Back in 2012, the couple moved to North Carolina with the intent of starting up a life of their own. John motivated himself to fulfil his lifelong dream of setting up a honey farm with almost a dozen hives.
In the beginning, things were pretty tough as John had to extract honey from the hives, the old fashioned way. This required ladders and power tools for extraction and a lot of stings leading to swollen hands and eyes. But, John was passionate and he wanted to see his business flourish. So, he kept himself motivated towards gaining immense success.
It was not until he learned about the Amazon market and his life became a whole lot easier. He learned about the honey extractors and after a bit of research found the most perfect fit for his small set up.
Now, all John ever has to do for the rest of his life is remove frames from the hives, uncap them with a hot knife and load them into an extractor. And voila, John successfully brews a fresh batch of honey for himself.
It reminds me of an amusing thing that Ross Conrad, the author of Natural Beekeeping, once said when asked:
“When do we collect honey from the hives?”
Ross: “No one is really sure, but it depends on how beekeepers understand about the nature of bees”
10 Best Honey Extractors for the Money
Based on customer reviews, here is the list of top 10 best honey extractors.
All products are arranged in an order of 1 to 10 (as 1 being the most reviewed while 10 being the least).
1. XtremepowerUS 2-Frame Stainless Steel Honey Extractor
When you buy the XtremepowerUS 2, you won’t just get the one of the best honey extractors, but you’ll also get an electric uncapping knife for more efficient honey extraction.
This extractor is gentle on the honeycombs and won’t destroy them thanks to its centrifugal force. It is possible because the mechanism is powered manually, so the force generated is not too much.
The knife, on the other hand, can cut through capping wax without harming your beehive frames.
The XtremepowerUS 2 is outfitted with a 23.62 inches drum bucket with a diameter of 15 inches, so you will have enough space to extract your honey.
It is also sturdily built and supported by three sturdy legs. The legs itself is nicely shaped won’t hinder you while you work. The legs can raise the extractor at 15 inches, so fitting a 5-gallon bucket is no problem.
FAQS
Are the legs detachable?
Yes, they are detachable and come off quickly after using the extractor.
Is the free electric uncapping knife durable? Does it heat up quickly?
Yes, it is long-lasting and heats up quickly.
Does this extractor use electricity?
The extractor itself is powered through manual cranking.
Does this extractor harm honeycomb or frames?
No, they are gentle, one honeycombs and frames. As a matter of fact, you can immediately return the frames one you are done with them. Thanks to the almost zero damage to the honeycombs, the honeybees can fill them up with honey in no time.
- Gentle on the honeycombs and frames
- Can hold between 90 to 110 lbs. of honeycombs
- Perfect for small scale beekeepers
- It is manually powered, so it is a bit tiring
- Not efficient if you have many hives
2. Hardin Professional 3 Frame Manual Honey Extractor
Second on our list is none other than the Hardin Professional 3 Frame Honey Extractor. This setup works par excellently for individuals who perform professional honey extraction and really mean business. It comes with a 16 gauge stainless steel tank packed with steel gears. It’s one of the reasons why this sophisticated design is considered highly durable.
The top is made up of Plexiglass for easy viewing of the honey extraction process and it contains three different hollows for fitting deep, medium or shallow honey frames as per your preference. It also included 3 legs stands by Secco royal 3 and you can kiss your honey wasting days goodbye during offloading.
Due to its wonderful design and construction, the cleaning and maintenance of the device become a quickie. Almost everything about this Honey extraction unit is created with a single purpose in mind; Minimize the hassles of getting well-extracted honey.
If you haven’t made a purchase yet, then give this 3 Frame Manual Honey Extractor a try and I assure you won’t feel down about it.
- This is a high quality device at a considerate price
- It comes with a 3 leg detachable support
- The device is an easy assembly
- The mechanics of operation are quite simple
- It comes with a lifetime warranty
- The height of the device is too low
- You cannot place a bucket underneath the device
3. BestEquip 3 Frame Electric Stainless Steel Spinner Bee Honey Extractor
The BestEquip 3 Frame Electric Stainless-Steel Spinner Bee Honey Extractor is an excellent pick for start-up beekeepers. It constructed using a high-quality polished stainless-steel body plus a hive frame to prevent rust. Seamless welding is also perfect for easy cleaning. There are also no sharp edges, so it is safe to scrub a bit when cleaning.
This electric honey extractor is powered by a 1300rpm motor and can be controlled by adjustable speed options. Though most honey extractors are operated by electricity, this one is gentle to the hive. You can be sure that honey extraction is safe, time-saving, and easy. It can handle three standard deep, medium, or shallowed frames. It also features an enclosed gear so the frame will not contaminate the honey. There are also two clear perspex lids so you can closely monitor and observe the extraction process.
- Powered by a 1300rpm motor
- Easy to clean
- Stable stands
- No instruction manual included
4. Harvest Lane Honey 2Frame Honey Metal Extractor
It is true that the honey extraction business is not that easy. After all, you need to harvest your honey at a specific time to achieve the best results.
If you want to have a simple and easy way to extract honey, then the Harvest Lane Honey 2 Frame Metal Extractor is one of the best choices out there.
This extractor is manufactured using food-grade stainless steel, making it safe and easy to clean.
It also can hold up to two frames easily, it is stable as well, thanks to its three solid legs. Thanks to this, the Harvest Lane Honey 2 is perfect for shallow, medium, and deep frames.
- It offers a quick and neat process of extracting honey.
