Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: The Bix on September 11, 2010, 07:13:53 pm

Title: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 11, 2010, 07:13:53 pm
I was disappointed with all of the plans that I was able to find online for honey extractors.  So I paid for a set of plans I found on ebay.  Still disappointed, I decided with a friend's help to design and build one from scratch.  I've seen a lot of parts inside homebrew extractors made with wood, galvanized steel products and PVC....none of which is food safe.  I guess wood can be with the right sealing agent, but still it can warp.  So everything in this assembly is food safe HDPE or UHMW plastic and won't warp.  The barrel came from a recycle place and it is food safe.  All of the metal parts are stainless.  It is powered with a 1/2" corded drill and it is VERY effective.  It can do 8 medium or shallow frames radially or four deep frames tangentially.

I'd love to hear your feedback.  I have had a heck of a time trying to use this ImageShack thing, hopefully the pictures show up.

Here it is, ready to go.  It is powered by a corded 1/2" drill, though one can use a 3/8" drill and even works with a cordless drill:
(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/8383/dscf6196.th.jpg) (http://img543.imageshack.us/i/dscf6196.jpg/)

Here's what it looks like with the top pulled off.  You see the "top plate" which is used to secure the frames in place while spinning:
(http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/43/dscf6187.th.jpg) (http://img837.imageshack.us/i/dscf6187.jpg/)

With the top plate pulled off, frames in position for extracting:
(http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/8964/dscf6199.th.jpg) (http://img819.imageshack.us/i/dscf6199.jpg/)

With the top plate pulled off and frames removed, you can see the bottom plate and the guide ring:
(http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8682/dscf6188i.jpg) (http://img214.imageshack.us/i/dscf6188i.jpg/)

Spinner assembly removed, the stainless steel shaft extends out from the bottom and inserts into the bearing assembly:
(http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/5121/dscf6194n.th.jpg) (http://img25.imageshack.us/i/dscf6194n.jpg/)

Inside the barrel with the spinner assembly removed, you see the bearing assembly in the center and the honey gate off to the left:
(http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/3521/dscf6189.th.jpg) (http://img837.imageshack.us/i/dscf6189.jpg/)

Close up of the bearing assembly with a little propolis stuck to the top, there are seven ball bearings inside the hole where the stainless steel shaft rests:
(http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/1571/dscf6190r.th.jpg) (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/dscf6190r.jpg/)

Close up of the machined bottom plate:
(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1337/dscf6192m.th.jpg) (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/dscf6192m.jpg/)


--John
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 11, 2010, 07:17:35 pm
Oh, and here's a video of my 8 year old nephew running the extractor...he had a little help, but didn't need much.

DSCF6072.AVI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KWgA3fCGhk#)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: JP on September 11, 2010, 07:36:48 pm
So where did you get the parts for your spinner? The little man looks like he was having a ball.

Can we see pics of the honey?


...JP
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 11, 2010, 07:58:54 pm
JP, the stainless hardware came from mcmaster.com , the plastic originated from Professional Plastics here in Denver.  The barrel came from a recycle place in Longmont, CO. I forget where I purchased the honey gate.

I love it where you see him squeeze down on the trigger and his eyes get real big.

I didn't get any shots of the honey flowing out of the honey gate if that's what you're asking, but I do have a pic of a few 5 gallon buckets full of honey, and my honey supers stacked up after extracting.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: JP on September 11, 2010, 08:02:04 pm
Great job man!


...JP
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: G3farms on September 11, 2010, 08:39:24 pm
MORE POWER SCOTTY.....WE NEED MORE POWER!!!!!

Little guy was having a blast.

That is a pretty good looking extractor, and very nice routing job on the plastic parts.

How much do you have invested in it?
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: ArmucheeBee on September 11, 2010, 10:09:28 pm
So is the plastic bottom a "one-off" product or do they make these for the public?  It's really nice-very professional. 
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Sparky on September 11, 2010, 10:29:53 pm
Very NICE !!! ;) Looks like a bunch of thought went into the design. It should last for years.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: hardwood on September 11, 2010, 10:52:08 pm
All I can say to that is...PERFECT! Great job!

Scott
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: AllenF on September 12, 2010, 12:09:13 am
You might could start a little biz on the side selling the guts to the extractor.  I am sure most people already got the drill and they can get a barrel (too much to ship) and could put it all together with your in-sides.  Looks good.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 12, 2010, 02:30:20 am
MORE POWER SCOTTY.....WE NEED MORE POWER!!!!!

