Brown Thumbs Polish Shredder Head Build

[deluxestogie]

Powermatic shredded 1.86 pounds.
The Polish Shredding Machine shredded 5.37 pounds.
A little less than 3 times faster.

The cost comparison is difficult to calculate from the info in the thread. For 3 times the speed, did it cost 3 times as much?

Bob

 

[Bex]

I have to change my opinion, It just ate my push stick cleaning up for the shredder race.
View attachment 17004

Eck. I am wondering if instead of pushing the tobacco in from the side, if this could be turned around so that the tobacco is dropping in from the top into some kind of hopper or chute, where gravity is actually feeding it through those pretty hungry looking combs. Being somewhat of a wuss, I think that - especially as you get more accustomed to this machine, you are going to be less vigilant regarding your 'respect' for the damage that it can do to you. We have a number of farmers here who have been farming all their lives with specific machinery who get just that bit too comfortable with their machinery, and get injured (a few actually killed horribly here....).

 

[Brown Thumb]

The cost comparison is difficult to calculate from the info in the thread. For 3 times the speed, did it cost 3 times as much?

Bob

I was thinking faster, but I was babying her. Another faster gear head like say 120 rpm might just get the job done.
As per cost someone should be able to build one being frugle for less than 750.00
I have about 1000 Bucks into mine. But will resell the motors, pulleys, hubs, Ect. That dident work
on eBay to recoup like 250.

 

[Brown Thumb]

Eck. I am wondering if instead of pushing the tobacco in from the side, if this could be turned around so that the tobacco is dropping in from the top into some kind of hopper or chute, where gravity is actually feeding it through those pretty hungry looking combs. Being somewhat of a wuss, I think that - especially as you get more accustomed to this machine, you are going to be less vigilant regarding your 'respect' for the damage that it can do to you. We have a number of farmers here who have been farming all their lives with specific machinery who get just that bit too comfortable with their machinery, and get injured (a few actually killed horribly here....).

I have been around machinery that will eat you up and spit you out most of my younger life. I wonder how the hell Im still around.
I've almost lost a few fingers and have had a few holes plugged but still have almost most of my parts.
With a drop chute I would jamb her faster. I now can control how much leaf gets fed. Per say. The machine will pull the leaf in.

 

[Bex]

I have been around machinery that will eat you up and spit you out most of my younger life. I wonder how the hell Im still around.

We had a farmer here last year who has been using the same baling machine for 20 years. He got just that bit 'complacent', leaned in just that bit too far - the machine caught a bit of his clothing and he was strangled. Be careful. No one thought this shredder would chew up the push stick, either....

 

[Brown Thumb]

I still have all my fingers. The 2012, 13, 14, 15 yrs. Baccy has all been shredded.
I would still be shredding if I were using a powermatic.
I think I gonna name her, Bex
Time to finish her up.
I got a new gear head 30 bucks shipped with a 3/4 in. Shaft v/s the 1/2 square shaft that twisted off once in a while if it wanted to jamb. but it is smooth sailing if you feed her properly.
I'm going to build a little electrical box that houses the capicitor and wiring with the on off switch mounted right on the motor. In case I want to clean the machine the motor and wiring pulls right off with four bolts.
I will Tear her down and powder coat her after I get her tested out with the new gear head.
Only one problem, No leaf left to shred when Im done.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Does your new gearhead spin faster than the other one (70 rpm?).
You should do a short write up on what parts you ended up using. It'd be nice to know, for instance what size gear motor , make, model number etc you ended up with.

 

[Brown Thumb]

It is the same RPM gear head 88 RPM.
The collar for the motor to the shredder shaft is 20 mm. to 3/4 in.
It has been a PITA to make.
Im getting there tho.
My neighbor had a full machine shop which I could use anytime. Unfortunately he went belly up a few yrs ago.
This is frustrating using the tools I have.
I got a 3/4 keyed collar and thought I would drill the other end to 20mm.
Yea right, the drill followed the keyway and offset the shaft.
My next Idea is to drill thru the collar compleatly at 20mm and use a 3/4 to 20mm bushing on the motor end.
I called a couple of machine shops and they want 85 bucks+ to do it. It takes less than 10 min. To do in a lathe or mill.
WTF,I could see 35 bucks.

