Corn / Pellet Cleaner - Improved

[@JenkinsBoatWorks]

I really appreciate the reply, I have started a small popcorn operation and we are shelling with hand crank corn sheller but it leaves a lot of dust and trash. In the past I have actually shook out the cob dust with a common kitchen colander! We are going to have a much larger crop this year, but can't afford a shur kleen or similar commercial thing. This may just be the ticket! thanks again

[@waterwoman43]

Thank you for your ingenious design. We have now put one together and Bill is tweaking it according to your design. The amount of dust in our house after 14 years is quite horrendous. Hopefully now, that will be a thing of the past.

[@Kntryhart]

@kcuhcsniknej Good day! Yes, the screen in the PVC prevents corn/pellets from falling out when the vacuum is off. When the vacuum is on, the hole acts as a siphon and pulls corn/pellets toward vacuum (nothing falls out). I checked the shop vacuum for HP rating. Anything that might tell me the rating has long been worn off...it is at least 35 years old! Thanks for your interest!

[@JenkinsBoatWorks]

wow, ingenius! I have a couple questions if you don't mind. At about 2:45 in the video you show the hole in the bottom of the PVC. I guess that screen on the bottom doesn't let much fall out, does it allow any trash or small stuff to filter there and if so do you put another bucket or something there to catch that waste? Also, what HP shop vac are you using? thanks!

[@jamestimmins7305]

Take a look at seed cleaners. They work very well. Just scale up the seed cleaner and utilize a variable speed auger feeder.

[@bonaventura8]

Hi Kntryhard, Thanks for posting this v smart solution! One q. for you: did you attach the funnel to the bucket (your hopper here) using auto body filler? If not, how did you attach it? Thanks again!

[@Kntryhart]

Hot glue! ;-))

[@tryduck6993]

how mush of corn makes it into the vacuum? Also that screen would stop separation of twigs and cob pieces that end up jamming augers , how do you deal with them. Do you buy corn from farmers bulk or are you buying bagged corn already cleaned like deer corn?

[@Kntryhart]

+try duck I never found twigs, but I did find small stones and a lot of corn cobs! Yes...death for an auger system! Before I ran it through the vacuum system, I poured the contents of the bag through a one-half inch screen mesh. That seemed to remove the worst offenders, then I ran it through the vacuum setup. Little-to-no corn made it into the vacuum. I did check with local farmers, but they did not want to sell me kernel corn, so I purchased bagged corn from the the local feed supply store. Regards.

[@tryduck6993]

This design just isn't so helpful for corn that is right from field or from farmers. It may work good using bagged corn that has already had been cleaned. It just doesn't remove the fines or bees wings or even small twigs. With bagged corn I imagine that most that has been removed already and only dust/very small fines would be left. It does remove corn cobs nicely but with bulk farmers corn has to have the other stuff removed also.I tried even running through same load 3-4x and still wasn't getting cracked corn,larger fines , twigs or the red chafe(what I call bees wings) out. Now If you buy bagged corn it may work perfectly for those needs but I buy my corn bulk so I ensure the money goes to the farmer and not middle men .

[@OlliMSa]

Can corn pellet mixtures be used in any pellet stove? I have a Harman P23. I like your contraption.

[@Kntryhart]

I don't see why not. But it might be worth getting other opinions. I suggest you visit Hearth.com At that site there is a discussion group called: The Pellet Mill - Pellet and Multifuel Stoves Someone there might have a better understanding. Regards.

[@tryduck6993]

+OlliMSa you have to adapt the burn pots to burn corn and you do not need as much air flow burning corn so you will have to slow down your combustion motor or limit air intake. I would say that at the least you will have to add more holes up the sides of your pellet burn put .This is why they make pots for corn and pots for pellets. When you do not adj for burning corn you are pretty much loosing heat out the exhaust by not lowering intake air flow along with causing a clogged burn pot(ends up looking like a lava brick has filled in the entire burn pot and starts burning orangish mostly from being plugged off) The holes up sides of burn pot help keep burn process going from top to bottom more uniformly allowing longer burn times before servicing is needed.

[@069craig]

I built something similar to what you have but am using a hose to stick into the corn bag itself. My problem is that the screen keeps getting clogged with corn. I think I have to much suction, do you have any thoughts?

[@Kntryhart]

If the corn falls away from the screen when you turn off the vacuum, then I would agree too much vacuum. Difficult to imagine, though. Using my setup as an example. insert a short length of pipe between the rubber boot and the vacuum hose. Before you install, drill several 1/4" holes through the side of the pipe to reduce suction. If you find that you now need more suction, place a piece of duct tape over one hole at a a time until you get the suction required. Let me know how it works. Regards.

[@JenkinsBoatWorks]

Hi Kntryhart, I worked yesterday on duplicating your contraption with limited success. I put a video response up on your video in order for you to see my version of your invention, hope you don't mind. Additionally, if you would watch my video and give me your suggestions, I'd gratefully appreciate. After sleeping on it, I feel that my "supply tubes are too long, In my first attempt I didn't have the hole in the tube and collapsed the bottom bucket! HA! Thanks in advance.