DIY Extractor vs Cheap Import

[deseret]

Hello!

With things like vevor extractors being available for around $125 is it worth it to try and build an extractor? My biggest motivations for building are that it would be fun, but also to try and save money. With everything costing so much more lately it seems like unless I get lucky at yard sales and classifieds the materials to put one together are going to be more than just buying one.

Has anyone done a budget build of a centrifugal extractor recently?

[Ben Framed]

I was planning on building my own, but another member here, 30WCF told me of his vevor. I bought the 4 frame extractor and have not regretted it.
But, if you wish to build your own then I say go for it .  Let us know what you decide once your make a decision. Maybe others here will have more information to offer than I do. I do recall reading a post here from one of our fellow member from Australia that made his own. I am thinking it was a 9 framer. Wombat is his Beemaster name .

Phillip

[BeeMaster2]

If you build one build big. I bought a 9/18 extractor and i really would not want anything smaller. With only 10 hives we were extracting as many as 23 supers at each honey pull. there are extractor build projects here to show you how to do it.
Jim Altmiller

[BeeMaster2]

Here is one.
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=39929.msg338187#msg338187

To do a search for this topic, first go to
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?board=19.0
This is EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS.
Then do a search for        extractor build
There are lots of posts to choose from.
Jim Altmiller

[Lesgold]

I built an extractor many years ago just for fun. As stated earlier, unless you have access to cheap, secondhand materials, it can quickly turn into an expensive exercise. The one that I made used a large plastic drum and was powered by an electric drill. It worked and did the job but in the end, I gave it to a mate and bought a cheap Chinese unit which I used for a couple of years. When you start out keeping a few bees, money keeps on falling out of your wallet in a regular stream. Any method that you can adopt to keep those costs down will allow you to get established without the huge money burn.  It really comes down to how many hives you intend to keep and the time that you want to spend on beekeeping tasks. If I had a couple of hives, I?d tend to go for crush and strain and forget the extractor altogether. A small cheap extractor would comfortably handle up to about 10 hives with no issues. Above that, I?d follow Jim?s advice and get a much larger unit to handle more frames.

[Michael Bush]

I agree.  I just did without until I could afford the 9/18.  Anything smaller isn't worth the trouble.  Anything bigger won't fit through my door.  I think the Maxant 20 might fit, but that would be the maximum.

[Ben Framed]

I agree with Jim and Mr Bush. If you are going to build one, build a big one. For my own purposes the 4 frame extractor works just fine.

Phillip

[Michael Bush]

I think every beekeeper should keep their eye out for a used extractor that is cheap, but keep in mind you don't NEED an extractor.  When you can get one for a good price or you have the money to spend and want to spend it, then get one.

[Ben Framed]

I think every beekeeper should keep their eye out for a used extractor that is cheap, but keep in mind you don't NEED an extractor.  When you can get one for a good price or you have the money to spend and want to spend it, then get one.

I agree that every beekeepers should keep an eye out for an used extractor that is cheap. One never knows when he or she may decide to carry more hives than first planed for. Though not needed, they sure are convent in my opinion. I posted a topic here of how I extracted honey without an extractor my first season. That method worked 'very well' for me.
But the little 4 frame extractor brought to my attention by 30WFC sure is nice to have and a joy to operate. If I had found a larger used one for an inexpensive price I would have bought it instead. Even still I have no regrets considering the few hives I have or plan to have.

Phillip