Anyone have plans to make a plucker from a working washing machine?

[andalusn]

Quote:
Anyone I have met that has used a plucker machine can't say enough about how great they are for the plucking process. Comes down to why your processing, if its to save money I am not sure you really can beat the prices in the market at all. Here it's not uncommon to get whole fryers for .80 pound. If your wanting home raised meat it always costs more from feed to processing if you use a butcher (large meat animals) or rent or make a plucker. Some very handy folks have scrapped most parts to save money but most say its about $300 to make one. I am checking into our local county extension office to see if they offer a commercial one for rent through their sustainable living program. Up the road a ways they do in Olympia, Wa for $20 a day. That would be the best way to go.

 

[MaBo]

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It would save us all having to duplicate your effort of contacting the creator of the youtube video for the PDF plans (I have, and he has not replied) if we could make the PDF plans available here. I don't see a way to add attachments here. If you don't have someplace to put the file for people to download, I will email/PM you my email address and you can send me the PDF and I will create a link so others can download.

Thanks

 

[andalusn]

Quote:
It would save us all having to duplicate your effort of contacting the creator of the youtube video for the PDF plans (I have, and he has not replied) if we could make the PDF plans available here. I don't see a way to add attachments here. If you don't have someplace to put the file for people to download, I will email/PM you my email address and you can send me the PDF and I will create a link so others can download.

Thanks

I went a head and sent you the pdf when I got your email but.... to post it publicly in my mind is a copy write issue. The document was created by someone else using their own creation and if posted to a public forum it should be done with their written consent. I have no plans to do that. When I emailed him it was a number of days before he responded but he did.

 

[MaBo]

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True, it would be appropriate to ask his permission to post it here. I doubt he will have any copyright concerns since he is apparently sending it out to anyone who emails him, but nevertheless it would be proper to ask him.

 

[flowerchild59]

I, for one, would like to see the plans.

 

[Oregon Blues]

It seems to me that it would be do-able if you are clever with putting things together. The washing machine already has motors and belts and it spins. You can put water into the tub and it already has a drainage system.

I'd make the feather plate stationary and let the walls spin.

I have an old washing machine and was considering it, but my Jack-of-all-trades decided to whip out his credit card and order a plucker.

 

[RWD]

This is a self serving post, but I do make a plucker that does work. Its not fancy but for $39.95 it plucks a bird in 90 second.
Anyone not sure processing is for them, why spend 500 or more to get set up?
My system is -
#1 Buy my plucker. 39.95 + 10.00 Shipping
#2 Buy a turkey fryer for scalding @ 135-140F at Walmart for 35.00
#3 Buy a 1/2 Drill from Harbor Freight 29.99
Total to start processing your own homegrown poultry around $125.00 including propane for scalder.

https://www.facebook.com/Heritage.Ways.Farm

 

[JoePa]

Question - where can you get the plucker fingers that they use ? - thanks

 

[andalusn]

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Search online for the Whizbang plucker and you should find links to the fingers.

 

[Trapper Dan]

I tried to make one from a washer but they have a three speed motor with infinite wiring combinations and start up capacitors. Eventually I fired the whole thing and I bought the Whizbang book and made this one. It works great. If you want the book I'll sell it to you for $10.00 and $5.00 shipping since I'm done with it now. It's worth the read.