Honey Extractor

[Swift Nick]

I am looking for recommendations for an extractor, I am happy with a manual, want it to be radial, I don’t mind food grade plastic or stainless, but I want something robust, that will last, I won’t have to replace any time soon.
I currently have 3 colonies, I wouldn’t ever have more than 6.
I have a budget of £500 max, prefer to spend less, any recommendations welcome, thanks.

 

[Codford]

https://www.thorne.co.uk/index.php?route=product/search&filter_name=Octimel

£295

 

[jfullerton]

Consider getting one that you can easily add an electric motor to in the future......three hives might seem easy now....but go up to four or five, with four supers on each.....

 

[Beefriendly]

Consider getting one with a motor full stop....they make extracting honey a pleasure. I would never consider going back to manual extraction...it's a real time waster.
You can get a 12 frame electric from £600.....or a 6 frame tangential for £500

 

[maddydog]

Not a bad idea to get one with screens so you can extract your 14*12 frames

 

[Swift Nick]

Thanks for the advice, I am going to up the budget and get a motorised extractor, either a Gordian 8 frame radial https://www.beckysbeesonlineshop.co.uk/8-frame-motorised-extractor-1472-p.asp or a Lyson 12 frame radial https://www.abelo.co.uk/shop/extractors/electric-12-frame-radial-extractor/.
I am a bit surprised by how expensive extractors are, but it’s probably best to get the right one now, not later.
Does anyone’s have any experience of either of these two?
Thanks Nick

 

[Beefriendly]

or a Lyson 12 frame radial https://www.abelo.co.uk/shop/extractors/electric-12-frame-radial-extractor/.

I have a 20 frame Abelo/Lyson extractor, a real good piece of solid kit. I would think the 12 frame would be as good. Not seen the other type.

 

[wightbees]

I need a bigger extractor this year, not really looked yet.

 

[Millet]

I'm not on a big scale yet doubt i ever will be but them prices are a little too high for me.. if i ever manage to extract more than 9 frames per year.. i will build a frame and stick the cordless drill on after i have removed the cranking handle handle..

 

[Bee Bumble]

Hi Swift Nick,
I started with the Giordan 8 frame drill driven exctractor:

http://www.thebeebusiness.co.uk/range_extractors.php

and later bought the Lyson 20 frame premium extractor:

https://www.abelo.co.uk/shop/abelo-...rame-radial-extractor-premium-line-open-days/ (Note prices),
Which as you see is on offer at the moment. You can still get 10% off at the Spring convention if you cannot get to Dunnington open day.
Both extractors are well made and reliable, but with only 3 to 6 hives I think the former would be better value for you, although a motor would be better than a drill-driven extractor which would require you to keep pressing the button until the job is done (go and have a coffee). You may find you have 20-30 hives in a year or two and wish you had bought a bigger extractor!.

The Lyson is well-made and excellent value and fine for National frames, but be warned, if you change to Langstroth, Dadant (or Manley National) you will find that not all brands of frame will fit it and the tangential screens will not work with Langstroth / Dadant brood frames (fine with ordinary National or 14x12.)
Also, the Lyson has a gap near the spindle so honey will run onto the motor if you do not leave the honey gate open (easy to avoid).

 

[Beefriendly]

I'm not on a big scale yet doubt i ever will be

3 supers of honey....approx 75lbs in weight bottled and sold in 12oz jars (100) at £5/jar= £500....okay not all is profit; but it doesn't take that much honey to turn your money earned from sales into some decent kit.
I reckon you'll get at least three supers from each of your Buckfast queens next season. Given a decent rub of the weather.

 

[Millet]

Hi Swift Nick,
I started with the Giordan 8 frame drill driven exctractor:

http://www.thebeebusiness.co.uk/range_extractors.php

and later bought the Lyson 20 frame premium extractor:

https://www.abelo.co.uk/shop/abelo-...rame-radial-extractor-premium-line-open-days/ (Note prices),
Which as you see is on offer at the moment. You can still get 10% off at the Spring convention if you cannot get to Dunnington open day.
Both extractors are well made and reliable, but with only 3 to 6 hives I think the former would be better value for you, although a motor would be better than a drill-driven extractor which would require you to keep pressing the button until the job is done (go and have a coffee). You may find you have 20-30 hives in a year or two and wish you had bought a bigger extractor!.

