Problem Statement/functional need On our small organic CSA farm, we harvest a lot of root veggies for storage in the fall. This is when we harvest the largest quantities, and when the water feels the coldest on the hands. We have been out washing carrots in just above freezing temps. Most of these root veggies end up in our cold room and we give out in our fall and winter baskets. We needed a more automated way to wash and sort our root veggies.
Functional Description/approach This is my basic barrel washer design and build. We built a barrel using rims from an old mountain bike. Then set that on 4 powered wheels. I originally planned to power this with a garage door opener (already turns slow, has a chain gear), but I learned (through trial) that the motor would not turn continuously and the plastic worm gear would not hold up to the abuse of carrot washing.
See the video on Vimeo Barrel Washer
Sketchup diagrams Version 1 is when I was going to use the "standard" chain drive with the motor on top seen on many other root washers. I want a door on one end and a shoot on the other. I also plan to add a scissor jack under one end to adjust the level/pitch of the barrel, with castors on the other legs.
Version 2 shows some of the changes I have made to the frame to incorporate the bigger drive wheels (12" pneumatic tires).
Bill of materials and Sourcing Most of the frame is made from 1" box steel I sourced locally 4 x 5/8" pillow blocks 2 x 5'x5/8" axle 4 x 12" pneumatic tires (with 5/8" hole) roller chain 2 big chain pulleys (do not exceed width of drive wheels) antique reduction gear box (mine is about 30:1) antique motor (I think mine is 3600rpm, but it doesn't say, and I haven't done the math) couple of casters 6' x 3/4" copper pipe scrap wood odds and ends around the shop
Construction/how to build
-I started by putting the frame together as seen in the pics.
-Then drilled some holes and attached the pillow blocks with bolts.
-Put the axle, wheels, and chain sprockets on
-Test drove with rain barrel
-Add the motor (originally a garage door opener), and chain
-Built the barrel with 1x4s and 3 equal sized old bike rims
-Soldered some fittings on the 3/4 copper pipe, drilled some strategically placed holes
-Fitted that in the barrel with some rebar I accidentalyl mowed
-Added a shoot at the front
-Added a door at the back
Next steps/goals/barriers Next summer I want to find bigger bike rims to build a bigger barrel
Hope this root washer would
I'm interested in this.
Hey Joel, thanks for your
Well things are finally
Share Sketchup files?
I have never done this before
Thanks for posting!
Did you by any chance