Welcome, Guest

Author Topic: Extractor Comparisons  (Read 10259 times)

Offline ArmucheeBee

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 514
  • Gender: Male
Extractor Comparisons
« on: July 20, 2012, 10:59:05 pm »
Getting ready to buy a larger extractor (18 to 20 medium frame) for next year's harvest.  Does anyone have any comments comparing Mann Lake to Brushy Mtn. to Maxant in this size category????   I plan on getting motorized.  Has anyone bought a non-motorized unit and motorized it?

Currently using an 8-frame built by John Bixler, works great but my volume is way up and I need to expand.
Stephen Stewart
2nd Grade Teacher

"You don't need a license to drive a sandwich."  SpongeBob Squarepants

Offline AllenF

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 8192
  • Gender: Male
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2012, 11:23:44 pm »
To me, the next one I get (if I ever get another) will be electric.  You are doing good with that.   Check the prices.   Remember shipping.   Mann lake is way far.   Brushy is closer.   I would choose on price.   

Offline AllenF

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 8192
  • Gender: Male
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2012, 11:27:21 pm »
And have you priced out extractors from Rossman's.?

Offline David McLeod

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 702
  • Gender: Male
  • Georgia's Full Service Wildlife Solution
    • Georgia Wildlife Services, Inc
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2012, 09:55:35 am »
Allen, I was thinking the same thing. With shipping costs I would check to see if I could pick up at Rossman.
Georgia Wildlife Services,Inc
Georgia's Full Service Wildlife Solution
Atlanta (678) 572-8269 Macon (478) 227-4497
www.atlantawildliferemoval.net
georgiawildlifeservices@gmail.com

Offline ArmucheeBee

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 514
  • Gender: Male
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2012, 11:58:36 am »
Rossman is $400 more than Brushy for a 21 frame electric.  Dadant is even higher.  Mann lake has free shipping and only $100 more than Brushy.
Stephen Stewart
2nd Grade Teacher

"You don't need a license to drive a sandwich."  SpongeBob Squarepants

Offline AllenF

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 8192
  • Gender: Male
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2012, 12:13:48 pm »
Call and make sure Mann will free ship on an extractor (may truck ship also) and call for a shipping quote from Brushy.   But you have done your homework so far.   Let us now which you go with.   And post pics of it in use.    :-D

Offline Intheswamp

  • Super Bee
  • *****
  • Posts: 1501
    • BeeWeather.com
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2012, 01:59:02 pm »
I've no experience buying from Mann Lake, though I have heard good things about them.  BUT...they are the only company that I have heard people say to not buy an extractor from or to state they regret buying one from.  :?

Having said that, you have Rossman across the state from you and Kelleys up north in Kentucky.  They pretty well bring orders to most large meetings in the area.  If you have a large regional beekeepers meeting in your area you could get them to deliver your order to the meeting (no shipping expenses)....you might check with them and see if they go to these meetings.  Brushy Mountain and Dadant are normally at the meetings but I'm not sure they bring orders with them...I've wanted to order some things before for meeting deliveries but they don't get the word out in time so I order from Kelleys and Rossman...

McDonough, GA - Georgia Beekeepers Association Fall Meeting Sept 8-9 (I saw this one on Kelleys calendar)(GBA also has a spring meeting in February...this year it was in Newnan, GA.)

Cookeville, TN - Tennessee State Beekeepers Fall Meeting Sept 28-29 (I saw this one on Kelleys calendar)

Cullman, AL - Alabama Beekeepers Association Picnic in May (I know these 2 vendors go to this one)

Montgomery, AL - ABA annual meeting the first of October (I know these 2 vendors go to this one)

Auburn, AL - Honey Bee Symposium in February (I know these 2 vendors go to this one)

Is the $400 difference an apple to apple comparison or is it apples to oranges?  You might want to pick up the phone and call Rossman's about the pricing...worse thing they can say is "no".  Also, Rossman carries the "Italian" extractors.  I believe these are the "SAF"(?) brand.  My mentor has a 9-frame SAF and it is a fine extractor...looking at the website they are more expensive than the Maxants and Dadants.  Maxants are built in the USA...I don't know about the others and uses premium grade stainless with high quality welding (no caulking, from what I understand).   With the size investment that you're about to make I would definitely research the quality of the equipment *and* the quality of the after-sale support.

