Question about Drills?

ste6168

Hello there. I have a quick, but sort of strange, question. I am a big fan of apple cider and have recently have been designing and building a grinder and press. They are both done and ready to go (work well, too), but I have a problem with the grinder.

My grinder is VERY similar to the one seen here. (yes, I understand a food processor would work better, but I am just getting into the cider scene!)

Currently, I am cranking the grinder by hand, which really takes a toll on the arm after grinding a few dozen apples. I was thinking (instead of using a large pulley and motor like the link above) of using a variable speed drill (110v, not battery) and running it low speed to power the grinder (either the drill normally, or taking it apart and salvaging the motor).

Do the pro DIY'ers think it will work? I don't foresee any problems with it as the people often use 18v drill motors and batteries to power robots (BotsIQ in schools, for example), and I am sure they are used for other things.

Just figured I would run it by you all... thoughts? Any other ideas?


Thanks in Advance - Mike (ste6168)


edit- I didn't post in the the "tool" section, becuase its not a direct tool question, per se...

Salem747

keep in mind that a drill, cordless or otherwise wants to operate at a certain speed, if it runs too slow the motor will cook, if it runs too fast the bearings will cook. That big pulley is made to allow the drill to run at the speed it was made for and since the primary is very small and the secondary is very big it makes the drill run fast and the press run slow, "this is the way of things"

pyper

Look at the torque rating of the drill.

Most corded drills don't have a lot of torque.

A good torque rating for a cordless drill is 400 inch pounds. If your handle is 12 inches long, then divide by 12: 33 foot pounds. Hang a 33 pound weight from your handle and see if it turns. If not, then you need more torque.

A long time ago I used a motor out of a paper shredder to turn a grain mill. It runs at 60 RPM and has more than enough torque.

Thanks for that picture of the apple grinder. I might make one of those. This season I bought a garbage disposal to grind my apples, but the thermal overload kicks in after a half bushel or so. Maybe I'll get the old shredder motor and connect it to a grinder like the one you linked to.

How do you prevent the oak from spinning on the axle?

Bondo

Ayuh,... 1 of these, chucked right to the axle will do the job....

george woodie

ste6168 [Mike]:

While you will see many applications of drills doing work other than drilling, you should be aware that drills are made to exert a force in the downward mode, not in a latera [side ways] mode.

You will also see screw drivers used as levers and as chisels too. Those mistakes are better understood.

If you are intending to use a good drill, I expect that it will wear prematurely and you can expect drill failure.

Drills used as a sanding tool where the sanding application is from the side suffers the same fate.

Belt driven motors should have bearings to accept that side load so my suggestion is that you use an old furnace motor or some cheap second hand motor if you are experimenting with your cider manufacture.

Hope this is of help. Not intended to throw cold water on your idea but rather to forewarn you on the drill use.

Good luck,

Woodie

pyper

George makes valid points about laterally loading a drill, but in this case I don't see where the lateral load comes from -- the oak "bearings" should take all the lateral load.

I think the motor is a better idea anyway.

RegeSullivan

Bondo handled the lateral load problem with his suggestion. The Milwaukee angle drill would do the trick to.

pyper

I don't think there actually is a lateral load problem, but does the Milwaukee have real bearings on the shaft? Most drills only have sleeve bearings.

RegeSullivan

I really don't know about the bearings. I have had it a long time and have never had a problem. It seems to take a abuse pretty well. One of the things I like about it is you can reverse the the angle shaft to change the gearing. I have never done it but I believe you can remove the angle and use it as a straight drill.

My dad had one for years... He was a plumber and after the first one disappeared off the truck he chained it to the seat in the van along with the Milwaukee Sawzall.

Rege

Bondo

Ayuh,... The Hole-Hawg pictured does,... Big'ins....
Along with 2 speeds,+ reverse...