Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => The Trading Post => Topic started by: blueblood on June 17, 2017, 01:41:11 pm

Title: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on June 17, 2017, 01:41:11 pm
Hi friends!  I am finally in the market for a better and faster extractor.  I have been hand cranking with a 3 framer for five years with 20+ hives.  I know, crazy huh?  My shoulder just can't take another year of cranking hundreds of pounds of honey anymore.  I don't plan on going bigger than 25-30 hives for a while so I think the 8/4 frame I am looking at is gonna do the trick.  I am posting this to drum up some conversation to make sure I can make the best decision possible.  I am attracted to Manlake for many reasons but the best one is the free shipping.  I am not gonna pay $70+ for shipping.  Anyone use this particular model and do you like it? 
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/motorized-8-4-frame-extractor
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Lburou on June 17, 2017, 02:19:37 pm
With that many hives, you might enjoy a radial extractor, just saying.  Lyson extractors (betterbee) (https://www.betterbee.com/extracting/lyson216-20m.asp) were my choice, but since they were out of stock at the time, I bought the 18/9 frame radial from ML (happy with it -well worth the additional $200). They can almost spin a frame dry.  You are going to pay the shipping whether it is stated upfront, or hidden in a higher price.  JMO   :)
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: CBT on June 17, 2017, 03:57:01 pm
Only advise I would give is make sure all frames point to the center (radial) so you don't have to turn the deeps and get it motorized. You can't buy one too big.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Perry on June 17, 2017, 04:24:33 pm
On sale right now! Go bigger than the 8/4!

https://www.mannlakeltd.com/shop-all-categories/extraction-bottling/honey-extraction/extracting-equipment/18-9-frame-motorized-extractor
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Lburou on June 17, 2017, 04:24:46 pm
Only advise I would give is make sure all frames point to the center (radial) so you don't have to turn the deeps and get it motorized. You can't buy one too big.
Just make sure it will fit through the door   :yes: :laugh:
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on June 17, 2017, 05:27:42 pm
On sale right now! Go bigger than the 8/4!

https://www.mannlakeltd.com/shop-all-categories/extraction-bottling/honey-extraction/extracting-equipment/18-9-frame-motorized-extractor

Ha! Now Perry, this is a slippery slope.  I started with the 3 frame and then the 8/4 and now your enticing me to go bigger.  I have had that one in my basket twice now.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Perry on June 17, 2017, 05:59:27 pm
On sale right now! Go bigger than the 8/4!

https://www.mannlakeltd.com/shop-all-categories/extraction-bottling/honey-extraction/extracting-equipment/18-9-frame-motorized-extractor

Ha! Now Perry, this is a slippery slope.  I started with the 3 frame and then the 8/4 and now your enticing me to go bigger.  I have had that one in my basket twice now.  :laugh:

Dave, you won't regret going the bigger route. :yes:
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on June 17, 2017, 06:10:10 pm
Only advise I would give is make sure all frames point to the center (radial) so you don't have to turn the deeps and get it motorized. You can't buy one too big.

Ah, good point! So, it needs to look like a pie with many slices when i look down from top.  I had not have that in mind.  Thanks!  It's a pain in the booty to turn them.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on June 17, 2017, 06:11:06 pm
On sale right now! Go bigger than the 8/4!

https://www.mannlakeltd.com/shop-all-categories/extraction-bottling/honey-extraction/extracting-equipment/18-9-frame-motorized-extractor

Ha! Now Perry, this is a slippery slope.  I started with the 3 frame and then the 8/4 and now your enticing me to go bigger.  I have had that one in my basket twice now.  :laugh:

Dave, you won't regret going the bigger route. :yes:

Your right....
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: rcannon on June 17, 2017, 09:32:32 pm
Amen. Get the biggest one you can afford. You'll be glad you did.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: apisbees on June 18, 2017, 01:08:47 am
As CBT pointed out if you extract both deeps and dadants the deeps will require the stopping of the extractor to turn the frames a couple of times. If you use dadants for your honey supers then the 4/8 and 3/6 will extract them radially. as Perry pointed out the ( 9/18 is about the smallest extractor that will hold deep frames radially.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 04, 2017, 11:39:44 pm
So, I haven't bought a new extractor yet.  Mostly, because the honey season has been retarded by large amounts of spring and early summer rains.  And so, I have not had the need for a larger scale extractor.  But, I will be conducting my second and largest harvest in about 3 weeks.

