Homemade cream machiine

[mapleman3]

after seeing how easy the cream machine was made at the maple cream seminar in verona.. I"M MAKING ONE !! time to collect up some parts... anyone want to part with there real old washing machine??? :lol:

[maple flats]

I attended that too and am looking for components. There is also a simpler one if you can't find a gearbox shown in the new Maple Syrup Producer's Manual (which I bought at the conf. for $21.00, thought that was a good price) Theirs runs with belts and pulleys utilizing a jack shaft to reduce the rpm's to less than 60. One of the commercial uints said 40 rpm, I might try that speed.

[Fred Henderson]

after seeing how easy the cream machine was made at the maple cream seminar in verona.. I"M MAKING ONE !! time to collect up some parts... anyone want to part with there real old washing machine??? :lol:


What do you mean by really old?

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Kitchen aid mixers work good for around $ 200. My wife has the commercial 325 or 350 watt for about $ 250.

[Dave Y]

Mapleman3 &mapleflats,
I also attened that seminar. I agree that any one with 1/2 a brain can make one. the only problem is finding the time. I liked his flex coupler 3/4 in milk tubing. He said it is the origanial

[Dave Y]

Fred,
old as a wringer washer.

[danno]

That was one of my favorite sessions at the conferance. Making one is on my list as well. Share your designs as you begin to put them together.

[mapleman3]

Yes I liked that coupling too, My son really enjoyed making the cream himself, thought that it was pretty cool.

I have figured out pulley sizes with a 1725 rpm motor, 1" on the motor and around 22" on the platform. I bet I could make the pully into the taple/platform with plywood. that will be around 65prms which is slower than commercial machines.


it's tough to find an old side shaft washer gearbox

[Fred Henderson]

Fred,
old as a wringer washer.


Well gee, I got one of them sitting in the SH, but I am sorry its not for sale. I use it to wring my filters out.

[MASSEY JACK]

The motor/reducer on the Leader one is a Dayton 1/4 hp and it is a 40 rpm unit. Dayton is sold by W.W. Granger. I wonder what they get for it?

[Dave Y]

Fred
some times you must sacrifice for the greater good! :)

[ibby458]

www.surpluscenter.com has a lot of gear reducers at decent prices. Many years ago, I bought a 1/2 hp motor/gearbox combo for my planer for less than $50. (For the drive rollers)

Another option is a transmission from an old riding mower. Newer ones have transaxles, but some of the older ones used a compact gearbox that could be adapted.

[Fred Henderson]

Fred
some times you must sacrifice for the greater good! :)

No no, it took me a long time to find one, used that is. When I did locate one the woman gave me my choice of 3 to pick from.

[maplehound]

I have seen them made using the moter from the adgitator of the milk tanks. I have saved acouple to try to make one and have never doe it.

[Sugarmaker]

I have a motor from a bulk tank, never thought about making a cream machine with it. HUM might work. Lots of power slow steady speed. Any pictures of one made with a bulk tank motor?
Chris

[Father & Son]

Hey Chris,
I was thinking the same thing. Chase and I were just talking about setting one up the same way. Look at page 187 in the NAMSPM 2nd edition. Got the tubing I need the make a stand for the bucket washer and we will mount the bulk tank motor so it comes off easy. If you need a surge milker to make the pan let me know.

Jim

[mapleman3]

But aren't most milk tanks set up as 220v?

[Sugarmaker]

Mapleman,
Not sure on the voltage? I did plug the one I have into 110 and seems to run OK. May be 220 but I don't think so????? Not a electrician! Barely a syrup maker.
Chris

[mapleman3]

I have one from my tank... now you got me thinking... hmmmmmm but I do believ mine is 220.. now I'll look to see if I can change the motor or votage.

[Sugarmaker]

Mapleman3,
This unit I have is a old 2 speed Dari Kool agitator motor with pulley reduction built in. RPM looks like 40 on low and 80 on high. any Idea how fast a cream pan should turn?

I also have one rigged up (single speed from a bulk tank of unknown type???) that I have been running on 110 to wash buckets for 6-7 years.?? Seems to work OK?

Chris

[Pete33Vt]

We used one to rotate our pigs when we did pig roast, and it was 110, It work pretty well. Until it did quit then we had to turn a 150 lbs hog by hand to finish cooking it.

Pete

[mapleman3]

I believe under 60 rpms... 40 is what leaders does

Graingers has a gear motor, 1/4 hp 115v 40 rpms... # 5k941...$289.50 in the book, different companies get different % off that .

[Father & Son]

Mapleman3,
The last the tank was used was in an orchard and the gentleman had his apple cider in it. The agitator motor was just plugged into a regular wall outlet (110) and worked fine.

Jim

[mapleman3]

So I have been playing around again building my cream machine.. yes a year later... I did check my agitator from the milk tank... 230v.. darn and darn heavy too.. Maybe I should sell it on eabay. it works.
Anyway I finally found a pan at a flea market for $5 14"round 5" high.. big enough for me... and stainless to boot so now I'm in business.

[VtSugarhouse]

I made my cream machine with a single phase 2 hp motor coupled to a worm drive gear reduction. Now this attaches to a 1" oberdorfer gear pump.
With proper boiling of the syrup to 24 degrees above the boiling point of water. Now cooled for 24 hours down to approximatley 35-40 degrees you have the potential of extremely smooth maple cream.
I process about 6 gallons in an hour and it is nothing like the cream you make with a paddle machine. Paddle machines are too grainy for me.
Try this new machine you might like it I did.