Little guy was having a blast.

That is a pretty good looking extractor, and very nice routing job on the plastic parts.

How much do you have invested in it?

HDPE and UHMW plastic isn't cheap, not to mention stainless steel.  There's probably about $200 in raw materials, plus the barrel then there's the machine time to make the jigs, do the routing...

Like I said it's not cheap, but I do like the design.  It is very solid and will last a long time, I might wear out the drill and perhaps the bearings in a couple years, but both of those are easily replaced.  I think that the cheapest radial extractor (motorized) I found was about $750 plus shipping from Mann Lake.  This will handle the same workload for well under half the price of that one.

I used a corded drill, but we tested it with a cordless and it worked just fine.  So it would be possible for one to use it out in the field with no access to electricity.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 12, 2010, 02:34:55 am
So is the plastic bottom a "one-off" product or do they make these for the public?  It's really nice-very professional. 

Do you mean the bearing?  If so, that's not something you see in the store.  The bearing assembly was machined on a metal lathe from a solid round of UHMW plastic.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 12, 2010, 02:36:56 am
You might could start a little biz on the side selling the guts to the extractor.  I am sure most people already got the drill and they can get a barrel (too much to ship) and could put it all together with your in-sides.  Looks good.

Sounds good Allen, you'll be my first customer, yes? ;)

Well, it does sound intriguing.  I still have the jigs for making most of the parts so I could replicate the pieces pretty easily....
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: lenape13 on September 12, 2010, 06:04:32 am
Nice job!  I, too, can see a side business in the making... ;)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: AllenF on September 12, 2010, 10:05:19 pm
When I wear out the one I got...    But I think you may be onto something with selling just the insides.  I think people might bite if they could put together a 200 dollar extractor.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 12, 2010, 11:18:24 pm
I think people might bite if they could put together a 200 dollar extractor.

$200 Absolutely! Unfortunately, the cost of the materials is $200 and doesn't include any of the machining/routing, etc.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: deknow on September 13, 2010, 01:41:15 am
what a great job!  I bet you could sell the kit (minus drum) for $400...reinvest in a CNC router and you are home free.

deknow
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Tommyt on September 13, 2010, 02:06:39 am
Let me Be the first to ask for a price for the pattern for these 2 ? 3 Pieces

Thanks
Tommyt

(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1337/dscf6192m.th.jpg)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: tecumseh on September 13, 2010, 08:48:28 am
first quite a nice job.  some 30 years ago they use to make a commercially available extractor that was constructed using a food grade plastic trash can and a drill for power.

a variable voltage output device (I have wondered if a router speed controller might not work????) could make controlling the speed of the reel a bit more precise.

snip..
The barrel came from a recycle place in Longmont, CO.

tecumseh:
you are assuming the blue barrel did not at one time transport medical waste tainted honey from china to here?  the 'standard' blue barrel looks like those commonly produced in China. 
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 13, 2010, 10:49:18 am
tecumseh, first...thanks for the compliment and the historical perspective

Second, regarding the speed controller...precision is nice, precision is preferred, but if you demand precision you get to pay up for it too.  I didn't want to pay up for a commercial extractor so the corded drill seemed to me to be the most expedient.  This is only my second year of beekeeping so I'm certain that you have more experience and knowledge than me.  That said, I didn't seem to have one bit of problem extracting honey with the drill.  I got used to the sound at a certain slower rpm level and held it there for the first two minutes, then I would speed it up quite a bit for another 30 seconds (about 3/4 on the drill).  I let it slow down to a stop, reversed the direction and then built it up quickly to the 3/4 level for another two minutes.  This was a very successful method of extraction for me.  I got about 300 lbs. this year.

Occasionally after the last two minutes, I would put the hammer down all the way just to experiment.  I never had a blowout of the honey comb. I did some extraction of a friend's supers later and we had several blowouts, but I think that was due to a cooler temperature, plus he scratched open all of the frames and didn't uncap. 

tecumseh:
you are assuming the blue barrel did not at one time transport medical waste tainted honey from china to here?  the 'standard' blue barrel looks like those commonly produced in China.  

