Extractor

[manek]

How efficiently does it extract brood frames, mbc?

I have one of these. The swing cage takes half the number of brood frames.

 

[ericbeaumont]

I have one of these. The swing cage takes half the number of brood frames.

Yes, but what % of honey does it extract? Machines vary and as the bigger drums spin slower, efficiency of extraction declines or the spin takes longer.

 

[manek]

I've not found this an issue: the honey all comes out.

The swing cage take eight super frames max, so it's not that big but even so I've never found the need to spin it at max revolutions. I got it up to about 2/3 speed once, it was the first time I used it. Being tangential, I blew out the comb. So I've never used it at full speed.

Incidentally, you can get a radial cage for it, something I'm seriously considering.

 

[mbc]

How efficiently does it extract brood frames, mbc?

About as good as you can get with the tangential swing cages.
It gets a good amount of partially granulated honey out too.
I originally bought it for spinning out agitated frames of heather honey but have ended up using it for everything its so good.

 

[Erichalfbee]

have ended up using it for everything its so good.

I don’t suppose you’d explain how they work?

 

[manek]

I don’t suppose you’d explain how they work?

There's an arm attached to the circular main frame. To the arm is attached a wire cage within which the frames are enclosed, and which can be rotated through 180 degrees. This means you can rotate the frames without having to remove them each time. Saves time and much stickiness...

 

[Erichalfbee]

There's an arm attached to the circular main frame. To the arm is attached a wire cage within which the frames are enclosed, and which can be rotated through 180 degrees. This means you can rotate the frames without having to remove them each time. Saves time and much stickiness...

Thanks.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

I have a lyson 20 frame, nothing wrong with it but its not been used for several seasons now, its just kept as back up. It was superceded by a konigin 8 frame swing cage extractor, which takes 16 super frames, and is a brilliant bit of kit in my opinion, it spins out over a thousand supers a season for me.

I can also testify to the Swing cage type being a brilliant piece of kit, although ours is a Lyson 24 frame.
A six minute cycle leaves the frames bone dry and I reckon we have gained a 4% increase of yield just by upgrading the spinner.
All frame types are accommodated with zero issues.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

I've not found this an issue: the honey all comes out.

The swing cage take eight super frames max, so it's not that big but even so I've never found the need to spin it at max revolutions. I got it up to about 2/3 speed once, it was the first time I used it. Being tangential, I blew out the comb. So I've never used it at full speed.

Incidentally, you can get a radial cage for it, something I'm seriously considering.

A swing cage should never blow frames as the whole idea is that the frame is supported by the cage.

 

[thorn]

Unless you have a dedicated honey room in which it can be left in situ throughout the year, when buying an extractor don't buy one that's too big to store and manhandle.
I speak from experience. My bee buddy and I agreed to get an 8-frame Kosygin. He was to order it. On looking at the website he found the 12-frame didn't cost much more and ordered that instead, a decision that's caused a great deal of inconvenience. Apart from anything else the motor has to come off for storage. Still, at least it's his garage that had to be totally reorganised, and he has a double door from the garden into into his kitchen for us to manhandle it through.

 

[pargyle]

I bought a second hand Lega 15 frame .. beautiful bit of kit - not a thing that I woiuld change . It was a bargain . Sadly, I have to take the legs off to get it trhough the kitchen door ! Hardly convenient but a honey room would help .