Great review Austin, thanks! Your points are well taken here, and we'll take action on some of the concerns you pointed out. Regarding the high-pitched noise, that's nothing wrong and it's very normal on these machines. It's related to the conversion of single phase power to 3 phase power. As you said, you get used to it pretty quickly. Thanks again for taking the time to do this video! - John Hill

@leesbeesapiary

Жыл бұрын

I assumed as much, if it was super concerning, I would have contact you about it long ago. ~600lbs through the extractor so far!

@hillcollc

Жыл бұрын

@@leesbeesapiary awesome!

Brilliant and extremely informative perspective. My 1st year as a beekeeper and a proud disciple of Apimaye system, getting through the 1st winter. I just ordered a Vivo extractor but you have me seriously looking at the Hillco Minimax. Hoping they can ship to Canada as I don’t see any local sources to purchase. Thanks very much for this Austin. 👏👏👏

@leesbeesapiary

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

I just came across your channel, thanks for your honest opinion and thoughts, on this extraction machine, there are a few feature's that I like about this machine, like the tilting bottom, of the tank, I have back issues and not able to carry a tank like this out to the backyard and tilt this over and wash it out, I don't have bees yet but looking into getting into bee keeping, I like the grease zert on that bottom bearing, way cool , you helped me to make up my mind on my future hunny extraction machine, thanks my friend

@leesbeesapiary

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment! If you have further questions, feel free to reach out and ask!

@ghostgarden8032

Жыл бұрын

@@leesbeesapiary I think I will be investing into this minimax hunny extraction machine, you showed me how easy and worth while this could be for me, I am going to be looking into becoming a bee keeper in the near future, thank you for the video, I like this machine very much

Great review, I did a review on the UltraMax and I am currently making part 2. Thanks for the video.

@leesbeesapiary

2 жыл бұрын

I'm heading over to see part 1! Tha KS for the comment!

Very good review.

Looks like a very well made unit.

great review , lots of Info , thanks for sharing the video

@leesbeesapiary

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Austin, Very nice, well thought out review. Yours is the first/only one where I have heard that whistle/whine sound. I wonder if it's not a power supply/wiring issue. My brother in law had a nice, 30'x40' shop built and wired professionally, and he has the same problem. It won't properly run my little 110 welder that requires 17 amps at full power out there, and other things whine like your extractor does. His input wire gauge looks sufficient, so it may be a grounding rod issue. Plugged into his house outlets, there is no whine, and the welder works properly, so it's definitely caused by his wiring. Very similar, I have an equipment shed that I ran a long cord to, and some of my stuff was doing the same thing. I ended up hard-wiring the shop with an additional grounding rod, and the whining went away, and everything works great now. May or may not be your issue, but I thought I would share my experience. Again, thanks for the review.

@leesbeesapiary

2 жыл бұрын

Great thought! I did upgrade/update the wiring to this breezeway, I've tried different plug locations in this room and a few other places and it always makes the whine. I'll look into it more however as it's an old house... Thanks for the comment!

@tonyhill3638

2 жыл бұрын

@@leesbeesapiary It might just be the unit itself. For all I know, they all make that sound. I don't own one but have been watching lots of videos, since I'm probably going to buy one, and that's the first one I've heard make that sound. Maybe reach out to Hillco and see what they say. Couldn't hurt anything to ask. Either way, that looks like a great extractor. Thanks again for the video.

@leesbeesapiary

2 жыл бұрын

@@tonyhill3638 could very well bee. This was just my review of what I have, I have watched other videos as well and haven't noticed it either. Like I said, as I'm working I'm not really bothered by it, but when I'm focused on the extractor, it does become noticable.

you don't have 3 phases at your home 2 is what you have in the house in the USA

@leesbeesapiary

Жыл бұрын

Correct, this unit is powered via single phase, 120V that drives a phase converter to power a 3phase motor.

I really like the look of Hillco's machines, my only problem is all my equipment is deeps so I need the bigger models. Great review, thanks for all the info very complete. Ya you are right a nylock would fix that, I don't like the length of those bolts either. That's easy to fix, but would replacing those nuts and shortening those bolts void any warranty? Drone version of an Oompa-Loompa.😂Maybe I'm off with my mechanical understanding of the bottom bearing, I don't understand why they don't use a greaseless nylon bushing. That way all ya would have to do is run water after extraction to remove any honey residue, but I was also a professional carpenter not a mechanic. 🤣So it doesn't have a toggle power switch on it, I would have expected something similar to a computers power supply toggle. That means any time you plug it in you could take a surge and fry that circuit board, ya I don't like that. I would use a surge protector with a power switch between it and the wall power if it was me. I am deaf in 1 ear from my on the job injury and my other ear is very sensitive and there is a tone it is making would changed my mind on buying one. It's still ringing in my ear even after stopping the video, I had to jump ahead on the video, I wouldn't be able to be in the same room as that tone. lol went to get coffee and could hear that tone when I walked back in the room. I didn't notice that tone on either Make Barrys or Castle Hives videos, hmm. 🤣opps got long again lol 🙃 Ty for sharing, Blessed Days...