Your assumption that I'm assuming is incorrect ;)  The barrel had two uses prior to becoming part of a honey extractor: corn syrup and then water.  I do not know the origin of the barrel.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 13, 2010, 10:53:10 am
Let me Be the first to ask for a price for the pattern for these 2 ? 3 Pieces

Thanks
Tommyt

(http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1337/dscf6192m.th.jpg)

I'll contact you offline, not sure what the forum permits and what it doesn't.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: shaux on September 13, 2010, 09:00:06 pm
Bix,

I am impressed.  Concerning the drill, what type of load does it put on it when first starting?  How many supers have you extracted with it?
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: tecumseh on September 13, 2010, 10:36:04 pm
I enjoyed the video also...

snip..
I got used to the sound at a certain slower rpm level and held it there for the first two minutes, then I would speed it up quite a bit for another 30 seconds (about 3/4 on the drill).

tecumseh:
I have powered up my old tangential converted to a radial extractor for several seasons with an old and heavy flea market purchased 1/2" variable speed drill motor.  I obtained from a friend an old physic lab voltage regulator which does quite a nice job of regulating the speed.  I have no idea of the exact rpm of the various setting on the dial of the voltage regulator.  At the end of the day I pretty much go by the sound and how much stuff is running out the outlet. 
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 13, 2010, 11:38:39 pm
Concerning the drill, what type of load does it put on it when first starting?  How many supers have you extracted with it?
I found that you have to hold it pretty tight and gently squeeze the trigger in order to get it smoothly started.  The drill really has plenty of power to move the extractor (I was surprised).  Getting it started is manageable.  You can see it in the video of my 8 year old nephew, check it out.

We extracted 15 supers in all, plus another 5 for a friend....and thanks for the compliment shaux!
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Tommyt on September 14, 2010, 02:54:35 pm
I tried to reply to the email and it didn't work so I sent a PM


Tom
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: shaux on September 20, 2010, 03:20:28 pm
How easy would this design be to upgrade to a bigger extractor?  Could it work in say an industrial restaurant pot?
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on September 20, 2010, 10:42:16 pm
How easy would this design be to upgrade to a bigger extractor?  Could it work in say an industrial restaurant pot?

Well, using existing barrel it is possible to fit 10 medium or shallow frames, but if I were to do that I would have to sacrifice the ability to set it up to handle deep frames.  I may just do that for myself anyway, I didn't have the need to extract any deep frames this year, don't envision the need to next year.

Regarding the use of an industrial restaurant pot, the answer is YES, as long as the pot's diameter is greater than 22 inches.  The diameter of the pot will determine how many frames you can get in.  The greater the diameter obviously the greater number of frames.  At some point though, the drill powered version probably has some limits.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: slacker361 on May 11, 2011, 05:20:55 pm
so I didnt see the parts list anywhere do you have one? I am not that mechanically inclined
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on May 11, 2011, 05:53:11 pm
I do, but the key parts (bearing assembly and mounting plates) are fabricated, not off the shelf stuff.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: slacker361 on May 11, 2011, 06:12:12 pm
oh crap that is where I fail.....
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on July 12, 2011, 11:29:45 pm
See Stephen's comments on this extractor:

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,33916.0.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,33916.0.html)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: alexlloyd on September 25, 2011, 10:29:30 pm
Bix;

Where did you get the plate machined, and what did it cost.... at $5 per pound, how many pounds of honey am I looking at.

Alex

Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on October 27, 2011, 09:40:14 am
 So everything in this assembly is food safe HDPE or UHMW plastic and won't warp.

Except for all the frames you spin. ;)

If you do throw a frame and it gets caught it will more than likely brake that 8 year olds arm or wrist.  The torque you feel at the start is nothing you would feel with a rotor lock up.

Nice machining by the way.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: VolunteerK9 on October 27, 2011, 07:15:24 pm

Except for all the frames you spin. ;)


Seriously? Geez
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: slacker361 on October 27, 2011, 07:24:24 pm
before I got my motor I used a drill, and it dam near broke my wrist...... of course the drill was a direct drive geared drill so when the drill stopped it stopped, there was no doubt about it. so then the handle of the drill would start to move and very rapidly by the way..... so I got the motor, figured it was cheeper than the broken wrist.....
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Sundog on October 27, 2011, 09:41:26 pm
I built a small extractor also, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.  It too is limited by the barrel size (it is based on a tub 18 inches in diameter), so it will only spin four frames.  Mediums radially, and deeps tangentially. 

I found that 1-1/8 inch holes fit "standard" (although I shy away from that term) Dadant frame tabs nicely, eliminating the need for machining.  It has a rotating shaft design that turns in sealed bearings top and bottom with triangular flats ground onto the end to (loosely) fit a 3/8 in drill and rather than slowing or stopping, just lift the drill to disengage it and let it spin down.  Works good with empty frames.