- Budget-friendly
- Uncomplicated assembly
- Transparent lids so you can easily monitor the honey extraction process
- Hard to clean for beekeepers with big hand and arms
5. Little Giant Farm & Ag EXT2SS Honey Extractor
The Little Giant Farm & Ag EXT2SS Stainless Steel Honey Extractor is perfect for experienced beekeepers. It is sturdily built and comes with a clear plexiglass lid so you can observe the extraction progress.
Most honey extractors are made with stainless steel such as this one which is sure to last for years.
Beginners might find it challenging to use this honey extractor because this model does not come with any instructions. However, if you use it often enough, you are sure to get the hang of it.
It also does not use electricity, just crank it manually, and you are good to go.
- Can handle medium to deep frames.
- Budget-friendly
- No tools needed for assembly
- Comes with a plexiglass lid
- Lightweight and portable
- Outfitted with food-grade stainless steel
- A bit hard to clean
- Legs are a bit wobbly
6. 3 Frame Large Stainless Steel Honey Extractor BEE V003D by VIVO
If you are looking for something of high quality and strong durability, then the all-new
Three frame honey extractor by VIVO is one such brand that will never lead you astray. It is a sophisticated construction with double-sided top-lid.
The body of the whole extractor is made up of 304 stainless steel giving the whole product a spotless shiny luster.
The device is ultimately efficient in its operations and can extract a fresh batch of honey within no time. The transparent plastic lid top allows you to observe how the spiral bevel gears twist the honey inside the extractor.
And, you can easily fit three different sized frames at a single instance. The entire extractor can be easily disassembled for maintenance at any time.
- Transparent lids allows easy viewing
- The turn crank has a smooth handle
- Easily disassembled for cleaning
- Made of durable and high quality material
- The machine makes less noise
- Don’t lose the ball bearing or you will end up mixing metal with honey
- Legs are too short making the device difficult to clamp
7. VINGLI Upgraded 2 Frame Honey Extractor Separator
The VINGLI Upgraded 2 Frame Honey Extractor Separator is another great choice for beekeepers. It has a square threaded hole that supports a stable control of the extractor. Now you can be assured that your honey extraction process won’t suffer from untoward accidents.
Since this model boasts an upgraded handle your grip will greatly improve as well. It can also be cranked easily so it won’t tire you quickly. The solid metal crank is also impressive as it turns smoothly which makes this pick excellent for small beekeepers.
However, safety first, just make sure to grip it firmly when rotating the handle. Adjustable height adapts to variable sizes of honey containers. The inner basket is also a bit rounded so your honeycombs won’t be harmed.
Build wise, this extractor is constructed using premium food-grade stainless steel frame. So rust and abrasion are least of your concerns, so health and safety are assured. The barrel is furnished with a sleek finish and put together by seamless welding. After usage, washing is a breeze as it can be easily cleaned by soapy water.
- Food-grade stainless steel
- Upgraded no-slip handle
- Won’t destroy the honeycombs
- Metal snout is a bit sharp
8. 2 Frame Honey Extractor by Goodland Bee Supply (Uncapping Roller and Steel Sieve Included)
While 2 frame honey extractors have a multitude of manufacturers out there, Goodland Bee Supply makes its way to our list this year.
This product includes a honey strainer sieve which overviews filtering of honey up to 1000/500 microns in a single go.
This makes the honey purification process an effortless solution.
It cleans the honey from all foreign particles and remove wax completely from it. The double sieve design ensures that the extractor delivers you an absolute particle free premium quality honey.
Now, if you have a small set up of around half a dozen beehives then this honey extractor is your thing. It may not be as efficient and productive for larger setups, therefore our recommendations to purchase it will be for smaller ones.
- The double sieve design ensures absolute purification
- The extractor comes with uncapping rollers and long needles
- The construction is steel graded which makes it a reliable product
- The honey extraction does not require high efforts
- The device is productive for only small scale set ups
9. GoodLand Bee Supply Hardin Royal 2
The Hardin Royal 2 is an excellent pick for beekeepers who own multiple beehives.
This device is a professional two frame electric honey extractor that is retrofitted with a sleek 16-gauge stainless steel tank.
It is also equipped with steel gears and a sealed bearing for better efficiency. Thanks to its transparent plexiglass lid, you can actively monitor your extraction process easily.
It can also easily extract honey from two shallow, medium, or deep frames without problems. If you encounter issues with this model, you can easily find replacements parts for repairs.
Overall, Hardin Royal 2 is one of the best out there and offers excellent value for money.
- It has a 110v variable speed for a quick and clean honey extraction
- Easy to find parts for repairs
- Fitted with 16-gauge stainless steel tank
- Awkward crossbars design, as it presses into the comb making it hard for the honey to come out
- Not for beginner use
10. Mann Lake HH160 Stainless Steel 6/3-Frame Hand Crank Extractor without Legs
Making to the bottom of our list today is Stainless Steel 6/3 Frame Hand Crank Honey Extractor. It is a 6/3 frame extractor which comes with a hand crank and by the sound of that, it feels like you have to put a lot of muscle power to extract honey. It is one of the reasons why this device is not much preferred among customers.
However, looking at the bright side, it can hold 6 different frames at an instance.
Frames are to be removed and flipped in order to perform extraction on both sides, but well if you can put the effort to use a hand crank for honey extraction, I am sure a bit of an extra effort of flipping the frames won’t be much of a difficult task.
- The design of the extractor is made up of 26 gauge stainless steel material
- The device is easy to maintain and keep
- It is the best for hobby beekeepers
- It requires a lot of manual labor
- It requires flipping and removing the frames for extraction process
- It requires has no automated feature
- It does not contain Plexiglas lid tops
- It cannot be used commercially