The Madison County Beekeepers Association owns a 2 frame, reversible, hand crank, honey extractor that is available for loan to any MCBA member.

For best results, please reserve the extractor for the period of time that you would like to use it as far in advance as possible by sending an email message to Bob Fanning. Click here to view the current reservation list. Reservations are taken on a first come first serve basis. Members can reserve the extractor more than one time per year but scheduling priority will be given to first time (per year) users.

Each user is required to thoroughly clean the extractor after using it. Failure to do so can result in access to the extractor being denied.

The borrower must coordinate the pick up from the last user and each user is responsible for their own transportation.

The current user is required to provide proper storage during and after using the extractor UNTIL the next user picks it up. Alternatively, any user may return the extractor to the MCBA Property Manager who is currently Maynard Dalton after usage.

The last user for the year is required to either deliver the extractor to the MCBA Properties Manager or store it themselves until for following year.

The user is responsible for the safe usage of the extractor and must agree to relieve the MCBA of any liability and or personal injury resulting from the use or handling of the extractor.

The extractor is a 2 frame reversible. It has 2 baskets inside the extractor. It is called a reversible because the 2 baskets pivot horizontally so that when the extractor handle is turned in one direction, the honey is slung from only one side of the frame. When the extractor handle is turned in the opposite direction, the baskets pivoted so that the honey can be slung from the remaining side. Since the baskets pivot, make sure that the 2 baskets are opposite each other before you start extracting. If they are not opposite each other the extractor will be badly off balance and will walk all around the room when you turn the crank

To use the extractor, uncap both sides of your 2 frames of honey (usually with a hot knife) and slide them down inside the baskets (the same number of frames in each basket – usually 1 in each basket). Turn slowly and extract approximately half of the honey. Then turn in the opposite direction and sling the other side. Then turn in opposite direction again and repeat this process until you are satisfied with the honey removed. If you crank too fast the first time you can "blow the honey through the comb". That means that the honey on the inside of basket blows through the mid rib of the honeycomb causing damage to the honeycomb.

Lower incident of "blow through" is the only real advantage to a "reversible" extractor other than not having to remove the frames to reverse them. Actual through put would be doubled if the baskets were removed and the spinning basket modified to hold 4 frames all of which would have to be hand reversed.

A modification kit is available to do this modification however the past yearly usage would not justify the association investing in the cost of the modification.

Click here to view the current list of scheduled users and or to choose a reservation date.

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brf 5/15/08