With a honey extractor you win the delicious honey from the combs. Which model suits you perfectly depends primarily on whether you are a hobby or professional beekeeper and how many bee colonies you work with in your garden. Our buying guide will help you find the best honey extractor for your needs.
The selection of honey extractors is large, as is the price range
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Arebos Manual Honey Extractor Tangential Extractor 4 Frames Extractor 4 Frame Extractor Stainless Steel Honey Extractor
199.99 EUR To the product| operating mode | manually |
|---|---|
| Arrangement honeycomb | tangential |
| number of combs | 4 |
| material | Stainless steel |
| Lid transparent | yes (plexiglass) |
| feet | yes (2 curved) |
The excellent price-performance ratio is decisive for the enormous popularity of this honey extractor. Amazon reviewers describe the test winner of our comparison as handy and quick and easy to clean. In addition, buyers state that the material has absolutely convinced them that it is robust, stable and durable. The key message is that the model is an excellent choice for a small number of beehives.
our recommendation
Wiltec manual honey extractor 4 frame honeycomb stainless steel Zander DNM centrifuge
192.81 EUR To the product| operating mode | manually |
|---|---|
| Arrangement honeycomb | tangential |
| number of combs | 4 |
| material | Stainless steel |
| Lid transparent | yes (plastic) |
| feet | yes (3 curved) |
According to Amazon buyers, the Wiltec honey extractor should be well made and do its job perfectly. Only the stability is sometimes a little criticized. One reviewer recommends screwing the extractor onto a cheap Euro pallet to ensure the necessary stability. The handling, operation and cleaning are consistently praised.
our recommendation
Kwasyo GCSJ Manual Honey Extractor 3-Honeycomb Food Grade Stainless Steel Manual Honey Extractor for Beekeeping Bee Line with Cover
To the product| operating mode | manually |
|---|---|
| Arrangement honeycomb | tangential |
| number of combs | 3 |
| material | Stainless steel |
| Lid transparent | yes (plexiglass) |
| feet | yes (3 curved) |
The Kwasyo honey extractor is a good choice for hobby beekeepers. It is very easy to use and just as easy to clean - without unnecessary effort. If criticism can be read, this usually refers to the fact that the tangential extractor was already damaged, dirty or otherwise defective.
Purchase Criteria
operating mode
Manually: The beekeeper operates the honey extractor manually. He transports the honeycomb into the cauldron, closes the lid and then turns an external crank. Manual extraction is of course much more strenuous and time-consuming than harvesting the honey electrically, but it is also more traditional and authentic. Other advantages are the simple handling and the lower purchase price.
electric: The honey extractor works electrically - a motor drives it. The beekeeper's only task here is to switch the centrifuge on and off. Some models have a practical timer and some also have several spin programs and spin speeds, so you can customize the spin. An electric honey extractor is the only sensible solution for quickly obtaining larger quantities of honey, even if it is more expensive both in terms of purchase and follow-up costs (electricity).
our recommendation
LYSON 4-frame honey extractor Diagonal extractor Ø600 electric, universal, honey extractor with electric drive made of acid-resistant stainless steel, tangential extractor for 4 frames
419.00 EUR To the productnumber of honeycombs
Hobby beekeepers and beginners with few bee colonies do not need too many comb spaces. A honey extractor with three, four or six combs is absolutely sufficient. Professional beekeepers and advanced, ambitious hobby beekeepers with several bee colonies, on the other hand, should rely on a honey extractor with at least eight combs.
Arrangement of the honeycomb
Tangential: With a tangential extractor, the honeycombs follow a tangential arrangement. That means the inside of the honeycomb is facing out. In this way, the extractor can only empty one side of the honeycomb at a time. You have to repeatedly turn the combs by hand to harvest all the honey. Tangential extractors are available in manual and electric form (but they are usually operated manually). They offer less space than radial extractors, but are easier to clean. In addition, the honeycombs do not break easily.
Radial: With a radial extractor (also self-twisting extractor), the honeycombs of the honeycomb basket follow a radial arrangement. This means the comb frames face outwards and the combs are fixed one behind the other in a circle in the honey extractor. A centrifugal extractor is usually electrically operated and generally offers a lot of space, so that you can extract a larger number of combs at the same time. In addition, you do not have to turn the combs manually. The centrifuge itself changes direction in order to eject the honey from both sides of the comb.
