"Murray McGregor" said > FWIW, I would recommend buying the very best
extractor you can find with
> the funds available to you.

IMHO, which extractor to buy is one of the questions that really does depend
on size of operation.  Suzanne said if I remember she had about 2 hives - a
good number for someone who wants honey from the garden. So say 6 to 8
supers a year.  That ought not to take more than say one day per year.
Now, factory extractors made in UK are generally robust, with metal gears.
Imported Italian stainless steel extractors are under half the price but
have nylon gears. I would guess however that my Italian would last at least
6 months in daily use (no evidence though).  That is say 120 days - so it
would last Susanne - and her children, and grandchildren -  120 seasons.
For that style of beekeeping, why pay more (assuming such a spec is on sale
within reach), even if u could afford it?

U can put people off starting beekeeping if it seems too expensive in
comparison to the expected value of the harvest .

Robin Dartington

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