Standard idiot disclaimer: Do NOT try to build ANYTHING that I have built. Do NOT try and reporduce this because you could electrocute yourself and DIE. Nobody should copy this. Nobody in the whole world. Especially idiots. If you are an idiot, please seek help now!
On with the show...
I took an idea that Mark had which was a stainless steel pot, with a windscreen wiper motor. So its pretty basic, and a great idea. I was talking to Chris at work about the main problem I saw with the design being once the beans have cooked you had to pick up the pot. So he suggested using brackets to create a swivel . Great plan - works a treat! Then I thought such a great plan needed a sled so I can drag it in and out of the shed. So thats what Ive built.
You can read about Marks inspiration here:
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?nu...5106;start=all
Heres the first picture of the badboy, with Del holding the reigns! (the on/off switch to be exact!)
So first, the inventory:
Stainless steel pot $12
Heatgun $18
Battery Charger $20
Battery FREE
Windscreen Wiper engine FREE
Switch FREE (had one leftover from other work)
Wood (chipboard from Mitre 10) $8
Brackets $10
Exaust Tube $5
Clamp $2
misc Bolts $2
TOTAL = $77
I got the battery for free from a motor mechanic - it dosnt have to be good, because the charger is running while you roast and actually turns the stirring arm mostly. Although they dont seem to draw down much becuase the clapped out battery I got has run 2 roasts without the charger on even?! I also got the wiper motor for free from a different guy whod been pulling one out of a car for a guy already and was throwing out the other side (dumb luck that is). I had a switch so I put that inline, but its not totally necessary, but it rules because you can leave everything connected and just flick the switch to run things. But even if you have to pay for these itll still be well under the hundie! Wicked.
So its powered by the battery, and its got the power topup from the charger. I just wacked in some mounting wood to hold it in place when I drag it in and out of the shed. Youll note Dels thumb poised to crank on the machine and my command!
Here is the windscreen wiper motor mounted on the bottom of the pot. Different engines will mount differently, but its the same concept. Heat hasnt affected the rubber washers or the engine yet, but after Ive cooled the beans with my fan I use the fan to cool the engine and the pot too.
This is the pot, and you can see the rounded bolt heads for the engine and the stirring arm. I use angle iron, which is good. I tilt the pot slightly during my roasting so that the arm stirs through the beanmass and gravity helps with stirring. One flat side pushes the beans and the other picks them up and rolls them to the other side. It works well so far.
I brought 2 shelf brackets from Mitre 10, angle ground them so they fit centrally under the pot and then screwed them to the wood. I then just drilled hols in the pot and lightly bolted them to the pot. They are only finger tightened, which is ok because they have spring washers so they stay tight even with the vibrations of the motor.
Marions dad has a sence of humour. Funny guy. Anyhow, the heatgun is shoved through 1.5inch (internal) exaust pipe extension tube, which is cheaper than I thought it would be! $5 for 500ml, and you only need 250ml!!! I can take the lid off the pot during the roast but I thought a vent opposite the HG would be good so that it doesnt get all the excess hot air back out the same hole (ie. meltie meltie plastic).
Simple clamp to mount the exaust tube to the pot, then the heatgun can easily be pushed into the tubeing. I should have mounted the heatgun on the opposite side so when I tip the pot to empty the beans the tub is not in the way, but thats the way it is now, and Im not messing about to change it now. Ive mounted the clamp to the pot with a rivet, but thats just because Mairons dad is a maniac, it could easily have been done with a small bolt/nut combo too. The rivet is good because it doesnt protrude out and leaves the tube snug up agains the pot when clamped in.
The best bit. Chris gets props for suggesting this - but I built it, so now he can have a crack too I reacon. The pot can easily swivel (as shown by my chief assistant) so once the roast is done you can pour the beans out of the pot into the waiting container for cooling. This is indeed the business, because I did a couple of roasts before using this setup with just the pot, and it is hot as crap, and easy to burn yo