{"id":239,"date":"2010-09-17T15:46:23","date_gmt":"2010-09-17T14:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/?p=239"},"modified":"2011-04-03T01:43:14","modified_gmt":"2011-04-03T00:43:14","slug":"how-to-build-a-honey-extractor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-honey-extractor\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Build a Honey Extractor"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In order to\u00a0get honey out of your beehive you have to be able to take\u00a0it out of the honey comb. If you are a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bestbeekeeping.com\/top_bar_hives.html\">top bar beekeeper<\/a>, you do this by removing the whole comb\u00a0and then straining the honey out. But if you use standard wired frames in a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bestbeekeeping.com\/beehives.html\">Langstroth type hive<\/a>, then you will need to <a href=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/beekeeping-video-harvesting-honey\/\">use a honey extractor<\/a> to\u00a0get the honey out.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>You can of course buy a honey extractor, although there are quite expensive &#8211; depending on the model, from about $250 up. And because you will only use\u00a0it\u00a0for a few days a year at most, it is difficult to\u00a0justify.\u00a0Alternatively,\u00a0if you have a good local beekeeping association, you can usually rent or borrow\u00a0their honey extractor.\u00a0This is a much better option, but one drawback is that you may have to wait your turn, particularly if there are a lot of hobby beekeepers in your area.<\/p>\n<p>So, if you are a hands on type of person, there is another\u00a0solution &#8211; build your own honey extractor.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What materials will you need?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 large steel drum<\/li>\n<li>2 bicycle wheel rims (of smaller diameter than the drum)<\/li>\n<li>1\u00a0thick threaded metal rod\u00a0(at least a meter long)<\/li>\n<li>10 nuts for the metal rod<\/li>\n<li>2 pieces of wood (length\u00a0equal to\u00a0diameter of the drum)<\/li>\n<li>1 meter of 2-3mm fencing wire<\/li>\n<li>4 40cm lengths of 8mm threaded rod<\/li>\n<li>16 8mm nuts<\/li>\n<li>8\u00a0coach screws<\/li>\n<li>1\u00a0self centering bearing<\/li>\n<li>1 pillow block bearing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Note:\u00a0Make sure that\u00a0the metal drum\u00a0was never used to store potentially toxic materials.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What tools will you need?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>an electric drill<\/li>\n<li>a welder (and preferably some welding experience)<\/li>\n<li>a socket set<\/li>\n<li>a hack saw<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Instructions<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_245\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-245\" href=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-honey-extractor\/garth-cambray-extractor\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-245\" class=\"size-full wp-image-245\" title=\"Honey extractor base\" src=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-extractor.jpg\" alt=\"Building a honey extractor: the base\" width=\"250\" height=\"187\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-245\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bottom of the honey extractor drum<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Remove the end of the drum that does not have two pouring holes. The newly opened end will be the top of your honey extractor. Use the coach screws to attach one of the pieces of wood across the bottom of the inside of the drum (making sure you do not cover the pouring holes). The wood length\u00a0should be the full diameter of the drum.\u00a0Then screw the pillow block onto the centre of this piece of wood.<\/p>\n<p>Insert the threaded rod through the center of the first bicycle rim,\u00a0holding it in place\u00a0approximately 10 centimeters from the end of the rod with a nut on each side.\u00a0Screw another 2 nuts on together about 15mm from the end of the rod (this is the end which will sit in the bearing). From the opposite end of the rod, screw on a nut for the other wheel &#8211;\u00a0the second wheel will rest on this nut, and is again\u00a0secured with another nut on top. The distance between the 2 wheels\u00a0should be\u00a0about 35 cm.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_246\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-246\" href=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-honey-extractor\/garth-cambray-rims\/\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-246\" class=\"size-full wp-image-246\" title=\"Completed extractor basket\" src=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-rims.jpg\" alt=\"Completed extractor basket\" width=\"250\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-246\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Completed extractor basket<\/p><\/div>\n<p>When both of the wheel rims are in place, drill holes in four spots around each wheel at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o&#8217;clock positions, and use the 8mm rods to lock the wheel rims together, using 4 nuts on each rod. Make sure that 2 cm of rod protrudes.<\/p>\n<p>Thread another nut down the central\u00a0rod until it is about 15cm from the top wheel. Put the self centering bearing above this, and secure with another nut above.<\/p>\n<p>Cut a slit 10mm deep and 3mm wide into the end of the rod using the hacksaw (in other words, make it into a screw head &#8211; this is where you&#8217;ll use the drill to spin the extractor).\u00a0Then screw on another 2 nuts at this end of the rod. Now put a spot of weld on <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>all<\/em><\/span> the\u00a0nuts to permanently lock them into place.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_247\" style=\"width: 150px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-247\" href=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-honey-extractor\/garth-cambray-rim\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-247\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-247\" title=\"Extractor basket with wire in place\" src=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-rim-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Extractor basket with wire in place\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-rim-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-rim-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-247\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Extractor basket with wire in place<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Next, fasten the wire to the the spokes of the bottom wheel rim, approximately 5-8cm in from\u00a0the rim. This will\u00a0stop the frames falling\u00a0out of the basket.\u00a0You have now successfully made the basket of your honey extractor.<\/p>\n<p>Place the extractor basket\u00a0into the drum, with the rod in the pillow bearing.\u00a0Now position the second piece of wood diagonally across the\u00a0mouth of the\u00a0drum and in line with the self centering bearing. Attach it to both the drum sides and to\u00a0the bearing with coach screws.<\/p>\n<p>Your honey extractor is now complete!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_250\" style=\"width: 150px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-250\" href=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-honey-extractor\/garth-cambray-honeyextractor\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-250\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-250\" title=\"Honey extractor from above\" src=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-honeyextractor-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Completed honey extractor seen from above\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-honeyextractor-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-honeyextractor-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-250\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Honey extractor, complete with frames<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_251\" style=\"width: 150px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-251\" href=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-honey-extractor\/garth-cambray-using-extractor\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-251\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-251\" title=\"Using the honey extractor\" src=\"http:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-using-extractor-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-using-extractor-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Garth-Cambray-using-extractor-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-251\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Honey extraction in action!<\/p><\/div>\n<p>To use it, place you uncapped honey frames in the extractor basket (between the spokes of the top wheel, and resting on the wire on the bottom wheel)\u00a0and turn it using a drill with a screwdriver bit in the chuck. Gradually build up speed (although not too fast, or you will damage the honeycomb).<\/p>\n<p>When you are finished, the honey can be drained out of the outlets at the bottom of the drum, and strained as usual.<\/p>\n<p>Building your own honey extractor is obviously for the more adventurous beekeeper, but it is a real money saver, and equally as effective as a bought extractor.<\/p>\n<p>Photo credits Garth Chambray <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scienceinafrica.co.za\/2005\/september\/honeyextractor.htm\">www.scienceinafrica.co.za\/2005\/september\/honeyextractor.htm<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In order to\u00a0get honey out of your beehive you have to be able to take\u00a0it out of the honey comb. If you are a top bar beekeeper, you do this by removing the whole comb\u00a0and then straining the honey out. But if you use standard wired frames in a Langstroth type hive, then you will &hellip; <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link btn\" href=\"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/how-to-build-a-honey-extractor\/\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,42,20],"tags":[68,44,74,72,43],"class_list":["post-239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beekeeping","category-harvesting-honey","category-honey","tag-beekeeping","tag-building-a-honey-extractor","tag-harvesting-honey","tag-honey","tag-honey-extraction","item-wrap"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":275,"href":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239\/revisions\/275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestbeekeeping.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}