The Old Folks Home

I didn't do it but it's nice to have another technique in my tool box as a last resort.
I'm either buying or borrowing an extractor. Buying with
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in hopes I continue to get better at this and the hives continue to get stronger in years to come.
 
So with an extractor you need a heated knife and what else? Where are you purchasing from?

I saw a video of a guy that used a propane torch to remove the cappings and not a knife at all. He said it was better because no wax was lost so more was left for the bees to work with. Just enough heat to make holes in each cell cap.
There's a new stainless 2 frame hand crank extractor with free shipping for 119 on e-bay. Factory direct. I'm sure it is slow and one has to turn the frames to do both sides.
Big decision. Time is money and money is time. I guess I could go with that to start and when I have too many frames/too little time, I could always sell it and buy a bigger one.
Even used ones are $100 or more. If kept clean, they hold their value.

I found this thing but it doesn't make sense. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bee-New-Hon...326d988&pid=100005&rk=2&rkt=6&sd=251034985911
All it does is hold the frames. $35, $21 shipping and you still have to get a 32 gallon trash can and then put a drain in it and supply a drill. That's $68 and you still have all kinds of hassle.

This guy is auctioning one. Bidding is up to $53 and it's $40 shipping. http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONEY-EXTRA...1079922&pid=100009&rk=1&rkt=1&sd=400995799070
The same guy sells the same unit on craigslist for 140 without shipping.

At the festival yesterday, the lady exhibiting on the table next to me is a bee keeper. She had free samples. She has 45 hives in 5 locations throughout the city.
 
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@ChickenCanoe

I got to looking at extractors the other night... out of curiosity.... There are DIY ones shown on You tube.... HDPE barrel couple of bearings and a drill motor....

But you could use an old washing machine with the same barrel just stood up inside fastened to the drum and put it on spin cycle....

Gearing down or up would be a bit more complex but not Very complex.

Also I have seen extractors for less than a hundred.

http://www.honeyspinner.com/
http://www.plantertomato.com/2010/09/beekeeping-how-to-make-a-honey-extractor-for-28.html

This site gives you visuals on the parts and individual parts... as in a power conversion for a hand crank extractor

http://www.maxantindustries.com/extractors.html


But I like the thought of using a drill motor with a Morter mixer tool attached and a framework of some sort built around it. then you could insert the whole thing in a container of choce for honey capture.


deb
 

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