Caution: It is important not to let the slingshot run too fast. Otherwise the combs are in danger of being crushed and damaged by the centrifugal force of the honey.
our recommendation
Lega Tangential and Radial spinner Jolly for 15 radial frames or 5 tangential frames with electric motor
1,450.00 EUR To the productmaterial
When it comes to materials, there are no two opinions: choose a stainless steel honey extractor. The latter is by far the best material for these purposes. It does not rust, is very robust, impresses with its longevity and is also easy to clean.
Some honey extractors are made of tinplate or aluminum. However, these models are considered to be comparatively inferior.
A transparent Plexiglas cover offers the advantage that you can see from above whether the spin cycle is working properly.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
How does a honey extractor work?
A honey extractor, also known as a honey extractor, exposes itself
- a cylindrical drum (cauldron),
- a honeycomb basket that is firmly connected to a rotary axis and the respective drive,
- an outlet tap (valve) as well as
- a lid
together.
After your bees have diligently filled the combs with honey, you remove these combs from the hive, open them with a spatula ("uncover") and finally clamp them in the honey extractor.
You then start the manual or electric centrifugal process, in which the honeycomb basket rotates either vertically or horizontally, depending on the extractor, and the yellow-golden liquid is thrown out of the honeycomb thanks to the physical centrifugal forces.
A quality honey extractor only works so fast that the combs remain intact. The honey is squirted against the walls of the cauldron and then collects at the bottom. You can remove the sweet good through a simple valve.
Who Needs a Honey Extractor?
Every beekeeper - whether hobbyist or professional - needs a honey extractor to extract the honey from the combs. There is no alternative to this elementary tool.
What is the difference between warm and cold spin?
The temperature in the hive is constant at around 35 degrees Celsius. To ensure that the honey can be spun out as easily as possible, you should place the combs in the extractor immediately after removing them from the hive and opening them with a spatula and sling them immediately. Then there is talk of warming - it brings a larger yield and higher honey quality.
If you spin the honey out of the honeycomb at a later time, this is called cold spinning. The temperature is then between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius.
Which manufacturers offer high-quality honey extractors?
Among the best-known manufacturers and brands of honey extractors
- logar
- Nisala
- winning country
- grace
- dadant
- CFM
- Lyson
- imgut
How much does a honey extractor cost?
Manual honey extractors generally cost between 180 and 300 euros. For electrical versions, you normally pay 280 to 500 euros - depending on the manufacturer, quality and specific features (number of honeycombs, etc.). There are also versions beyond the 1000 euro limit.
tips
At Amazon you can buy used honey extractors from well-known brands and sometimes save a lot of money. Some beekeepers who have switched to a different model sell their older versions on the Marketplace. You can also find used honey extractors on eBay. Extractors can be rented in some hardware stores - worth considering if you only want to harvest honey very rarely (once).
Can I build a honey extractor myself?
Yes, but only if you have a lot of manual skills and experience when it comes to welding. Also note that it is usually not much cheaper to build a honey extractor yourself. Think carefully about whether you really want to do this. If so, use the following assembly instructions as a guide, for example:
youtubeHow do I clean a honey extractor?
To ensure that the honey remains pure and edible, the honey extractor must be cleaned regularly, i.e. after each use. You can use warm or cold water. Also, try not to use detergent or other chemicals. The video shows you how it's done:
youtubeequipment
honeycomb baskets
Additional honeycomb baskets may be useful as replacements or when radial/tangential switches are desired.
tips
In order for the combs to rotate in the basket, you need a centrifugal basket without a continuous central axis.
Whether honeycomb baskets or other spare parts: If possible, buy versions that come from the manufacturer of your honey extractor.
rubber feet
If the honey extractor does not already have some, rubber feet that can be mounted on the leg ends of the extractor, which are available separately, ensure more stability and stability when extracting.
our recommendation
Adam Hall Hardware 4906 M4 AH - set of 4 rubber feet 38 x 10 mm black in a bag
4.79 EUR To the productFloor heating
With underfloor heating, the honey becomes more liquid. As a result, it is easier to win. The accessory is particularly recommended for larger honey extractors.