Today was a good lunch. A bit frustrating, but good. I went out and picked up my BBQ grill roaster drum, so I’m that much closer to large capacity roasting! This will be good since I’m doing a pound every couple of weeks for a friend.
What was really cool was the piece of history I got back. When my father died, I pulled a vintage treadle powered grindstone out of the barn – it was my great-great grandfather’s. It had a broken ear on the axle shaft that held a connecting rod to the pedals. That’s now fixed! I just have to fabricate a longer connecting rod on that side – the cause of the break was a rod that was too short. Said rod remains on the grinder. Even though it won’t grind coffee, I still find it terribly useful!
May 20, 2008 at 7:50 am
Great news, Jason! I’m glad you’ve got that thing fixed! Now what can you sharpen with it? an axe? A hoe? Or shovel?
And where did your roaster drum come from? Did you fashion it yourself? Is it solid or mesh? Think you’ll get around to using it this weekend?
May 20, 2008 at 7:59 am
It’ll sharpen anything. I’ve got to fix the pedal works and may end up going the route of a 10 speed gear train to allow various rates or revolution.
The roaster is an SS container. Grabbed it off the homeroast list. It’s basically solid SS with square holes. I may have to cover/line it with an SS screen to prevent peaberries from falling out. The shop that did the throat weld also welded in the veins. No use scheduled as of yet. I still need a diffuser. I may go back to the machine shop for a piece of 1/4″ steel. I’ve heard that works.
May 20, 2008 at 9:08 am
Great! I’m looking forward to hearing how it works out as a roaster. It should be a lot of fun to play around with.
I’m envious of your grinder. When I want to sharpen a tool, I have to bring out a file and actually do manual labor before I even get to the real task of the day.
May 23, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Jason, how many kinds of tools do you have to work with? I was wondering if you had a router, a lathe, a band saw and a side-press drill?
May 23, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I have all sorts, but don’t use many power tools regularly. I do have a router or two, but I’m not good with them. Skillsaws, tablesaw, radial arm, drill press. If I’m feeling really tough, I could pull out the reciprocating saw and start the remodel!
I have a lathe bed and head, but that’s it. No motor to drive it yet. I’ll likely use a ten speed bike gearing to drive it on a 4X4 bed plane.