About $70 in parts and I had a great fun making it.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on October 28, 2011, 09:38:38 am
Quote
It has a rotating shaft design that turns in sealed bearings top and bottom with triangular flats ground onto the end to (loosely) fit a 3/8 in drill and rather than slowing or stopping, just lift the drill to disengage it and let it spin down.

You can disengage as long as there is not a jam up.  I would suggest that anyone using a drill that is held by hand make a sheer pin connection and a yoke so you can disengage like the gentleman above does.  You could play with a saw tooth shape on the yoke so only a certain amount of torque could be transmitted before it automatically disengages by itself.  Then the pin could be solid.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Sundog on October 28, 2011, 01:40:35 pm
You can disengage as long as there is not a jam up.  I would suggest that anyone using a drill that is held by hand make a sheer pin connection and a yoke so you can disengage like the gentleman above does.  You could play with a saw tooth shape on the yoke so only a certain amount of torque could be transmitted before it automatically disengages by itself.  Then the pin could be solid.

All very good points, all of which drive up the cost.  While a "jam up" is unlikely (given the design), unless a frame breaks, the flats on the shaft are ground so that the drill fits loosely when wide open and it pops off pretty easily.

I'm not trying to sell anybody on anything.  I mostly only wanted to share the point that a 1-1/8 hole will work in place of very costly machining.  The most costly pieces were the tub $30, and the two bearings $10 each.

I had fun!

(http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/extractor.jpg)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on October 28, 2011, 03:04:09 pm
Quote
the flats on the shaft are ground so that the drill fits loosely when wide open and it pops off pretty easily.

I like your simple design but I also know that IF a jam up occurs the shaft will not uncouple so easily plus it happens to fast so be prepared for the worst.  The uncoupling happens easily under normal situations because once the load is up to speed the torque goes to near zero.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: litlehoop on February 20, 2012, 05:35:01 pm
This look like an awesome extractor for a backyard beekeeper like myself, Easy to make? How much for the parts? How much for the plans? I have some time to get one together, but would like to get one together soon.
Thanks for being a beekeeper.... the planet loves you for it.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on February 20, 2012, 07:04:12 pm
This look like an awesome extractor for a backyard beekeeper like myself, Easy to make? How much for the parts? How much for the plans? I have some time to get one together, but would like to get one together soon.
Thanks for being a beekeeper.... the planet loves you for it.

Litlehoop,

I think it's pretty easy to make, you do need some basic skills and tools, but the hardest and most critical part is finding the center on the barrel bottom and top.  The rest is pretty much assembly work.  Oh, and locating a barrel seems to be a bit difficult for some.  Here's where I found mine: http://www.cozerowaste.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_5&products_id=2&zenid=1d98iv2os301eosmas1f548ss4 (http://www.cozerowaste.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_5&products_id=2&zenid=1d98iv2os301eosmas1f548ss4)

PM me offline for further details.  I've provided one other person on this forum the parts and I'm sending another couple out this week.

--John
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: sky_dvr on February 22, 2012, 06:46:52 am
I really like your design. I (like you) was really surprised at the cost of an extractor and decided to make my own; until I started pricing out the stainless. I quickly found out that to beat 1K motorized or $630 and my drill attached where the hand crank should be is a difficult thing to do when working with stainless. I worked out a pattern for the top and bottom for the SS and I think it would hold for plastic although I would need to go back and review it for strength. I like your bearing design ( from what I could see  :-D ). I had an idea of a container other than plastic and we might trade a few ideas via email or PM if you like. I'm not bad at mechanical things but electronics is my gig at the day job. I have a few sources of lower cost motors (not as cheap as the flea-market drill though) that would have infinite speed control.

All the best,
Sam
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on February 22, 2012, 09:20:31 am
To beat the cost of stainless you have to buy used.  In this economy there are businesses flopping left and right.  An 8000 dollar vessel might be 200-300 on the used market.  Start there and adapt.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on February 22, 2012, 09:46:43 pm
I really like your design.... I had an idea of a container other than plastic and we might trade a few ideas via email or PM if you like.

All the best,
Sam

Thanks for the compliments sky_dvr, I'm happy to discuss over PM if you prefer, but I think everyone who's looked at this thread would love to hear your ideas in the open.