Radial is essential.  In accordance to my budget, two extractors have surfaced.  Manlake's 19/8 for $1195 (free shipping and comes with legs) and Maxant's 3100P 6/9 (legs ($49 and shipping [estimated $75] not included) for $925.

The Maxant is clearly a better quality (ie. 20 versus 26 gauge stainless steel).  But............? 

Motorized turning of 6 radially is much better than hand cranking 3 tangentially like I am doing now.  And, I do not plan on increasing my hives more than 25 anytime very soon.  Only 60% roughly of those 25 produce heavily anyway taking into consideration slower hives and hives that swarmed late.

I would like to make a decision soon for a couple reason.  Maxant takes up to 3 weeks to ship and Manlake is currently back ordered on the 19/8.

Thanks for your wisdom in advance.

http://www.maxantindustries.com/extractors.html (http://www.maxantindustries.com/extractors.html)
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/18-9-frame-motorized-extractor (https://www.mannlakeltd.com/18-9-frame-motorized-extractor)


Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Perry on August 05, 2017, 07:15:46 am
Maxant is the superior quality, but the Mann Lake 18/9 is a model many folks have bought and I've not heard anything negative. Bigger is better in this regards.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 05, 2017, 09:00:31 am
Thanks Perry.  I believe your a Maxant guy too!  So, for you to suggest the Manlake option, it's can't be too bad.  :)
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: G3farms on August 05, 2017, 09:29:31 am
I just bought a bunch of maxant equipment and will have to say the fit, welds and finish are of good quality, the finish could be a tad better but not complaining.
I did order a clarifier from dadant and was sorely disappointed in the fit, welds and finish, plus the guarantee was a little cheesy too. Will never order anything from dadant again. 
I would not order anything from kelley because their stuff is not TIG welded, and you will commonly see stuff for sale that has the flanges broken off or leaking.
Does manlake make their own stuff or are they just putting a sticker on and reselling it?
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Perry on August 05, 2017, 12:34:13 pm
FWIW = my opinion!

Quality:
#1 - Maxant
#2 - Dadant
#3 - Mann Lake

Another thing one has to take into account is price, but even more so is appropriateness/fit for each individual operation. I love Maxant, but they discontinued the 20 frame extractor and have gone to the 10/20, so the Dadant 20 is a much better fit for my operation. Same thing with the clarifier/sump, I wanted a 3 footer with at least 2 baffles and Maxant didn't make them that way (maybe they do now?).
I have a Maxant bottler (top notch) and a Kelly vibrating jiggle knife, so I guess I spread the wealth around? lol
Of course I also was looking for quite a while and managed to snag what I wanted when it became available (used) so price didn't affect the decision.
If what I wanted was available from any of the 3 above I would be OK with it.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Lburou on August 05, 2017, 02:36:32 pm
...Does manlake make their own stuff or are they just putting a sticker on and reselling it?
My ML 9/18 extractor was made in Italy.  If you look at the specs for the Lyson radial extractors from betterbee, you will find they are very competitive in performance and price.  The thing I liked about the Lyson radials is the position of the motor...the motor is out of the way of your frames while loading and unloading.  JMO

Added:  Corrected spelling of Lyson...Thanks CBT  :)
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: CBT on August 05, 2017, 03:39:40 pm
If you get one with a non us motor you can't get parts for it anyway. The maxant 20 looks like you could put a replacement motor on it off the shelf. Once you go up in size you'll be happy with it.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Perry on August 05, 2017, 05:17:17 pm
Confused yet Dave?  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
I have to agree with American made, parts availability could be an issue.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 06, 2017, 03:28:43 pm
I just bought a bunch of maxant equipment and will have to say the fit, welds and finish are of good quality, the finish could be a tad better but not complaining.
I did order a clarifier from dadant and was sorely disappointed in the fit, welds and finish, plus the guarantee was a little cheesy too. Will never order anything from dadant again. 
I would not order anything from kelley because their stuff is not TIG welded, and you will commonly see stuff for sale that has the flanges broken off or leaking.
Does manlake make their own stuff or are they just putting a sticker on and reselling it?

