Brett D Bannon wrote:
>
> I am thinking of purchasing a new extractor.  Hoping others on this list
> have already reached the conclusions of what makes a good extractor.
> Radial or Tangential or both?  Reversible or non-reversible?  Hand crank
> or motor drive?  Is a lid necessary?  Need a good quality product for my
> money!  Plan on extracting from 10 to 50 hives.  So then from which honey
> supply house should I make my purchase.
>
With that number of hives, you should not even consider tangential
machines.  Radial is the only way to go.  I would think you should
have one that handles 32 or 40 frames.  I picked up a 20 frame
extractor years ago, then realized that it was rated for 20 full depth
frames.  Since I use only medium or shallow frames, I have always
placed another 20 between the first ones on the designated racks, so
making it in effect a 40 frame extractor.  Even if I occasionally put
full depth frames into it, I can still interdigitate with the mediums
and get the maximum usefulness from it.
 
Also - don't even consider hand cranking.  I used to do that as a
teenager (we used a 4 frame tangential then), which was probably a
good use for all my excess energy in those days.  I can't even imagine
how much work it would be to hand crank a 40 framer!!
 
Yes, a lid is necessary.  You don't want junk falling into the
extractor, and even if you would never do such a foolish think as
sticking your hand into a moving machine, you may get visitors who
might.  And you don't need any unnecessary lawsuits over such a thing.
 
I have no advice on supply companies.  Mine is a Dadant, which has
always given me the best of service for 19 years, but I haven't heard
of any major manufacturers which give problems.
 
Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA