Pasta Maker revisited

[chillardbee]

I'd be glad to have a separate one. I wouldn't want risk of cross-contamination of either pasta or tobacco by either of the other. (Did that make sense?)
Also, I find that once my kitchen appliance has found a purpose outside the kitchen, I will never get it back. (I've lost a blender, 2 coffee grinders, more spoons than I can count, measuring cups, bowls, cups, pots & pans ... and the list goes on!)

In all fairness, I've replaced most of them. But I don't take responsibility for the spoons...danged if I know where they went.

 

[chillardbee]

I like that idea, FMGrowit. I've been kicking around an idea similar to that but using washers on 2 peices of ready bar.

 

[FmGrowit]

I like that idea, FMGrowit. I've been kicking around an idea similar to that but using washers on 2 peices of ready bar.

Yep, I've been toying with that too. The problem is the rake can't account for the accumulated tolerance of the washers. These washers are 1/32" with a +/- .005. If one batch of washers are all + .005 then that would be .05 in 3 ". If the rake is designed was say .028 tine at .64 o.c., it wouldn't fit.

The alternative to a fixed rake is a type of course bristle wire brush, but it would likely clog rather than rake.

 

[Michibacy]

As for bristle brushes. An auger we sell at my work has bristle flighting in it. If a grain or seed isn't cleared of chaff thoroughly the bristles do clog with junk, I can see them doing the same in a shredder. I think the new design with "sprocket" wheels (notches cut out so that there is a 90* angle parallel to the leaf) is probably the most workable. Some kind of "attachment" to the top of the ream that would grab and feed the leaf (erm..."pasta dough") into the machine could also help quite a bit.

 

[marksctm]

How soon, and can we buy one as is, so I, we, can experiment with and make modifications.
I would like for a number of them to be sold at a set price for members willing to participate in modifying any problems using tobacco not dough, might cause.
Understanding that warranty would be void by tampering with apparatus.
And that members foot the cost on any parts and labor, used in said modifications.
I would be more than willing to be on a, (test and modifications team).
I'm home full time and have all the time to experiment with any products that can be used, but not intended, for tobacco.
Then go over every ones notes and modifications, and come up with a final product. (more cooks in the kitchen) if you will.
Or is that a silly and impractical idea?

 

[bonehead]

i always thought the top of an old , old wringer washing machine with the three rollers would work with some mods. it would definately have the power and only need some cutters.

 

[Chicken]

if i used one of them i'd definatlly have to devise a small motor on it,

 

[FmGrowit]

Or is that a silly and impractical idea?

It's not a silly idea, but it might be a little impractical. The tool has already been made for the cutter, so there won't be much room for modifications. I'm not sure what could be modified other than the width of the cut. I can make them indestructible, but the cost to do that would make them unaffordable. Anything can be broken intentionally, I guess I could only hope people don't try to break them and then return it for a new one.

I already have a design for another manual shredder, a home use electric model and a commercial model.

i always thought the top of an old , old wringer washing machine with the three rollers would work with some mods. it would definately have the power and only need some cutters.

Yeah, you'd have plenty of power. To replace the rollers on a mangle with stainless steel cutters would probably cost several thousand dollars, then you'd have to figure out where and how to mount the rakes and then there's the safety issue, so guards would have to be made...but I suppose it could be done.

 

[FmGrowit]

if i used one of them i'd definatlly have to devise a small motor on it,

That's in the works too.

 

[Boboro]

I hooked a ice shaver motor to one. It had the right speed and gears.

 

[Fisherman]

I bought the electric motor for one of the popular pasta machines and while affordable..... it was junk. Stripped gears inside of a week.

 

[FmGrowit]

Stripped the gears in the motor or the pasta maker?

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Don, do you plan to sell the entire "pasta maker" or will there be an option to just buy the angel hair attachment?

 

[DGBAMA]

Don, do you plan to sell the entire "pasta maker" or will there be an option to just buy the angel hair attachment?

I may be wrong here, but I am following this as Don has an official "manual tobacco shredder" in the works/nearing production. Not just a hacked pasta maker.

 

[Fisherman]

Stripped the gears in the motor or the pasta maker?

The pasta maker itself ran ruff and tite after I scored the rollers but cleared up after dismanteling. The motor stripped in record time. The gears now jump and buck loudly. The maker works fine other than I didnt score it a lot like your unit's pic shows. Yours would be the bomb for sure.

PS: I bought a whole maker and now have a huge stand for the angel hair attachment. No need to have the whole unit IMO... A ready made stand-alone stand for the attachment would be nice.

 

[FmGrowit]

All pasta makers aren't the same, so there's a good chance these cutters won't fit your machine. The crank mounting holes are going to be a completely new design from the pasta cutters. The cutter diameters are larger also.

These shredders are going to be sold pre-mounted on a reversible lid of the storage bin...the packaging is the storage bin.

I'm not sure you'll be able to use these new cutters to modify old pasta makers.

I've already started designing a zig-zag cutting head. That won't be available for at least 6 months though.

 

[BarG]

That ought to be even more interesting!

 

[FmGrowit]

We did some additional testing about a week ago. While the actual cutter head works great, the surrounding housing failed. Some modifications have been made and we tested it again today. The machine has its limitations, but it makes a very consistent product. We found another weak spot in the design, so we're making a couple of small changes again. The unit should be finished tomorrow and we'll test it again.

Like I said, this shredder has it's limitations, but if used semi-responsibly, it should last several years. I'm trying to keep the cost down as much as possible and we have to sacrifice some quality for that reason. I can make an indestructible shredder, but not for $40.

Four or five members will be receiving a model for testing. The best candidates are those who participated in the "Free Cigarette Tobacco" thread. The goal here isn't to simply hand out free shredders, but to actually have them tested. The four or five shredders will be sent to those who submitted samples from the free tobacco thread.

I expect fully functional prototypes to be ready for testing in about one week.

 

[Boboro]

Im happy with my power matic but will buy and economy shredder because the struggle weve had in the past.

 

[DGBAMA]

If it would help quality I would be very ok with paying as much for a shredder as a powermatic2 stuffer.