Good info.  I read somewhere that Manlake orders the parts and them assembles them for sale.  And, the motor from Italy.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 06, 2017, 03:30:01 pm
Confused yet Dave?  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
I have to agree with American made, parts availability could be an issue.

YES! HA! The Maxant 20 would be out of my price range.  It looks like I have gone back to the Manlake 18/9 now.  But, they are back ordered....
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: CBT on August 06, 2017, 06:40:31 pm
Lyson 20 is $1000, Maxant 20 is $1500 the bottom line is sell more honey and get good equipment.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 06, 2017, 08:15:36 pm
Lyson 20 is $1000, Maxant 20 is $1500 the bottom line is sell more honey and get good equipment.

Good logic.  Getting to that point after 5 years.  I like that it spins 20 or two boxes at a time.  Very interesting.  I saw where "Betterbee" has it for $999.  I will have to call tomorrow and see what shipping will cost.  Makes me nervous since they only ship by truck, which I assume they mean freight?  Do you know how much they charge for shipping and/or another place online that sells the Lyson brand?

Here is a review online that opened my eyes to the advantage of having the motor on the bottom with a belt drive.....no dancing across the floor!
https://youtu.be/VlnA-tI-2zY (https://youtu.be/VlnA-tI-2zY)

Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Perry on August 06, 2017, 08:54:15 pm
Looks like a decent unit , but every extractor will dance across the floor if you aren't careful loading the them evenly.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 06, 2017, 08:56:25 pm
I am sure it will they will! Ha! In the rare event I load the washing machine, I get in big trouble if i load it unevenly  :o
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: CBT on August 06, 2017, 09:17:47 pm
We have saved big money by have equipment sent to truck dock and picking it up there.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 07, 2017, 07:52:54 pm
Whooooweee!  My quote from Betterbee was $259 to my house and $159 to a dock.  The $159 is twice as much as I would be willing to pay.  And, that would be pulling teeth.    :-\\   Back to the drawing board unless I can work something out.  Bummer too, because it was growing on me.

My brother in law is also wanting an extractor.  We are now both looking at this Lyson from Bluesky.  We are going to attempt negotiating with them tomorrow on shipping since we would be willing to buy two.  We are kicking the idea of road tripping there too.  It's in northeast Ohio about 5 hours from Indy.  We could split the gas $.

https://www.blueskybeesupply.com/8-20-frame-lyson-extractor-with-motor-w230/
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Lburou on August 07, 2017, 09:28:53 pm
.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: apisbees on August 07, 2017, 09:39:40 pm
He is looking at the 20 frame. That size has alway been radial. Now with the newest extractor lines going to the auto loading horizontal extractor that save big on labor 1 less person needed to run an extraction line equals huge savings over the life of an extractor.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Lburou on August 08, 2017, 10:23:07 am
He is looking at the 20 frame. That size has alway been radial. Now with the newest extractor lines going to the auto loading horizontal extractor that save big on labor 1 less person needed to run an extraction line equals huge savings over the life of an extractor.
Yes, I realized that one minute after I posted something about the refitted baskets and deleted it so as not to cause confusion...but you caught it Apis.  :)
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 08, 2017, 11:19:53 am
My brother called Bluesky and negotiated a reasonable shipping cost if we bought two of the Lyson 20/8.  We are ordering today.  I am relieved I am at a decision.  Will post a review when I get it.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 08, 2017, 12:49:51 pm
We got the last two on sale!  The literally just raised the price back up.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Perry on August 08, 2017, 04:16:42 pm
We got the last two on sale!  The literally just raised the price back up.

 :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 08, 2017, 07:36:21 pm
We got the last two on sale!  The literally just raised the price back up.

