Equipment Loans
FDBKA members can borrow a range of Association equipment free of charge. Equipment is kept at several locations, so please check the location and contact the relevant coordinator to arrange collection.
Read the Loan GuidelinesTitchfield
Honey extraction & processing
4-Frame Tangential Manual Honey Extractor — Model 1
Very sturdy extractor, able to take 4 standard National brood, Commercial or super frames.
4-Frame Tangential Manual Honey Extractor — Model 2
Able to take up to 4 standard National brood, Commercial brood or 4 super frames. It will also take 2 14×12 National brood frames. With no legs, it is very stable.
3-Frame Tangential Manual Honey Extractor
Able to take up to 3 standard National brood, Commercial brood or super frames. Popular with loanees.
3-Frame Tangential Electric Honey Extractor
Able to take 3 standard National or super frames. Comes highly recommended by users and has a detachable wooden stand making it very stable.
Heather Press
Very well constructed, made of stainless steel.
Uncapping Knife
An electric 240V mains-powered knife with a stainless steel 250mm × 50mm blade, wooden handle and 2m flex. It is thermostatically controlled (not adjustable), switching between 60 and 140°C. It is very light and comfortable to use.
Honey Liquefier
A 170mm diameter heater for melting set honey stored in buckets of up to 10kg capacity.
Teaching & demonstration equipment
Observation Nuc No. 1
Can be adjusted to take 5 standard National or Commercial brood frames.
Observation Nuc No. 2
Takes 2 standard National brood frames.
Virtual Hive
There is a complete hive available with a choice of brood box.
Option 1 — 14×12 brood frames: Complete with pictures put together by FDBKA stalwart Mike Holloway. Ideal for audience presentations, especially schools, and popular with a non-beekeeping audience.
Option 2 — Standard National brood box: Complete with photos and descriptive text explaining different scenarios on each frame. An ideal training aid.
Other equipment
Two Large Folding Tables
Two large folding tables measuring 1.8m × 0.75m when extended.
Fareham
Microscopy
Compound Microscope
400–1000× magnification with accessories, ideal for pollen and honey investigations. Can be a long-term loan for those taking the BBKA Microscopy course .
Stubbington
Wax processing
Foundation Press & Boiler
Ideal for melting your saved wax. The press makes standard National brood foundation.
