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Author Topic: Radial vs Tangential  (Read 4957 times)

Offline RandGraham

  • New Bee
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Radial vs Tangential
« on: July 16, 2005, 10:59:31 am »
I was wondering if someone can briefly explain the difference between radial and tangential extractors. This is my second year in beekeeping.

Last year I borrowed the club's four frame hand crank extractor. With this unit it was necessary to put the frames in. Crank for ahwile. Flip the frames. Crank. Flip. Crank. Flip Crank. Basically spinning them twice per side.

This year I used a two frame extractor that operated the same way with having to flip three times and spin twice on a side.

Do radial extractors eliminate all the flipping?

Thanks,
Rand

Offline stilllearning

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Radial vs Tangential
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2005, 05:31:11 pm »
The difference between the two is the way the frames are held
in a radial extractor the frames fit in like spokes in a wheel.
in a tangential the frames fit like the rim of a wheel
in a radial extractor you do not reverse the frames to extract
in a tangential you reverse the frames to extract the opposite side
you can reverse the direction of rotation on most radial extractors, while not necessary, it will dry the frames better, that is you get a little more
honey.  To me radial is the only way to go, but they do cost a bit more
and are usually larger.
Wayne Cole