--John
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: litlehoop on February 25, 2012, 05:37:04 pm
Thanks for the quick response, I have been trying to find a locale barrel, with some luck too, but have been looking for open top, but then realized the link you sent was for a closed top. I know I can cut off the top,  but how do you keep the top on and centered when it is spinning so it does not throw honey or you all over the place? There is no band locking it down...... just curious.
Thanks,
Randy
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on February 25, 2012, 06:59:59 pm
Thanks for the quick response, I have been trying to find a locale barrel, with some luck too, but have been looking for open top, but then realized the link you sent was for a closed top. I know I can cut off the top,  but how do you keep the top on and centered when it is spinning so it does not throw honey or you all over the place? There is no band locking it down...... just curious.
Thanks,
Randy
Hey Randy,

Whoops!  The link I sent was indeed for a closed top.  I am not recommending that you use a closed top at all though...sorry for the confusion.  I am using and a barrel with a removable top and a band clamp.  While in operation I set the band clamp aside.  The plastic top fits nice and tight over the lip of the barrel top edge and doesn't move during operation.  The drive shaft is centered with a hole in the plastic top and the plastic top is reinforced with an HDPE disc.  If you have to use a closed top barrel, you'll have to figure out some way to anchor something to the barrel that centers the shaft above the barrel.  The honey, even with an open top, would not fly all over the place either.  The top plate encloses the frames pretty well and the honey spins out and hits the inside of the barrel.

HTH,

--John
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on February 25, 2012, 08:27:02 pm
Mine is a closed top but I turn it upsidedown and cut out the bottom.  That leave the bungs for getting the honey out or draining when cleaning.

http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/acebird1/Extractor/FourFrameExtractor007.jpg (http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/acebird1/Extractor/FourFrameExtractor007.jpg)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on February 25, 2012, 10:12:50 pm
Bung holes in the bottom is a great idea.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: cbinstrasburg on February 26, 2012, 12:18:28 am
is that a ceiling fan in the bottom...if so what keeps the honey out of it
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on February 26, 2012, 08:39:00 am
Not being stupid.
Recently I needed to do an emergency extraction in the beginning of February and I messed up on covering the top holes.  Honey got in and it gummed up the bottom bearing so it slowed it down.  I had no choice but to take the motor apart and hose every thing under the kitchen sink!  I got through one box of honey and the motor blew so now I am waiting for the next ceiling fan to enter the dumpster.  I kick myself because we let at least three go last year.

On the next one I will make absolute sure that I get that spinner disc mounted to the motor so nothing can drip into.  The first time I used this extractor I put a plastic baggy over the motor and that worked.  This time I tried to tape the holes but that wasn't good enough.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Jim134 on February 28, 2012, 06:53:30 am
is that a ceiling fan in the bottom...if so what keeps the honey out of it


http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,30300.20.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,30300.20.html)

 Just take a look  :roll:


   BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on February 28, 2012, 09:36:20 am
Bung holes in the bottom is a great idea.

If you look at how a plastic barrel is made you see that big plastic lip on top.  I haven't yet but I will make a wooden stand so the barrel will be clear of the floor and supported by that lip.  The bottom of a plastic barrel is rounded so there is not a good way to stabilize that.

Also in the post that jim linked to I mentioned the three speed fan.  I don't use the lower speeds because in fact a ceiling fan motor is a torque motor so it will take off slow anyway and build up speed as the frames get lighter.  If you blow out a frame it may jam and do no harm.  It will just stall.  Ask me how I know.  Here is some video if you like.
First extraction four frames 002 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HDzQ30LF9Q#)

Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: neilapms on April 09, 2012, 06:36:45 pm
Hi That's a great looking extractor. It's the best one I've seen, fair play to you. I was just looking in my yard trying to think of a way to make one. I have the stainless steel drum. Do you have a cross section of the sealed bearing detail or even a plan for the whole lot. If you do not you should and sell it. Just a simple drawing would do. I'll buy. Keep up the good work.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on April 09, 2012, 08:08:14 pm
It is a bit crude and was made to be simple out of stuff you can find.  Thanks for the complement.  If I can help you in any way let me know.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Nico on July 23, 2012, 07:37:00 pm
Hi Bix,
I am impressed with the extractor and the amount of thought and work you have put into it.To ease the pressure on the wrists, would it be possible to attach two uprights to the lid,incorporate a cross piece with a clamp above the drill chuck?
Vic.     
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: beeghost on August 11, 2012, 01:13:07 am
That is a nice extractor Bix!

