As what its name implies, honey extractors are used to remove honey out from the combs while at the same time preserving the combs’ physical state for future use. These mechanical devices mainly feature large drums that serve as the extraction chamber where the honey combs are placed. Once the honey combs are harvested, they are placed inside the drums which are then set to spin at high speeds, forcing all the honey out. Simply put, the honey extractor was designed to employ centrifugal force in order to extract the honey out of the comb while keeping it intact.
However, while honey extractors are important, you’ll also need to secure a few other things in order to properly go through the process of honey extraction. For instance, you’ll need to get a hold of various tools for uncapping the cells. If you’ve already done this process before then you’d know how it’s necessary to uncap honey combs first before placing them inside the extraction chambers. You can easily purchase these uncapping tools at any beekeeping equipment retailers. If you’re resourceful enough you can actually use manual uncapping forks or knives but if you want to do things faster, then it’s best for you to choose electrical knives.
Going back to honey extractors, the market actually offers you a wide range to choose from. It’s important that you choose the best honey extractors possible according to the amount of combs you are planning to extract honey from. Two of the most common types of honey extractors are classified as either radial or tangential extractors. Although both kinds of devices serve the same purpose, they differ in how each of their frames are positioned in the extractor basket. Redial honey extractors have frames that are positioned inside the basket with the top side facing outwards. On the other hand, the tangential type of honey extractor, feature frames that have only one side of the frame facing outwards. Compared to the latter type of extractors, the Redial honey extractors would require you lesser amount of energy to operate. For that reason, redial extractors are more often used for commercial purposes.
Additionally, honey extractors also come in a variety of sizes. Larger extractors are basically intended for commercial uses while the smaller ones are ideal for small scale businesses. Usually, the larger types of honey extractors can hold over a hundred of frames at once. This allows you to extract gallons of honey in no time. However, the smaller types of honey extractors can hold up to three or four times at once.
However, regardless of which type of honey extractor you choose, you’ll have to make sure it suits the purpose as well as your budget.