Extractors can be one of two kinds depending on how the frames are oriented in the basket: tangential: one side of the comb facing outward radial: the top bar of the frame facing outward Both rely on the use of centrifugal force to force the honey out of the cells. During the extraction process the honey is forced out of the uncapped wax cells, runs down the walls of the extractor and pools at the bottom. A tap or honey pump allows for the removal of honey from the extractor. Honey must be removed in time and always stay below the rotating frames as otherwise it prevents extractor from spinning with sufficient speed. Extractors can vary in sizes from holding just a couple frames to large commercial ones holding up to sixty frames. The smaller ones can be powered manually while others (especially the commercial ones) will be powered by an electric motor. Most hand-cranked extractors will rely on a gearing system to increase the speed of the rotation of the frames. Most large commercial extractors are radial and rely on the upward slope of the comb cells. When bees build their comb, the cells are sloped upward from the center rib at an angle of 10 to 14 degrees. By leveraging this slope angle, it is easier to extract the honey. In addition, the amount of work during extraction is reduced in the radial type because the frames do not have to be turned over to extract the honey from the other side of the comb (however some extractors are capable of turning combs automatically). Some portable honey extractors are driven by gasoline or diesel small engines. Larger diesel engines are more expensive than a compact 2 stroke gasoline ones and usually use the diesel fuel to operate at lower rpms with higher torque. Diesel-powered extractors are harder to start, especially in winter due to increased fuel viscosity under the ice and snow conditions. Alternative Methods An extractor is not essential to get the honey out of comb. Alternative methods include: Cut Comb: the comb is cut into round or square pieces and used as is. Crush and Strain: the comb is cut out, crushed in a container and then strained through cheesecloth or another filtering system to separate the honey from the wax. Chunk Honey: this is a hybrid between the two: the comb is cut and put