I built mine last year from scratch as well to save some money. My motor is an old treadmill I tore apart and used what I needed! The barrel is a food grade barrel used for water. The metal frame that holds the frames I welded up with a threaded bolt on top so I could adjust the height of the pulley going to the belt/motor, and the bottom of the frame was a cotter bolt. Everything metal was coated three times with Camcoat that I got from Brushy Mountain. I even coated the interior wood with Camcoat as well.
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f276/tulebustin/Calkins%20Apiary/theextractor.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f276/tulebustin/Calkins%20Apiary/extractoretreadmillpart.jpg)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f276/tulebustin/Calkins%20Apiary/extractorframes.jpg)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on August 11, 2012, 09:32:06 am
BeeGhost, I would like to see more wood around the top bearing and the pulley mounted much closer to the bearing.  I am assuming you have a bottom bearing on the basket but that would mean it would be spinning in the honey.  I am not thrilled with that idea.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Joe D on August 11, 2012, 10:53:03 am
Bix, I got the guts to the extractor of yours that went to Ga.  Have put it together yet but I have a tread mill motor and control I am going to try to run it with.  What is your link to a drum with removeable top, I have one with closed top, haven't started working on it yet.



Joe
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: beeghost on August 11, 2012, 05:29:44 pm
BeeGhost, I would like to see more wood around the top bearing and the pulley mounted much closer to the bearing.  I am assuming you have a bottom bearing on the basket but that would mean it would be spinning in the honey.  I am not thrilled with that idea.

More wood around the top bearing and the pulley mounted closer to the bearing??? What the heck would that do?? Just to let you know, I boiled the bearings a few times to remove the grease.

Besides..........i am assuming you use USED fan motors, correct? You know how much dandruff and dust and other particulates those things collect, not to mention its right INSIDE your extractor. And if I am correct, fan motors also have greased bearings........how did you get around that??

I dont care if your not thrilled with the IDEA, it works and it is food safe, which I highly doubt yours is. Looks like you need to lean over the barrel to stabilize it, more than likely you are sweating which is dripping into your extractor...........ewwww. Oh ya, I havnt had to replace anything on my extractor, and the motor will last a very long time im sure, unlike your ceiling fan motors that are covered in honey. Speaking of motor, you completely Camcoated the motor and everything in it right? If you didnt you are letting consumable honey touch unfood grade surfaces. You yourself said that honey got into the motor and gummed it up, which means that same honey collected dust, dandruff and other particulates............not to mention your sweat dripping into the extractor............ewwww.

I really think you dont like it because its an ingenious idea that came from a red neck and your jealous. No really, you are.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on August 12, 2012, 09:46:29 am
BeeGhost, I would like to see more wood around the top bearing and the pulley mounted much closer to the bearing.  I am assuming you have a bottom bearing on the basket but that would mean it would be spinning in the honey.  I am not thrilled with that idea.

More wood around the top bearing and the pulley mounted closer to the bearing??? What the heck would that do??
I was trying to help you out with some suggestions.  You will find out what the heck it does after some usage.
Think about how many of these fans are in kitchens and dining rooms directly above food with fan blades blowing on said food.  There is nothing about your extractor that is "food grade".  Likewise, there is nothing about my extractor that is food grade.  On a personal basis it doesn't have to be.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: beeghost on August 13, 2012, 02:24:38 am
ok ACE...........let the cat out of the bag, what is going to happen?? So far I havnt had a single problem, and dont for see any problems happening. And yes, everything about my extractor that touches the honey IS food grade, unlike yours. I made sure to get a food grade barrel, a food grade honey gate and anything metal and wood got coated with food grade epoxy..............so that makes everything that touches the honey food grade.

And your right, ceiling fans are located in kitchens and dining rooms..............but.............have you ever cleaned one before?? If you have you would notice the dust that collects on them a inside of them. Oh ya, and your not eating food off of them either. Until I decide I want to buy an all SS extractor this one will work just fine, and when I do decide to sell it, I bet it will sell pretty quick as well! How about yours?
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on August 13, 2012, 09:11:06 am
Why would somebody buy something that is so simple to make themselves?
FYI An unprotected friction belt drive above a vessel is not food grade.  At the end of the day the amount of foreign particles that enters the vessel will be far more than a clean ceiling fan motor that is direct drive.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: beeghost on August 14, 2012, 12:44:23 am
Ace, you are such a sly guy, you actually seen the belt drive, clever you. Now, did you happen to see the two pieces of lexan on the barrel?? There is one piece that goes under the plywood section up to within 1/4" of the drive shaft. There is another piece that goes on the "open" section of the barrel, where the frames go in. After the extractor is loaded that piece is put back into place, which not only protects the honey from most particulates..........but also prevents the honey mist particles from leaving th extractor and coating myself and my working area. The reason you dont see the lexan pieces, the extractor is not in motion and I was taking pictures of the working parts.

