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Post by Brad on Apr 10, 2006 19:29:55 GMT -5
Hello All;
I don't know where many of you are from, but here in Canada it can get bloody cold. So being outside winnowing in the snow (or rain) really sucks.
That being said, I spent some time in my shop this weekend and built a very basic home winnower. It uses a blow dryer on a low setting, sits on top of a lasagne pan (or cookie sheet) to catch the nibs, and winnows the chaf right into either a cloth bag, or in my case right into my kitchen sink, for easy cleanup.
It's easy to make (I used 3/8th's plywood), is a little bit bigger than a shoe box, does not waste nibs, and takes only a few minutes to winnow 5lb of roasted and cracked beans.
It takes a couple of passes through the winnower to get the chaf out, but I designed it that way, so there is almost ZERO nib loss.
Now I don't have to make a mess of my yard, deck, garage, or whatever. I just pull the box out of the closet, sneak my girlfriend's hair dryer out and voilla! Winnowed beans right in my kitchen!
Anyone interested in the cut list?
Brad.
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Post by Alan on Apr 10, 2006 20:53:25 GMT -5
Dear Brad,
I have noticed that I am better at learning about technical things when I have diagrams or images. Do you have any way to photograph this thing or draw the design of it in Photoshop or Illustrator or something?
It sounds great.
Alan
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Post by Alchemist on Apr 14, 2006 8:02:11 GMT -5
Anyone interested in the cut list? Brad. By all means please share the design if you see fit. Thanks.
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Post by mightysparrow on Apr 14, 2006 21:58:59 GMT -5
Brad Winnower? BRING IT ON. Please. More than a cut list, I don't quite undertsand the principle of the action. This from a guy who has winnowed severla hundred lbs with a pie pan and a hair dryer!
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2006 8:25:01 GMT -5
Brad,
If you find you are too busy to figure out how to post photos or anything like that, just send them my way and I'll post everything for you. After the help you've given me, it is the least I can do.
Alan
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Post by Alchemist on Apr 19, 2006 11:32:58 GMT -5
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Post by Alan on Apr 19, 2006 15:58:54 GMT -5
I had better luck with this one, but it makes a mess. Adding an inverted U at the top helped a lot by directing the husk into a bucket. It takes a couple of passes. www.saveseeds.org/tools/tool_winnower_electric.htmlBoth are public plans so feel free to discuss them. Dear John, This "savetheseeds" winnower, how long were each of the tubes that you used, and did you use the exact blower that it calls for? Also, how did you mount the thing. I just winnowed 3 more lbs. with my trusty blow drier, but it is starting to wear on me. Alan
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Post by Alchemist on Apr 20, 2006 12:45:43 GMT -5
Dear John, This "savetheseeds" winnower, how long were each of the tubes that you used, and did you use the exact blower that it calls for? Also, how did you mount the thing. I just winnowed 3 more lbs. with my trusty blow drier, but it is starting to wear on me. Alan I basically used the idea of the winnower, but that is about all. The tubes I used were 2" diameter and 3' long. The feed was about a foot down from the top. Since it was R&D I just hooked up my trusty hair drier. You mention hand winnowing wearing on you - that is what I found with the "winnower". Since I had to hand feed it a handful at a time (and make two passes) it was more labor intensive than blowing from a bowl. How long did it take you to hand winnow those 3 lbs? I just did two pounds this morning for an order and it was under 2 minutes - maybe under one. I don't tend to think anything of under 4 lbs. The 15 lbs that I need to winnow is a little daunting, but I still expect it to take me no more than 10 minutes (not including cracking time)
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Post by Alan on Apr 20, 2006 14:14:49 GMT -5
You mention hand winnowing wearing on you - that is what I found with the "winnower". Since I had to hand feed it a handful at a time (and make two passes) it was more labor intensive than blowing from a bowl. How long did it take you to hand winnow those 3 lbs? I just did two pounds this morning for an order and it was under 2 minutes - maybe under one. I don't tend to think anything of under 4 lbs. The 15 lbs that I need to winnow is a little daunting, but I still expect it to take me no more than 10 minutes (not including cracking time) It took me 20-25 minutes easily. I may not have the method down as well as you do since you sell lb. upon lb. of nibs per week, and I believe that I am pickier about removing the husk as I am not using the Champion, so towards the end, I hand pick the rest of the beans to remove pieces that I've missed. However, even if I get the method down better, I can't see doing 3 lbs. in 10 minutes, let alone 2 minutes, and being happy with the result. I wouldn't mind putting beans through a winnower a couple of times if the end result would be excellent. However, if I would still have to go through by hand like I do now, then that obviously wouldn't be optimal either. Brad mentioned that his method removed virtually every last bit of husk, so I am still interested in seeing it, but it is starting to seems that he is not wanting to share it. Alan
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Post by Alchemist on Apr 20, 2006 15:11:46 GMT -5
...and I believe that I am pickier about removing the husk as I am not using the Champion, so towards the end, I hand pick the rest of the beans to remove pieces that I've missed. ... Alan You hit upon a point (that Brad mentioned too) that I need to address in more concrete detail. That of using the right tool for the right job. My way is by no means the only or even "right" way to make chocolate at home, but I suggest equipment for a particular reason and to perform a certain job. The Champion's uses in my mind are two fold. 1) Grinding - yes you can use the Santha, but as has been pointed out, as delivered, it is not meant to grind - it is meant to refine. 2) Husk removal. This is one of the main reasons I like the Champion - it filters out that touch of husk that no matter how careful you are, is going to be in your nibs. I guess part of it is that one of my goals has been to make chocolate making at home approachable and I don't find winnowing by hand (picking out or peeling) approachable. Like you said, it is wearing after a while. I know you have queried yourself if the Champion heats too much. All I know is I have not tasted a difference in my chocolates with various tests. Hand peeled tasted the same as air winnowed and Champion ground tasted the same as Santha ground. With those in mind, I choose to take the path of least resistance and let the machines do the work for me. Do you find a different flavor with just the Santha and careful picking?
