|
Post by mightysparrow on May 17, 2006 22:21:41 GMT -5
Today I did my first shot, model 1a, 1b and 1c of the "save the seeds" winnower, using 2" pvc pipe. The variables are - the power of your blower, or hair dryer - the angle of the contraption (has to be between 45 and 85 degrees) - length of the tube My hair dryer is not that powerful so I made the gizmo very short, about 2 feet long total. I love it!!! It works and I can make a better one when I want. A higher angle is definitely better but wants a pretty good fan. I used a Tee for the infeed, near the top so nothing would blow out of it. I put a short length of pipe on the fan entry so it would rest better on the collection bucket. The key to this is "kinetic", the material must be in motion thru the air (or shaking in the pan). I was feeding it verrry slowly, a little at a time. I went thru it all later and hand blew it to seee how much chafff was left. There was some but we can definitely make this work.
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Jun 23, 2006 5:53:35 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. Brad, How'd that winnower come along. I'm still interested in knowing how you've built it. Thanks
|
|
|
Post by sharkman on Feb 15, 2007 1:36:07 GMT -5
Aloha Sharkman here. Thanks Brad for the initial design for the homemade winnower. We made one today and it works very well. We used ABS pipe with the Y fiitings and put a funnel at the top to feed the cracked nibs into. We duct taped a old small shop vac to the bottom and put a reostat{spelling ingin the cord to slow or speed up the blow force. Since I grow my own beans and had burnt some I ran them through as an experiment. We tried different blower sppeds and we fouind that if the stack height and the angle are right the small vac at full speed did a great job. Iv'e spent hours doing this by hand so this was a joyous gift. I will get the computer guy to take a pic and we'll take some measurements and try to get them to you. If not I will take a pic and mail it to someone and they can scan it a show it around. Farmin I can do ;computers are not my arena. will get it to you one way or another. happy Valentines Day everyone. I gave away chocolate hearts at the Hilo farmers Mkt. today and the girls loved it. later Sharkman
|
|
|
Post by jerryla on Apr 30, 2007 0:50:20 GMT -5
Hi all,
I have a question for you. When you gusy talk about the winnowing of the cocoa you dont mention the germ. What I have experienced is that the germ can be tough and bitter. Had any of you had any sucess separating the germ from the bean?
Thanks
|
|
|
Post by Samantha Madell on May 6, 2007 8:40:23 GMT -5
Hi jerryla,
When you mention the germ in this context, I assume you're talking about the small, hard stem in the middle of the bean, which results from the early stages of germination?
Coincidentally, I've just read Chloe Doutre-Roussel's book (The Chocolate Connoisseur), in which she describes the process of making chocolate in Claudio Corallo's kitchen. Among other things, she mentions "carefully removing the acrid stem at the centre of each bean" by hand! This anecdote is really beside the point (sorry) ... but in answer to your question, I've never heard of a mechanical means of separating out the stem.
In my opinion, the easiest way to deal with the problem (assuming I've understood your question correctly), is to find a source of perfectly fermented beans. By definition, a perfectly fermented bean will have been killed before germination takes place. This, in turn, means that there will be no stems to remove.
Sam
|
|
|
Post by trinitarioonly on Jun 23, 2007 13:05:42 GMT -5
In Minifie's book a winnower is described (see if book available) they describe the same operation as the pvc winnower except for baffles which seem to slow the passage of material through the air-stream . I did combine the two concepts and made a winnower out of a blower from an air-condtioning unit and ducting with baffles placed inside . I have learned that once you have the nibs and husk of the same size being winnowed a better result is had.
|
|
|
Post by crazyknitter42 on Nov 15, 2009 8:57:05 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. bumping..... Brad, did you ever finish your plans? and if so, are they still available?
|
|