Now back to your ceiling fan motor, it doesnt matter if it is direct drive or not, you dug it out of a dumpster and put it into your honey extractor with out cleaning it thoroughly or coating it with a food grade epoxy. Honey is acidic there for it is eating away at the fancy finish of your motor and contaminating the honey with metal flakes that chip off, not to mention the dust from inside the motor housing and any old honey that is in the cracks and hard to reach places of your ceiling fan motor that make it into your current extraction process.

After extraction all I have to do is unscrew the plywood control panel, remove the belt and slide the motor out of the way on the extrude rail, remove the 2x4 with the frame that holds the honey frames and slide the barrel out and hose them down with soap and water, let dry and do it all over again.

Now tell me, do you tear apart your ceiling fan motor completely from top to bottom? I mean, even if you protect it with a ziplock baggie, honey will make its way into your motor.

Plain and simple, I seen "your" idea on youtube before I built my extractor and I hated it. That is why I went another route that is more sanitary and controllable. I have plenty of variable speed an power in my motor, how about yours?? I can do deeps and mediums and shallows (if I had any) and probably would have plenty of power just to throw the whole hive in the extractor!

So plain and simple, just admit that I made a better product and your jealous of this red neck extractor. This SANITARY red neck extractor............yes I said extractor, not vessel.............I dont think my extractor would float, to dang heavy.

Had to edit: OMG I actually watched your video!!! You actually used pvc to connect your un-epoxied metal frame to!! And it spins around inside a hole cut into plywood, I could only imagine the pvc particualtes and plywood shavings that fall down with the honey onto your UNPROTECTED ceiling fan motor and into the honey that is collecting on the bottom of that barrel. Did I mention the sweat dripping into the UNCOVERED barrel that mixes with the honey? I noticed the spilled honey all over the side of the barrel. Aleast everyone not only gets your honey in a bottle, but they actually get YOU in the bottle as well!! How sweet and sour it is!!
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: derekm on August 14, 2012, 09:04:39 am
About using an electric drill, better use a Drill/driver  that you can set the torque  , that way if you get a crash, the drill "thinks" it just a sticky screw and slips the clutch.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on August 14, 2012, 10:17:50 am
That is the part that I really like about the ceiling fan motor it is already a torque drive motor with the RPM's in the correct range for extracting.  I don't bother with the three speeds anymore because when the frames are full it starts off slow and as the weight is removed from the frames it speeds up on it's own.  The motor is wired for the highest speed and I just plug it into the wall socket to start it.
Initially on my first trial runs I threw a frame and the importance of a torque limiting device was demonstrated.  It stalled the motor and didn't even break a frame.
The down side of using a ceiling fan motor is it has to be direct drive either suspended from the top as would be the common arrangement or mounted below as I have done.  Both arrangements have their plus and minuses.  I prefer the bottom arrangement because it gives a simpler and unobstructed loading and unloading of the frames.  I do not see that protecting the motor from honey drippings is insurmountable.
Not everyone has the machining capabilities of Mr Bix or the available materials he used.  He has a done a great job without a doubt but the average Joe Shmoe would probably end up paying more than what is commercially available from the people that make a living at it.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: buzzbee on August 14, 2012, 11:35:31 pm
Just a reminder of Rule 2 in the forum bylaws again:

RULE 2) BE KIND and INTERACT, NOT REACT. AGREE TO DISAGREE EVEN IF ATTACKED BY ANOTHER MEMBER - WE WILL HANDLE THE OTHER MEMBER.

If you don't agree with someone's view, EXPRESS your views rather than tear down theirs. You have the option on EVERY POST to report that post to Moderators, use this to quickly make us aware of a possible problem, we will take it from there.

Be kind to other members, do not put them down, bait them into fighting or do anything to create a fight whether in open forum or private messaging. Trashing another member will surely lead you toward the banishment door quickly. New members are expected to abide by the same rules as seasoned members. We believe that Ignorance of a rule is NO excuse to break it – you are expected to read the bylaws and strictly abide by them.

