Apple grinder build questions

[wtfdskin]

Bonehead's looks like a comminutor drum. Exactly what we use for shredding debris in wastewater treatment.

[wtfdskin]

Here's mine. Not really a build. Picked it up at an antique show for $80. Was a hand crank, will be mounted on a table on pillow block bearings with an electric motor. Need to just figure out pulley sizing for a 1750 motor.

[wannab]

(Wow that thing must turn really fast! Bet it is quite messy. Nice build looks really rugged. Mine is under construction and I will start a new thread for the build when it is complete.)

Yes it could be messy If it weren't for the stainless top over the 4" cutter drum, the motor is 1hp 1750 rpm. the valve springs hold pressure on the backing plate to keep the apple pieces small. hope this helps in your design. Wannab

[Bushman]

The pillow blocks are also a good addition if your not using direct drive as it takes the pressure off the shaft.

[ben stiller]

Here is a pic of my finished grinder. I made a build thread that can be viewed at http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 7#p7339827 One question that I have since I am using a wooden shaft running in a wood bore, what is the best
lubricant to use on the shaft?

[pulsetech]

I Would have though Bee's Wax would be a good choice.

[pfshine]

Spit on it. Nah I think pt is right with the bees wax. Man I really like the grinder builds here. I might have to build one before I need one.

[moered]

What y'all adding motors to 'em for? Got something wrong with yer arms?

[Jimbo]

I found some thick teflon tape that I wrapped around the shaft where it goes through the side boards. Makes a fine bearing.

[S-Cackalacky]

Just thinking out loud - maybe a metal sleeve of some kind around the wooden dowel. Something like a piece of pipe that fits snug with a set screw to hold it on. Rather than having to worry about wearing out the wooden dowel, all the wear would be on the metal sleeve which could be easily replaced if need be.

[bonehead]

i pressed sealed bearings into the oak sides then pressed the spindle into the bearings. sealed bearings are only a few bucks.

[ben stiller]

I really like the bees wax idea although I only drilled 1/8 holes for oil. I saw one build where they used vegetable
oil for lubrication. I am sure the bees wax will plug the small holes but I might be able to melt some in from the ends of the shaft. I did use Jimbo's idea and wrapped Teflon tape on the shaft. Have to wait and see how durable that is.

[Jimbo]

I did use Jimbo's idea and wrapped Teflon tape on the shaft. Have to wait and see how durable that is.

About 3700 lbs of apples on my teflon bearings and they're still doing their thing. Watch, its gonna blow apart this year now that I said that.

[S-Cackalacky]

I did use Jimbo's idea and wrapped Teflon tape on the shaft. Have to wait and see how durable that is.

About 3700 lbs of apples on my teflon bearings and they're still doing their thing. Watch, its gonna blow apart this year now that I said that.

By sayin' that, you put the malluckias on it - my wife's Italian expression, meaning that you made bad luck by talking about it.

[S-Cackalacky]

BTW - went to Lowe's today to take a look at those finned baseboard heaters for an air cooled condenser and found myself in the PVC pipe section. Ben's grinder has me rethinking the notion of using a chipper/shredder.

[Bushman]

BTW - went to Lowe's today to take a look at those finned baseboard heaters for an air cooled condenser and found myself in the PVC pipe section. Ben's grinder has me rethinking the notion of using a chipper/shredder.

I believe I have a thread on the conversion of a cheap Harbor Freight electric chipper.

[S-Cackalacky]

Bushman, it's more to do with cost and that's the main reason I won't be doing apples this season. The chippers jumped up in price since I looked at them earlier this year. I did recently discover that there's a Harbour Freight within driving distance. I might drop in and check it out.

[Bushman]

Bushman, it's more to do with cost and that's the main reason I won't be doing apples this season. The chippers jumped up in price since I looked at them earlier this year. I did recently discover that there's a Harbour Freight within driving distance. I might drop in and check it out.

I think I bought mine for around $129 on sale. Easy to modify but the down size is anything but small apples need to be halved which is the most time consuming part.

[S-Cackalacky]

Bushman, I went to Harbour Freight today. The electric chipper they had (Portland?) was $150. They sometimes have some pretty good sales, but at this point, I'm thinking I'll probably do Ben Stiller's PVC build, unless the price drops drastically.

Jimbo, I noticed on your press you were using an HDPE bucket with what looks like 1/4", or so, holes drilled in it. How's that holding up under a lot of pressure from the press?

[Jimbo]

Jimbo, I noticed on your press you were using an HDPE bucket with what looks like 1/4", or so, holes drilled in it. How's that holding up under a lot of pressure from the press?

It has long since blown apart. I wrote about it somewhere, cant find it now. I switched to a 5gal stainless kettle that I drilled a ton of holes in. Surprising as hell how long it lasted tho, I was well into year 2 and over 1000 lbs of apples before she couldnt take any more.

I mentioned somewhere that I went from 4 ton to 12 ton press. That wasnt correct. My new hydraulic press is 8 ton.

[S-Cackalacky]

Jimbo, I noticed on your press you were using an HDPE bucket with what looks like 1/4", or so, holes drilled in it. How's that holding up under a lot of pressure from the press?

It has long since blown apart. I wrote about it somewhere, cant find it now. I switched to a 5gal stainless kettle that I drilled a ton of holes in. Surprising as hell how long it lasted tho, I was well into year 2 and over 1000 lbs of apples before she couldnt take any more.

I mentioned somewhere that I went from 4 ton to 12 ton press. That wasnt correct. My new hydraulic press is 8 ton.

Jimbo, I ran across this at Harbour Freight today - http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-sho ... 33497.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow . Look familiar? They have a bigger one - 20 ton. I bet it could be easily turned into an apple/wine press. They also had what looks like the same hydraulic bottle jack you're using for something like $19.

Anyway, straying a little off-topic I guess.

[ben stiller]

quote]
Jimbo, I ran across this at Harbour Freight today - http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-sho ... 33497.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow . Look familiar? They have a bigger one - 20 ton. I bet it could be easily turned into an apple/wine press. They also had what looks like the same hydraulic bottle jack you're using for something like $19.

Anyway, straying a little off-topic I guess.[/quote]

Anything related to preparing apples I would consider on topic and I will welcome any information or ideas.

[Bushman]

Ben Stiller, check out my grinder press build, it is almost all Harbor Freight and I got the 20 ton press on sale for I think $149 dollars. But you will see what I used to make the drain etc.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... pple+press

[S-Cackalacky]

Bushman, it's more to do with cost and that's the main reason I won't be doing apples this season. The chippers jumped up in price since I looked at them earlier this year. I did recently discover that there's a Harbour Freight within driving distance. I might drop in and check it out.

I think I bought mine for around $129 on sale. Easy to modify but the down size is anything but small apples need to be halved which is the most time consuming part.

Just resurrected this to give an update on the Portland brand electric chipper/shredder at Harbour Freight. They're on sale (Labor Day sale) through the weekend for $119 if anyone is interested.

[Bushman]

Good catch S-C. On my build thread I believe I went over the conversion but just from a safety stand-point remember that when you modify the opening/safety guard that you need to be careful when running it, don't put hands close to it and careful when using any type of push stick.