[dangolding]

Despite the awful weather, my ladies have been exceptionally busy and I'm looking at an amazing honey harvest.

Problem is, I don't have a honey extractor and they are absolutely extortionate to buy.

I've seen various "plans" and youtube videos on homemade extractors, but just wondering if anyone has actually made one and was it worth the effort?

Any advice gratefully received

Cheers

Dan

[Trillium]

Can't help you with any plans, but I'd strongly advise against a wooden one. The honey would eventually cause mold problems and harbour diseases. You'd need a metalworker to help with a metal one. Have you tried looking for a 2nd hand one? Or contact any local beekeepers and see if they have any small ones they aren't using which you might borrow this year (and return very clean). Eventually you might source a 2nd hand one as beekeepers tend to need larger sizes as their hives increase. Once they get into larger extractors they rarely go back to their smaller ones.

[beekeeper chris]

not sure if this is any help but if so I'll hire it off you when you have used an built it lol as i am rubbish at amkeing things let me know what you think an how you got on 
http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2005/september/honeyextractor.htm

[oldbean]

If you need a drum, you could try http://www.dvfuels.co.uk/product.asp?pid=51.

I would strip the wheel hubs, clean and repack with food grade grease. Rocol make some, but then U expect others do too.

I thought commercial units had the frames round the circumference so the honey came straight out. Do they have them mounted radially?

[Roughlee Handled]

If you are planning to sell or give away or even barter with your honey it must bee (sorry for the pun) extracted using a staneless steel or hygienic plastic extractor.

Edit: Correct spelling mistakes.

[joyfull]

if making one in stainless it would be best to ask your metal supplier for dairy quality stainless (this is the best) - there are several grades of stainless and they will know exactly which grade you would need