Home-Built Honey Extractor

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #3, Page #09

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"I recently started beekeeping and needed a honey extractor, but I didn't want to spend the money for a commercial model. So I built one that fits inside a 31-gal. trash can," says Richard Groth, Naperville, Ill.
  The honey extractor is designed to remove the honey from wooden honeycomb frames. It consists of a "cage" that goes inside the trash can. The can mounts on a 3-legged wooden stand. A 1/2-in. variable speed, reversible drill is used to rotate the cage. The centrifugal force moves the honey out. There's about 1/2 in. clearance all the way around between the cage and the sides of the can. The honey drips down through a plastic drain at the bottom of the can and into a 5-gal. bucket.
  The cage consists of an 18-in. dia. metal strap at the top and a circular metal plate at the bottom, which are connected by lengths of 1/2-in. dia. conduit. The plate rests on a wooden block about 5 in. above the bottom of the can and contains the bearing for the center rod. Pairs of threaded 1/4-in. dia. rods run across the top of the cage and are spaced 2 in. apart. Four honeycomb frames fit inside the paired rods and snap into 4 small rectangular slots in the plate.
  The cage rotates on a 1/2-in. dia. pipe at the center. The pipe extends up through a wooden bar that's bolted at both ends onto the trash can's sides and contains the upper bearing.
  "It works great and removes every last bit of the honey," says Groth. "I had fun making it. After I locate a pair of bevel gears I plan to hand crank it, which will make it easier to regulate the speed of the cage.
  "I spent only about $30 to build it, whereas commercial honey extractors sell for about $200. I cut an 18-in. dia. circle out of a discarded clothes dryer to form the bottom. The wooden bar on top is a piece of hardwood flooring. All I bought new was the trash can, a bearing, a plastic fitting for the drain hole, and the strap iron around the top."
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Richard L. Groth, 32W 164 83rd St., Naperville, Ill. 60564 (ph 630 898-5362).

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Home-Built Honey Extractor FARM HOME Food I recently started beekeeping and needed a honey extractor but I didn t want to spend the money for a commercial model So I built one that fits inside a 31-gal trash can says Richard Groth Naperville Ill The honey extractor is designed to remove the honey from wooden honeycomb frames It consists of a cage that goes inside the trash can The can mounts on a 3-legged wooden stand A 1/2-in variable speed reversible drill is used to rotate the cage The centrifugal force moves the honey out There s about 1/2 in clearance all the way around between the cage and the sides of the can The honey drips down through a plastic drain at the bottom of the can and into a 5-gal bucket The cage consists of an 18-in dia metal strap at the top and a circular metal plate at the bottom which are connected by lengths of 1/2-in dia conduit The plate rests on a wooden block about 5 in above the bottom of the can and contains the bearing for the center rod Pairs of threaded 1/4-in dia rods run across the top of the cage and are spaced 2 in apart Four honeycomb frames fit inside the paired rods and snap into 4 small rectangular slots in the plate The cage rotates on a 1/2-in dia pipe at the center The pipe extends up through a wooden bar that s bolted at both ends onto the trash can s sides and contains the upper bearing It works great and removes every last bit of the honey says Groth I had fun making it After I locate a pair of bevel gears I plan to hand crank it which will make it easier to regulate the speed of the cage I spent only about $30 to build it whereas commercial honey extractors sell for about $200 I cut an 18-in dia circle out of a discarded clothes dryer to form the bottom The wooden bar on top is a piece of hardwood flooring All I bought new was the trash can a bearing a plastic fitting for the drain hole and the strap iron around the top Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Richard L Groth 32W 164 83rd St Naperville Ill 60564 ph 630 898-5362

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