BBQ roaster - general info

[fatboy_1999]

I recently received a PM asking for some info about my setup.
Unfortunately, I am one of a few users who cannot reply to PM's due to a system bug.

So, I thought I would post my word document here once more as the old post from years ago seems to have a broken link.

Hope this is useful to someone!

Brett.

[TOK]

In a previous life my CS profile suffered a similar fate to you with the "PM bug", and I understand how frustrating that can be...

That's a nice little set up. Well done.

[deco0028]

I recently received a PM asking for some info about my setup.
Unfortunately, I am one of a few users who cannot reply to PM's due to a system bug.

So, I thought I would post my word document here once more as the old post from years ago seems to have a broken link.

Hope this is useful to someone!

Brett.

Hi Brett
It was me, and I thank you very much for taking the time!
Toying with some ideas at present with designing a drum roaster for the BBQ. Know someone who is very handy with metal/stainless steel. We shall see how it goes.
Rob

[Ravenscroft]

Hey, Fatboy that is brilliant.

If you don't mind me asking, What are the drum diameters and lengths etc.

I love the ingenuity around here!

RC

[fatboy_1999]

It's 200mm diameter x 310mm long. Purchased from a USA specialty home roaster supplier.

[Ravenscroft]

Thanks for the reply as it really helps me to get some perspective. It looks like a really great setup and very inventive.

I love the things people come up with.

[fatboy_1999]

It's done a pretty good job for around 13 years. I dread the day my motor dies. I got a backup a few years back but it doesn't have the same torque. I guess I will have to buy a proper one when it carks.
Belted out another 2 roasts today

[Ravenscroft]

Would one of those barbecues with the rotisseries work of do they turn too slowly?

I am trying to get my head around it all as I have a Baby roaster that works really well and a Corretto but looking to the future

I would like to get something which does bigger batches without having to spend big dollars (only because I don't have them big $$$$).

RC

[fatboy_1999]

I've never tried one, but I think the slow rotisserie motors wouldn't cut it for roasting. They are usually around 3 rpm.
My wiper motor was around 55rpm when I got it. It has slowed down to around 45rpm over the years, but given its workload, I think it has done a stellar job.
My backup motor works fine for my original (1kg) drum, but cannot handle the 2kg drum. So depending on the capacity you are wanting to turn, you will need to work out the torque required and see if you can source an appropriate motor.
There are items on various sale sites called 'wondermotor' which look amazingly like a wiper motor, but seem to have an actual torque rating, so they might be worth looking at.

I did try to figure out my torque requirement a little while back but got somewhat sidetracked. I'd like a simple "Can handle 5kgs" rating, but torque isn't as simple as that according to all the calculation sites I ended up at.

Good luck.

[Ravenscroft]

Thanks ,but I am not the sort of guy who could work out torque if it was telling me the equation of the meaning of life, to which I believe incidentally the answer to be 42.

But thanks for your on going input as it sort of helps me in the idiot disposition in which I find myself stumbling about.

[deco0028]

Hi all
Would a convection function on a home BBQ improve the roast quality? Also, any ideas on how to ventilate to collect the chaff while roasting?

[habahabanero]

Thanks ,but I am not the sort of guy who could work out torque if it was telling me the equation of the meaning of life, to which I believe incidentally the answer to be 42.

But thanks for your on going input as it sort of helps me in the idiot disposition in which I find myself stumbling about.

Torque is a linear equation - so a simple division/multiplication calculation. Expressed as kgf.cm (kilogram force per cm) or Nm (Newton meter) - conversion calculators are your friend. The only difficult bit is calculating what % of your roast is contributing to the torque - depends on size of any vanes, drum material, drum orientation etc. - it's not the whole weight of your roast. The torque required is that weight in kg multiplied by the distance from the axis in cm.

I recently replaced the drill that was running my roaster with a 13kgf.cm 50rpm 12V geared motor bought off evilbay - future proofed in case I want to build a bigger drum. The torque I needed was only about 0.8kgf.cm for a 300g roast in a 16cm drum.

[fatboy_1999]

Improve the roast quality from what?

I think putting it a convection oven would decrease your control and visibility.

And unless you had very good quality exhaust ventilation for your oven, it would be a no go in my book. Too much smoke is produced during the roasting process.

As for the chaff, well that's a whole other problem. Purpose built roasters like the Behmor have a chaff collector, but once you start looking to roast bigger batches, you get bigger amounts of chaff.

If you are roasting in a drum, then it will retain a significant amount of the chaff.

Some will burn off during the roast, but I find the bulk of it is blown off the beans after I dump them into the cooler.

And of course, some beans produce much more chaff than others.

[Aaron4820]

At the risk of getting a very general answer back, may I ask how well the RK drum and BBQ setup does in terms of quality of beans roasted? What ends up in the cup? Or what can you do once you learn how to roast on such a setup? I imagine it is largely down to the user? Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks

[noonar]

Genaeral Answer here... Coretto.