A good way to work a honey extractor?

This is Mr Wilson, beekeeper living in the rainforest of Ecuador, near the border with Colombia. Mr Wilson keeps his Africanized bees in Langstroth frame hives, which he makes himself. He has also made his own honey extractor seen here.

This extractor consists of drum with the frame holder inside. The frame holder is supported on length of metal rod, which is in fact piece of concrete reinforcing rod. This tod sticks up well above the top of the extractor. A piece of cord is wound around the top of the rod. Pulling the cord spins the frames, so that the honey flies out of the combs.

The frames spin backwards and forwards as the pull cord winds in and out with each pull reversing the direction of the spin with each pull. No need to take the frames out to reverse them! It is simple and effective. There is little effort involved, and no cogs to wear out!

Alan Morley

* Please see the original journal article to see a picture of Mr Wilson with his innovative honey extractor