Then the final mixture is strained through a coarse sieve or cloth such as cheesecloth. Various types and sizes of honey extractors are manufactured commercially. The beekeeper may purchase an extractor, rent the equipment, find a beekeeper who does custom extracting, or build an extractor. The uncapped combs are placed vertically in the baskets that support them. In the nonreversible type, the combs must be reversed by hand to extract the honey from the other side of the comb.
Reversible extractors have baskets that pivot to extract either side of the comb without lifting it.
If the extractor is turned too rapidly, the weight of the honey will break the combs. The combs are spun until about half the honey is removed from the first side. Then the combs are reversed and spun until the second side is completely extracted. Finally, the combs are reversed a second time and the remaining honey is removed. The time required to throw honey from the combs depends on the density and temperature of the honey.