Best wishes on your search,
Ed
www.beeweather.com 
American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Offline Jim134

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 3045
  • Gender: Male
    • Franklin County Beekeepers Association
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2012, 02:40:56 pm »
 Rossman's sell Maxant, I would buy a Maxant just about 35 mi. east of me and made in the USA.


http://www.maxantindustries.com/index.html



  BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
        Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."
 John F. Kennedy
Franklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

Offline ArmucheeBee

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 514
  • Gender: Male
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2012, 03:14:19 pm »
The Rossman 21-frame is Italian.
Stephen Stewart
2nd Grade Teacher

"You don't need a license to drive a sandwich."  SpongeBob Squarepants

Offline Jim134

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 3045
  • Gender: Male
    • Franklin County Beekeepers Association
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2012, 04:10:36 pm »
Rossman's sell 4 brand of honey harvesting equipment but I know if I NEED PARTS where to go if at is a Maxant.:roll: But may bee I would like go to Itay but the air fair would KILL the budget :shock:

http://www.gabees.com/store/index.php?cPath=37_68
  



    BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
        Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."
 John F. Kennedy
Franklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

Offline David McLeod

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 702
  • Gender: Male
  • Georgia's Full Service Wildlife Solution
    • Georgia Wildlife Services, Inc
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2012, 04:19:13 pm »
I know price is important as is quality but for me I like to give the first chance to my local vendor. The more I can support local the better my options for getting what I need without having to resort to online and shipping fees. At least give Fred a call and see if you can haggle. Fred always at least heard me out and I'm old enough to to not take no personally. You also have pigeon mountain close to you but I know nothing of them other than they mispell their last name.
Georgia Wildlife Services,Inc
Georgia's Full Service Wildlife Solution
Atlanta (678) 572-8269 Macon (478) 227-4497
www.atlantawildliferemoval.net
georgiawildlifeservices@gmail.com

Offline David McLeod

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 702
  • Gender: Male
  • Georgia's Full Service Wildlife Solution
    • Georgia Wildlife Services, Inc
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2012, 04:22:09 pm »
I've seen the Italian extractors advertised long enough and in enough places that I would assume that parts are available as well.
Georgia Wildlife Services,Inc
Georgia's Full Service Wildlife Solution
Atlanta (678) 572-8269 Macon (478) 227-4497
www.atlantawildliferemoval.net
georgiawildlifeservices@gmail.com

Offline ArmucheeBee

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 514
  • Gender: Male
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2012, 11:14:13 pm »
Pigeon Mtn price on a 20 frame extractor is a leisurely $2900!!!!  Are you kidding me?   The basket in it looks like one of the china extractors I saw on a website for imported goods at cheap prices.  My concern is not price but quality, but almost $1000 more than your competitors is a little much.
Stephen Stewart
2nd Grade Teacher

"You don't need a license to drive a sandwich."  SpongeBob Squarepants

Offline AllenF

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 8192
  • Gender: Male
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2012, 09:20:20 pm »
Pigeon Mountain is a reseller from other supply houses. 

Offline David McLeod

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 702
  • Gender: Male
  • Georgia's Full Service Wildlife Solution
    • Georgia Wildlife Services, Inc
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2012, 10:44:41 pm »
Hmmm, I get the impression that I'm not the only one who felt...........
Georgia Wildlife Services,Inc
Georgia's Full Service Wildlife Solution
Atlanta (678) 572-8269 Macon (478) 227-4497
www.atlantawildliferemoval.net
georgiawildlifeservices@gmail.com

Offline ArmucheeBee

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 514
  • Gender: Male
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #15 on: July 22, 2012, 11:25:32 pm »
As I live ony 40 min. south of pigeon mtn, i know them all to well. 
Stephen Stewart
2nd Grade Teacher

"You don't need a license to drive a sandwich."  SpongeBob Squarepants

Offline VolunteerK9

  • Super Bee
  • *****
  • Posts: 1647
  • Gender: Male
  • Gamecock fan in UT land.
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #16 on: July 23, 2012, 09:06:40 am »
Ive got a Kelleys 20 frame and havent had any problems with it. Im pretty sure JP has a Maxant if you want to quiz him about his.

Offline David McLeod

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 702
  • Gender: Male
  • Georgia's Full Service Wildlife Solution
    • Georgia Wildlife Services, Inc
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #17 on: July 23, 2012, 02:50:26 pm »
Let us know what you decide. I'll be on the market for one myself shortly.
Georgia Wildlife Services,Inc
Georgia's Full Service Wildlife Solution
Atlanta (678) 572-8269 Macon (478) 227-4497
www.atlantawildliferemoval.net
georgiawildlifeservices@gmail.com

Offline ArmucheeBee

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 514
  • Gender: Male
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #18 on: July 23, 2012, 09:21:35 pm »
Mann Lake and Brushy definitly have the best prices.  They both sell quality products. Brushy has a Baldor 110 volt motor and ML a 90 volt (nameless motor).  Can anyone tell me if that is a big difference?  I will check on the seam of the barrel.
Stephen Stewart
2nd Grade Teacher

"You don't need a license to drive a sandwich."  SpongeBob Squarepants

Offline BeeMaster2

  • Administrator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 13489
  • Gender: Male
Re: Extractor Comparisons
« Reply #19 on: July 23, 2012, 10:24:11 pm »
I have a 9/18 frame Mann Lake motorized extractor. It is all stainless steal, is easy to clean, and is easy to disassemble and put back together if needed.
I did make one modification. The top tends to close on its own. I super glued a super strong flat magnet, that I removed from a hard disc drive, in a spot where metal holds it up.
If you are already upgrading from a 9 frame extractor, you may want to look at a larger unit. I would definitely order a motorized unit.
Jim
Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin

 

anything