BBKA Forum

Hi folks, after a bit of advice please.

I am looking to buy a 12 frame radial electric extractor suitable for both deep and shallow national frames, any tips or suggestions ??

Thanks, Mick.

Not sure if you seen my conversion Mick..i changed a £120 four frame extractor into a eight super frame or four brood frame extractor from manual to electric..i used a mobility scooter motor which was free + £10 on a speed controller and forward and reverse switch..

Can't advise on 12 frame....but on the 20 frame extractors you could do worse than one of these at less than a grand
https://www.abelo.co.uk/shop/extractors/electric-20-frame-radial-extractor/
It's big enough to extract brood frames radially as well as supers and also fits through a standard door.
Just check they have they altered the base though as my old one doesn't take Manley frames, but I think they have solved that issue.

I have a 8 frame extractor from Giordano - models have now changed however. Mine uses an electric drill as the power source and works well. It can take 2 brood frames tangentially if needed as a couple of stainless steel frames were supplied for the purpose.
https://www.giordaninox.it/en/products/category/1/26
If you were to consider buying directly from Italy, you will now have to ensure that VAT is accounted for correctly as it's 'gone all complicated'.

Thanks for the help folks. The Abelo 20 frame is a bit out of my pockets Nigel but does look good. So far the only thing that I can find to meet my needs and pockets is the 12 frame extractor from Thornes, there really is not much to choose from in the UK is there.

There seems to be a huge increase in price for an electric model - often £300 for just a motor and controller which seems excessive.

MickBBKA wrote: ↑

10 Mar 2021, 00:10

Thanks for the help folks. The Abelo 20 frame is a bit out of my pockets Nigel but does look good. So far the only thing that I can find to meet my needs and pockets is the 12 frame extractor from Thornes, there really is not much to choose from in the UK is there.

Have a look at the Abelo 12 frame, about £200 cheaper and better made IMO.
Also worth asking them for a copy of their Lyson catalogue, they can obtain any of the 100's of different extractor models that Lyson do.

Looks a good bit of kit doesn’t it?

Quite tempted myself..

I often think what on earth are beekeepers doing with their honey money when they can't afford good bits of kit?
I reckon, after lids/labels/stall fees etc are deducted, each 12oz jar of honey nets me around £5 profit. I'm ignoring my labour costs of accumulating the honey...it's a hobby.
A super contains about 20lbs of honey which is approx 26 x 12 oz jars..... gives you approx £100 pounds profit per super.
One 20 frame Abelo extractor at say a £1000 only needs you to sell 10 supers of honey. In a bad year that's about 2 hives worth of honey .....in a good year 1 hive.

So what is everyone doing with their honey money sales that they can't afford to invest it back into some decent bits of kit?

NigelP wrote: ↑

11 Mar 2021, 19:05

I often think what on earth are beekeepers doing with their honey money when they can't afford good bits of kit?
I reckon, after lids/labels/stall fees etc are deducted, each 12oz jar of honey nets me around £5 profit. I'm ignoring my labour costs of accumulating the honey...it's a hobby.
A super contains about 20lbs of honey which is approx 26 x 12 oz jars..... gives you approx £100 pounds profit per super.
One 20 frame Abelo extractor at say a £1000 only needs you to sell 10 supers of honey. In a bad year that's about 2 hives worth of honey .....in a good year 1 hive.

So what is everyone doing with their honey money sales that they can't afford to invest it back into some decent bits of kit?

I Bought me a little 4X4 insured and taxed it and bought some big tyres.. ..just aswell really as the new farmer said i can put bees in that field..