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Post by Alan on Apr 20, 2006 15:26:15 GMT -5
...and I believe that I am pickier about removing the husk as I am not using the Champion, so towards the end, I hand pick the rest of the beans to remove pieces that I've missed. ... Alan You hit upon a point (that Brad mentioned too) that I need to address in more concrete detail. That of using the right tool for the right job. My way is by no means the only or even "right" way to make chocolate at home, but I suggest equipment for a particular reason and to perform a certain job. The Champion's uses in my mind are two fold. 1) Grinding - yes you can use the Santha, but as has been pointed out, as delivered, it is not meant to grind - it is meant to refine. 2) Husk removal. This is one of the main reasons I like the Champion - it filters out that touch of husk that no matter how careful you are, is going to be in your nibs. I guess part of it is that one of my goals has been to make chocolate making at home approachable and I don't find winnowing by hand (picking out or peeling) approachable. Like you said, it is wearing after a while. I know you have queried yourself if the Champion heats too much. All I know is I have not tasted a difference in my chocolates with various tests. Hand peeled tasted the same as air winnowed and Champion ground tasted the same as Santha ground. With those in mind, I choose to take the path of least resistance and let the machines do the work for me. Do you find a different flavor with just the Santha and careful picking? I can't say for sure because I am experimenting so much with roasting and refining/conching times that each batch is very different, and I haven't done any batches strictly to try and see if there is a difference between Champion grinding and "Modified" Santha grinding when it comes to flavor. Alan
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Post by Brad on Apr 20, 2006 19:01:37 GMT -5
Ladies and Gentlemen;
I will very soon be sharing my winnower design. However I have been VERY busy with my furniture company this week.
Patience is a virtue!
Brad.
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Post by Alan on Apr 20, 2006 19:38:14 GMT -5
Ladies and Gentlemen; I will very soon be sharing my winnower design. However I have been VERY busy with my furniture company this week. Patience is a virtue! Brad. Dear Brad, Thanks for the info. Communication is a virtue too. No rush, and hopefully more work at your business means more money for chocolate-related-things. Alan
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Post by Brad on Apr 21, 2006 1:07:20 GMT -5
Regarding the design of the winnower...
My first design was a single pass, which, given the airflow and desire NOT to blow nibs into the chaf, worked perfectly. (chaf only - no nibs) However, it required three passes to get the proper amount of chaf out of the nibs. (Some of the bigger pieces of shell remained in at the end, which given the cost of beans gave me a comfort level that I wasn't blowing nibs into the garbage!)
Because the size of my first unit wasn't very big, (it sat on my kitchen counter and blew chaf into the sink) I have decided to build a "stacked unit" - one that replicates my prototype three times in one pass. This unit has 3 simple fans, and a series of internal ramps to slow and guide the fall of the nibs and chaf. All three fans will blow the chaf into a single tube which will then be attached to a simple vacuum bag, or something with appropriate filtering and holding capacity..
The premise of my design will take into account the Crankenstien grinder design, which will hopefully mount right on top. This way you can grind and winnow at exactly the same time, with the end result being a single pass of quality, useable nibs as you grind.
I have another insanely busy week ahead of me next week, but have allocated time on Sunday next week to build my design and document it properly for posting here.
Best Regards.
Brad
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Post by Brad on May 10, 2006 17:56:35 GMT -5
Update;
Family matters had me out of commission for the last couple of weekends. However I'm hoping to get into the shop in the next 7 days or so and build my final winnower. It shouldn't take long, and after I will, share the plans.
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