there are several different types of honey extractors to consider. Types of Honey Extractors – Tips for Choosing Just like a washing machine, the liquid is thrown out of the comb by force. This is similar to a washing machine when it is on the spin cycle. A motor or hand crank is used to apply power to the machine which spins the honey out. Uncapped frames are placed inside the extractor in the basket or holding frame. However, you can purchase special tools for extracting that make a cleaner and faster job of the task. Some beekeepers just use a warm bread knife to slice off the wax cappings. This part of honey extraction (called uncapping) can be accomplished with hand held or electric tools. Bees cover each cell with a wax cap that must be cut off. How Does a Honey Extractor Work?Īfter collecting supers of ripe honey from the hive, the frames of comb must be uncapped. This helps in emptying your extractor after you have finished spinning. Read my privacy and affiliate disclosure policy for more info.Ī slightly conical bottom directs the liquid from the sides of the drum to an outlet called a honey gate. ![]() They are less likely to rust than older types that were galvanized – though you might still find some of these in use. Modern machines are usually made of stainless steel. The most basic unit consists of a large container or drum (also called a barrel) and frame baskets (or similar structure) to hold beehive frames. A honey extractor is a piece of equipment that uses centrifugal force to separate liquid honey from the comb. Regardless of the beekeeping terminologyused to describe one, they work the same way. You might also hear them referred to as a honey spinner or honey centrifuge. Before choosing the best honey extractor for your use, you need to understand what it is.
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