 

[Brown Thumb]

I got everything worked out for the most part.
Except the rotating table.
I'm putting new bearings in the head also.
They are not sealed and putting her to hell and back they do not fell perfect anymore.
I got 10 pounds off Don for her Maiden Voyage.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Interesting about the bearings. I'm pretty sure my bearings are sealed (Z-bearings) but I'll have to take another look. I've been looking for a 200 rpm (or close to it) gear motor on Ebay. They are scarce as hens teeth. They either cost an arm and a leg, or they are 3 phase. I like my belted set up but am always willing to experiment.

 

[Brown Thumb]

Jitterbug on eBay type in nmrv040 that is the type I have.
The nmrv050 is more heavy duty tho. But is rarer than the other one.
They come up cheap sometimes. I paid 30 bucks for mine shipped,New.
They work on a 56c frame motor with the large faceplate on the gear head.
The bearings are a metal shielded z bearing. I had to wash my cutters out a bunch of times during R&D to unjam her and some crap got in them.
While I have it torn down for powder coating I might as well replace them and powder coat the cutter head parts since they are starting to get rusty.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Thanks for the info BT. Check this link out and tell me what you think, based on your recent experience. It is a 10:1 reducer so it should give me about 170 rpm.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201140006684?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Brown Thumb]

That is the type I have. But 20 to 1 ratio.
I think the horsepower rating for the 10 To 1 ratio is close to 1 hp.
The 20 To 1 ratio I have is just over 1/2 hp. Rated. But I ran one hell of a lot of leaf thru her and jammed her a couple of times with no ill effects to the gear head. Im running one hp.
The nmrv050 is more heavy duty and costs more.
What kind of shaft is on the head you have. I saw Lucus uses different style shafts to hook the motor to on the different heads.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

What kind of shaft is on the head you have. I saw Lucus uses different style shafts to hook the motor to on the different heads.

Not sure. It's been awhile since I put it together. The shaft is pretty beefy. I'll measure it in the near future when I start my next build converting my motor/belt driven system to a gear driven system. Thanks for the input. I'll place an order for the gear head. I don't have any rust on mine, maybe because I've hit it a few times with glycerine. I also keep it covered when not in use. Everything I own seems to rust!

 

[Brown Thumb]

Be patient, they come up dirt cheap once in a while on eBay.
If you are looking for a cheap new 1 hp motor for it I can shoot over a link. Around 75 bucks shipped.
If you have a 20 mm shaft on yours I can hook you up with the coupling setup suppliers i used. Cheap too.
You also need the output shaft for the gear head if you buy new and some used. 25 more bucks.
If you don't want to make your own mtg bracket for the gearhead they sell a torque arm for like 25 more bucks.

 

[Jitterbugdude]

I'd be interested in where you got your couplers at. I have a 1 hp motor ready to go

 

[Brown Thumb]

I'd be interested in where you got your couplers at. I have a 1 hp motor ready to go

56c frame for motor?

 

[Jitterbugdude]

yes

 

[Brown Thumb]

the coupling I used.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/m...coupling-wkeyway-mrc20kw-black-oxide-20mm-5pk

I used this reducer for the gear head side. fits nice and tight.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-4-X-20mm-...hash=item4d3cd88959:m:m-teRRo0uxAwb9-NG5rsXWw

I was considering these also. You could get a 3/4 in. for one side and 20 mm. for the other.
It was too wide for the space I have between my motor and shredder.
Allows for a little wiggle room also if not lined perfect.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOVEJOY-L10...994829?hash=item4adb40284d:g:el0AAOSwf-VWYoVw

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Thanks for the links BT. I probably won't tear down my existing set up for a few weeks.
I use Love Joy couplers a lot. I've built 3 or 4 diesel generators over the past few years and they work great for coupling the engine to the generator head.