 :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:

This is a big deal for little operation Blue!  From a hand cranking 3 framer that I have to flip to a motorized one capable of radially turning 8 deeps or 20 mediums!  I think I am going to kick myself for not buying one sooner!
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: G3farms on August 08, 2017, 07:43:35 pm
You will kick yourself, well maybe you and your brother will just kick each other instead. While that batch of frames is spinning you can be uncapping the next round...........oh now you need an uncapping tank.............wait a minute............now you will need a capping spinner for all of those cappings, might as well get the wax melter also. When you finally get a heated bottling tank the kicking contest will start all over again.

Good luck with it and hope you enjoy for many years to come....naaaa just a few more years and you will need a bigger extractor and automatic uncapping machine.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 08, 2017, 08:15:29 pm
You will kick yourself, well maybe you and your brother will just kick each other instead. While that batch of frames is spinning you can be uncapping the next round...........oh now you need an uncapping tank.............wait a minute............now you will need a capping spinner for all of those cappings, might as well get the wax melter also. When you finally get a heated bottling tank the kicking contest will start all over again.

Good luck with it and hope you enjoy for many years to come....naaaa just a few more years and you will need a bigger extractor and automatic uncapping machine.

Lmao! Hi George! Long time no chat.  You are cracking me up!  You nailed it on the head.  That is exactly what I will end up doing.  It's in my nature. 
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: apisbees on August 08, 2017, 08:40:39 pm
How far apart do you and your brother live? Close enough to run a shared extraction plant?
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: CBT on August 08, 2017, 09:44:38 pm
If your going to build a shared extracting plant make it a combo butchering house. So many things in common, stainless steel tables, hot water, clean floor, knives you know.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 08, 2017, 11:02:25 pm
How far apart do you and your brother live? Close enough to run a shared extraction plant?

He lives on the far west side of Indy and me the far southeast.  About an hour.  We tried that share thing about ten years ago with a tiller.  Ask me if I ever used and/or saw that tiller again?  Ha!  Believe me, it went through my mind but only for a few minutes.....In any other world it would be a fantastic idea though!
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Lburou on August 08, 2017, 11:29:40 pm
My brother called Bluesky and negotiated a reasonable shipping cost if we bought two of the Lyson 20/8.  We are ordering today.  I am relieved I am at a decision.  Will post a review when I get it.
Well done!   :)
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: riverbee on August 10, 2017, 11:25:47 am
congrats dave!  i like bluesky and i have heard and read good stuff on the lyson extractors.  now all we need is a dave go pro video of it in action !!!  :yes:
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 10, 2017, 07:38:20 pm
Well River, I have a video for ya but it's not Go Pro yet.  Just Iphone.  The extractor arrived in two days. 

https://youtu.be/KFqI4HYaPds (https://youtu.be/KFqI4HYaPds)

https://youtu.be/KFqI4HYaPds
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: riverbee on August 10, 2017, 10:20:38 pm
very very cool!!! yippee! shore is purty!!!


Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Perry on August 11, 2017, 06:48:33 am
Now I know where they got the sound of the Enterprise speeding up from in the original series! :)
That looks like one smart machine, I love the fact the motor is on the bottom. I don't know if you will ever need to run that thing at speed 10, that seems awfully fast. 8)
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Wandering Man on August 11, 2017, 08:42:07 am
Congratulations. Cool machine.
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: Lburou on August 11, 2017, 02:15:35 pm
I think you have a winner there.  It has some features that are superior to the ML 9/18.   :)
Title: Re: Manlake 8/4 Frame Extractor Your Thoughts? Time to Upgrade!
Post by: blueblood on August 11, 2017, 06:13:21 pm
Now I know where they got the sound of the Enterprise speeding up from in the original series! :)
That looks like one smart machine, I love the fact the motor is on the bottom. I don't know if you will ever need to run that thing at speed 10, that seems awfully fast. 8)

Ha! Gonna have to live with the high pitch sound.  It is a trait of pulse modulation motors.  ugh.  Anyway, maybe I can find another motor for it someday.  That sound is absolutely obnoxious. 

The motor on the bottom reduces the shake.  I also like the conical bottom so that the honey runs to edges and then out the honey gate which is right at the bottom so you don't have an inch of honey below the gate like my old extractor or others.

That would be too bad no to be able to use speed #10.  That is the only one that the high pitch sound sorta goes away.