Has anyone ever tried making there own honey spinner?
I was thinking if I could get or make a cage to hold the frames I could do it all in a homebrew bucket using a drill for the odd one or two frames, as it already has a hole in the lid.
Only problem is I can't find any pre made cages for less than I can buy a full unit for?
You would have to control the rotational speed very carefully and accurately. Too fast and you risk blowing out the wax from the frame due to excessive centrifugal force
(Been there. Done that!). Too slow and you are unlikely to get an efficient extraction
(Been there. Done that too!). Another thing to consider is the radius of the arc described by the frame. (How big is your bucket?) A short radius would require a higher speed than a larger radius. Then, the faster things turn, the more interesting the results!!!
Another problem you may have is maintaining balance between the two frames. I have an ordinary hand cranked extractor and that still shakes about when I start winding the handle.
You would have to choose your construction material carefully. Plastic is unlikely to be strong enough to contain the drive shaft and its supports. Mild steel would not really be suitable due to potential rusting problems. Stainless steel is ideal and 307 grade is quite acceptable. You would have to ensure that your construction can be thoroughly cleaned. Stainless steel like other metal is no longer cheap.
I'm all for construction and engineering ones own equipment
(I have a well equipped machine shop) but sometimes a cheap massed produced item is far more time & cost effective than designing, building, testing, breaking, rebuilding, modifying. etc.
Of course, if you are simply looking for an excuse for the sheer joy of building something that you can eventually use. Just GO FOR IT, hang the expense and share your journey here.
Malcolm B.