@leesbeesapiary

2 жыл бұрын

We seem to be on the same page with some of the review, I'm glad as that means I'm not overthinking anything! Thanks!

@dcsblessedbees

2 жыл бұрын

@@leesbeesapiary For the most part they seem like good machines, but the tone yours in making would be an issue for me.

@Inrussian

8 ай бұрын

Why do you do deep frames?

@dcsblessedbees

8 ай бұрын

@@Inrussian They are what I own.

Great video. Subscribed

@leesbeesapiary

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the sub!

Does it come with 1 capping bag? How much are the bags if you want to buy them separately?

Are they still selling the capping bags? I didn’t see it on their website. Do they come with the extractor now or do you have to purchase them separately and how how are they each

I watched another HillCo extractor video, didn't hear that tone, is yours still making it?

grease the [6mm] ball bearing at lower end of shaft. I had the same problem. Use food grade grease.

@leesbeesapiary

2 жыл бұрын

Have done that several times, no change. It's definitely a noise coming from either the phase converter or motor itself.

Did you get instructions? I ruined my first super of honey by not knowing I had to run with the honey valve open, foamed it. I can't get 9 med frames in mine. too tight. You have to totally scrape the frame of burr comb. I ended up doing only 3 at a time with the wire holders. Wire frames come out of the spool when you flip the frame. My reverse button already quit working. Three videos I have seen now, all machines look different. I cut my hands up putting the sharp edge legs on my machine. I added washers to the legs so I would not smash the chimes when I tightened the legs. Again mine is different from yours. If I were not in the middle of extracting I would try to return my unit. I am a few weeks behind because I waited for parts or assembly, and delivery took a while ,they must have had the kids putting these together. One of my frames jumped up and bent the hinge cover when it hit my wing nuts on my lid. The capping bags are a good idea. I didn't know about those. AS I said my unit came in a box with Zero instructions. For the price we could do better. My feeling is with the wire basket so close to the center shaft we are not getting the centrifugal force needed to extract efficiently. For $719.00 I should have received a manual or instructions of some sort. I did get a email video after I creamed my first honey. Telling me to keep the honey gate open. Not happy. It was to help speed processing along but it has slowed me down.

@leesbeesapiary

Жыл бұрын

Hi! I didn't receive any instructions with my purchase, but having used other extractors, knew about the honey gate needing to be open, I made that mistake the first time I used an extractor years ago. Make sure the wood side of the frame at the bottom of the reel is tucked under the nylon reel or it may fly up, as you experienced, and cause damage while in use. The burr comb issue is real, and since I store my frames wet in totes till the following season, I use extraction as a time to 'clean' frames prior to storage. It takes a few extra minutes per box but is well worth it when setting up next season! The machines look different because John has been improving them based off customer feedback. I have seen pictures of newer ones and they solve some of the concerns I had when I made this video. A year since I purchased it, I use it with what I've learned and have very little trouble. Hillco is a young company and they are trying their best to make industry equipment financially more available to the smaller side-liners and hobbyists.

Are they still selling the capping bags? I didn’t see them on the website. How much are they and do they work good

@leesbeesapiary

Ай бұрын

They work okay, I saw that Lappes was selling the bags last time I looked on their site!

How clean were the frames after spinning? Did it leave much residue honey?

@leesbeesapiary

Жыл бұрын

My sense of residue and yours may be different, but I usually end up with fairly 'dry' frames as long as I've balanced the machine and can run it full speed. I don't let the bees clean the supers after extraction and store them away till next season wet, I find the bees work them quicker if theres still honey on them from the previous season. Thanks for commenting!

How does is do extracting the part of the frame closest to the center hub?

@leesbeesapiary

Жыл бұрын

If you have the cells de-capped, it will extract! It will rip reinforced comb out of a frame if you're not careful, I really have nothing bad to say about it!

um...ummm..um..um...ummm..ummm...ummm.um...so many ums