Extractor SAXO® 2 frames

01 · EXTRACTION

Tangential: the comb sets the pace, and here the pace is yours

In a tangential cage the frame rests its whole face against the mesh: the force comes through more directly than in a small radial, and it clears thick honeys better — heather, chestnut, mature eucalyptus. Being hand-cranked, you spin at whatever speed the comb will take: start slowly, above all on new wax, because what tears a comb is not the top speed but the pull at the start. It is tangential and non-reversible: you empty one face, lift the frame out, turn it and finish the first.

02 · COMPATIBILITY

Yes to Dadant brood and Langstroth; no to Layens

It is the question we are asked most, so here are the measurements first: the cage takes a Dadant brood frame (48 × 30 cm), Langstroth (48 × 23 cm) and supers (48 × 17 cm), two per load. What will not go in is the Layens: its comb is taller and the cage will not take it. If you work Layens — or mix formats in the same apiary — this is not your extractor: you need a larger drum with a universal cage.

03 · CONSTRUCTION

A conical base that empties clean, and a lid that lifts off

Body and cage in 18/10 stainless steel, food-safe and easy to wash down with warm water. The conical base runs the honey to the 40 mm plastic honey gate without leaving a bottom to scrape, and the helical gear sits on top, shielded by a plastic housing that keeps it well clear of the honey. One handling note worth knowing beforehand: the lid lifts off completely to load and unload — it is not hinged — so keep a clear spot beside you to rest it on while you change frames.

04 · BEFORE YOU BUY

It comes in two versions: without legs, the basic one, or with legs. Without legs it sits flat on the surface, so you will need to raise it onto a bench or blocks to fit a bucket under the gate; with legs it arrives at working height. Two frames per load is plenty for a small apiary and one or two harvests a year: once you are running 15-20 hives or harvesting on consecutive days, the crank starts to feel long and a four-frame pays off.