The Lyson is well-made and excellent value and fine for National frames, but be warned, if you change to Langstroth, Dadant (or Manley National) you will find that not all brands of frame will fit it and the tangential screens will not work with Langstroth / Dadant brood frames (fine with ordinary National or 14x12.)
Also, the Lyson has a gap near the spindle so honey will run onto the motor if you do not leave the honey gate open (easy to avoid).

Brilliant advise But as far as drills are concerned have you not heard of Duct tape in your neck of the woods ,,

 

[Millet]

3 supers of honey....approx 75lbs in weight bottled and sold in 12oz jars (100) at £5/jar= £500....okay not all is profit; but it doesn't take that much honey to turn your money earned from sales into some decent kit.
I reckon you'll get at least three supers from each of your Buckfast queens next season. Given a decent rub of the weather.

If you see the local forage here you will wet your self .. Temperature dependent these Queens from you may make that £500 figure slightly higher, but then again it is having a means to process so much.. we will see.

 

[Bee Bumble]

Brilliant advise But as far as drills are concerned have you not heard of Duct tape in your neck of the woods ,,

Yes, but with my drill at least, it is difficult to attain the desired speed - the 'push in button' is stiff and jerky and any achieved speed is difficult to replicate. Much easier to select a speed on a digital controller.

 

[wightbees]

You need to source better sites Millet. Surely you got heather in you neck of the woods let alone summer crop.

 

[drex]

Had my Giordan drill driven extractor for about eight years now. They were much much cheaper then as agri nova I think, we're just getting going. They recommended that I buy the drill with the extractor. It has a bit of a speed control knob on the trigger, and a trigger lock . Still serving me well, with no problems so far, but I do not know the type of drill they are now supplying

 

[Swift Nick]

Hi Swift Nick,
I started with the Giordan 8 frame drill driven exctractor:

http://www.thebeebusiness.co.uk/range_extractors.php

and later bought the Lyson 20 frame premium extractor:

https://www.abelo.co.uk/shop/abelo-...rame-radial-extractor-premium-line-open-days/ (Note prices),
Which as you see is on offer at the moment. You can still get 10% off at the Spring convention if you cannot get to Dunnington open day.
Both extractors are well made and reliable, but with only 3 to 6 hives I think the former would be better value for you, although a motor would be better than a drill-driven extractor which would require you to keep pressing the button until the job is done (go and have a coffee). You may find you have 20-30 hives in a year or two and wish you had bought a bigger extractor!.

The Lyson is well-made and excellent value and fine for National frames, but be warned, if you change to Langstroth, Dadant (or Manley National) you will find that not all brands of frame will fit it and the tangential screens will not work with Langstroth / Dadant brood frames (fine with ordinary National or 14x12.)
Also, the Lyson has a gap near the spindle so honey will run onto the motor if you do not leave the honey gate open (easy to avoid).

Thanks Bee Bumble for those links & the detailed reply, the 20 frame Lyson is just too good a machine to resist. It does have a larger capacity than I absolutely need right now, but this way I will only be buying once.

 

[Beefriendly]

The Lyson is well-made and excellent value and fine for National frames, but be warned, if you change to Langstroth, Dadant (or Manley National) you will find that not all brands of frame will fit it.

The Lyson extractors will fit National, Langstroth and Dadant frames. It's one of their strong selling points.

 

[Millet]

You need to source better sites Millet. Surely you got heather in you neck of the woods let alone summer crop.

I have a good spot already and i also have two spots on a manged heather moor, the only problem though is it is a two hour drive to move the bees.

 

[wightbees]

I can understand the work involved with all those boxes Millet