A link to it in case you decided never to read them:
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,19652.0.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,19652.0.html)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: MagicValley on August 15, 2012, 09:56:23 am
I have started making an extractor and had this idea for mine.

Wooden parts in a home-made extractor can be sealed with beeswax furniture polish. 


It is easy to make using beeswax and olive oil.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=recipe+for+beeswax+furniture+polish&oq=recipe+fopr+beeswax+furni&gs_l=serp.1.0.0i13.385319.393070.0.395337.25.24.0.0.0.0.378.5255.1j3j19j1.24.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.cJ3nfTcKKqE (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=recipe+for+beeswax+furniture+polish&oq=recipe+fopr+beeswax+furni&gs_l=serp.1.0.0i13.385319.393070.0.395337.25.24.0.0.0.0.378.5255.1j3j19j1.24.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.cJ3nfTcKKqE)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Acebird on August 15, 2012, 10:23:26 am
Although wood would not be an exceptable material in food processing plants because of cleaning issues using it for personal use in a homemade extractor is no different than using wooden frames as long as the  wood can be dried after cleaning.  A hobbyist only does one or two batches a year.  Use all the wood you want.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Jim134 on August 15, 2012, 11:04:53 am
Although wood would not be an exceptable material in food processing plants because of cleaning issues using it for personal use in a homemade extractor is no different than using wooden frames as long as the  wood can be dried after cleaning.  A hobbyist only does one or two batches a year.  Use all the wood you want.

Acebird..........

 Do you clean the wooden/plastic/metal parts of the hives ???



     BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: MagicValley on August 15, 2012, 11:20:40 am
Nature engineered beeswax to resist honey.  Thus a finish primarily made from beeswax and used to seal wood should be the ideal finishing agent.

I do not believe that the US.gov's standards are gospel.  Beeswax finishes have been used on wooden-ware food utensils for 1000s of years.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Sundog on August 15, 2012, 12:08:55 pm
I think lots of items for human consumption are processed and aged in wooden containers.  Wine and other spirits come to mind first.  :-D  I wouldn't use any sealer.  There may be other chemicals to speed drying or hardening etc.  I made my wooden pieces from poplar, the rest from food grade plastic and stainless steel.

I let the bees and the sugar ants do the cleanup for me.

Having fun!

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN1189.jpg (http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN1189.jpg)
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: litlehoop on December 23, 2012, 01:27:52 am
Ace and BeeGhost... both of your designs are good for personal use as is most home mead honey extractors. Both have their good point and bad pionts. As far as bearings being in the honey, food grade grease pumped into them after boiling, heating or whatever else needs to be done to remove machine grease is one way to go.
Bix what size frames can your machine do?
~Randy
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 23, 2012, 07:53:17 am
Dip the wood in liquid wax until it stop bubbling. It will last a long time and seal out water and the honey.
Jim
Don't know if this was mentioned, did not read the entire thread.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: saperica on December 23, 2012, 10:43:51 am
greatings from croatia
In my country people use corded drils, and better one is powermixers for tile glue, stucco, exc.
I have a tangential honey extractor, hand powerd, after a new year i will go to pick up a pair of window washer motor from a car to modify power. Reason is that motor from window washer have a reductor, and rev control and direction is menageble thru eletronoc potentiometer and 2 way switch.
I have on my mind to convert tangetial into a radial extractor and it is few reason why not.
First of all minimum distance from end bar of a honey frame to center axis is 250mm or 10" so do calculation.
This distance is for stabile and safe work. Avoiding honey comb braking and "dancing" whit honey extractor. One of important things is polypropilen selens on bottom of the legs that absorb motion of the extractor, similar thing is used on outside units of air condition units.
Inside i will allmost all replace whit inox mesh and inox square tubes.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: Spooner on June 12, 2013, 04:27:54 am
Love your layout for the bottom plate.  Great project, hope mine comes out as well as yours did.
Title: Re: My Home Built Radial Honey Extractor
Post by: The Bix on June 30, 2013, 12:46:28 am
Ace and BeeGhost... both of your designs are good for personal use as is most home mead honey extractors. Both have their good point and bad pionts. As far as bearings being in the honey, food grade grease pumped into them after boiling, heating or whatever else needs to be done to remove machine grease is one way to go.
Bix what size frames can your machine do?
~Randy

Sorry so long to get back.  It only does mediums, not enough diameter to squeeze a deep frame in there.  I set up the plates to do deeps tangentially, but when I tried it, didn't work so well.  Without anything to support the comb, it just flies off.