Dancing Extractor

[Anybrew2]

I have been having trouble with my extractor moving around the garage floor for years So I put some wheels on it after a suggestion on this site and it helped dramatically the extractor would just dance around all over the shed and occasionally crash in to stuff.

Last week when I was extracting, I accidentally left a  large lid off a 20 Kilogram honey bucket on the ground(Right way Up). I also moved the extractor and ONE wheel went up onto the lid.
I started the extractor and to my amazement this rogue wheel on the lid just sat there and the extractor simply moved around a little on the lid but basically it just sat there.
The rim of the lid guided the wheel and kept it in place. It made my day,I hope this might help someone else who is fighting their extractor.

Cheers
Steve

[OldMech]

   Interesting!
   I have my extractor bolted to a heavy base. Its an OLD AI root extractor (24 frame) and I can usually start out slow enough that it managed tobalance itself out...  If it does start to dance I can stand up the table and keep it in place... but, that old extractor weighs nearly 120 lbs on its own so it doesnt often need assistance.

[BeeMaster2]

I kept the top board from the crate that the extractor came in and place it on the floor. I then place the extractor on top of it and use 3 1/2" screws to lock it down. It does a good job holding it in place.
Jim

[amun-ra]

your extractor should be on 3 legs if on 4 it will always walk about

[Anybrew2]

It only has three Mate.

[Michael Bush]

Somehow I'm hearing "Dancing Extractor" to the tune of "Waltzing Matilida"...

[Anybrew2]

haha yeah it fits

[BeeMaster2]

Somehow I'm hearing "Dancing Extractor" to the tune of "Waltzing Matilida"...

Yea, Me too. 

[Ed Gallop]

Mine is clamped to a piece of plywood and then the wood is clamped to my garage workbench. Legs removed. I have a variable drill suspended from the ceiling with a bungee cord and connected to the handle (if no motor). I twisted a copper wire to hold the trigger where I want it. Takes me less than 5 minutes to set up. Load the frames, plug in the battery, or plug in the wall, and let the extractor do its thing while I do something else. With plastic foundation it takes less than 5 minutes to extract. Wax is about 10 minutes at a lower speed.

[Wombat2]

Starting to think outside the box on this. I have a home made 9 deep frame radial extractor. perfect on 3 frames , gets a bit of a wobble on 6 frames but is OK, 9 frames over half speed and in shakes quite a bit - even throws frames at times

Now I have a recollection that years ago there was a gimmick on the market that was to supposedly auto balance your car wheels while driving down the road. It was a circle of pipe that clipped onto the rim and it had a liquid in it. as the wheel spun the liquid leveled out according to the imbalance.........hmmmm I wonder? (think harmonic balancer)

Here we go .....http://www.centramatic.com/wheel-balancer.rhtml?modelNumber=400-420 The  FAQs describe what is in them 

[Ed Gallop]

If it worked at a low centrifugal force it may but then you would have to eyeball frames to see where to shift the weight. I do that anyway when loading. But I do not have the large radial extractor anymore. Mine will wobble if not balanced but I'm not concerned because it is clamped down. I will add weight of some kind if it wobbles too hard. Bolting or clamping it down is the answer for a walking extractor.