diy kief machine ideas?

piecemasta

Active Member
Good evening my fellow growers and tokers,
I am in the process of designing/ gathering supplies for a device that will function very much like the "agricultural pollen extractor".

So far:
I think I will use a rubbermaid tote big enough to fit an entire 5gal bucket inside.
I ordered a quality motor (http://www.drillspot.com/products/84156/Dayton_3M101_Parallel_Shaft_AC_Gearmotor) that will be mounted on the side of the tote with the shaft protruding into the side of the tote. I will use a 5gal bucket with lid as my drum. I will drill a hole through both the top and bottom of the bucket where I will then mount some sort of PVC/ metal axel that will somehow be supported and driven (directly or indirectly) by the shaft of the motor. The shaft on the motor is 5/16 hex pattern similar to most other socket/bits. I was wondering if you had any simple/reliable ideas/designs that might help me make a final decision as to how I should run the motor to the drum/tumbler? I was thinking about making a friction-wheel on the motor's shaft which would then contact with the bucket or just have the axel directly connected onto the motors shaft. This would seem more simple but how would I connect the two end points? I was thinking maybe using PVC as the axel and use the motor shaft or other other standard sized hex bit to cast its exact shape on the interior of the PVC pipe. Using some hard/durable casting material I could then actually slip this cast onto the actual motor shaft. After this has been decided I will continue to drill a hole threw the opposite end of the tote where the PVC axel will protrude out of the tote, providing support for the other end of the bucket/drum/tumbler. I will likely need to put a collar somewhere along that end of the PVC axel to prevent it from backing off of the motor's shaft.

Once completed and assembled I should be able to turn the tote (w/ bucket inside) completely over onto a big glass table to provide a seal and contain any flying kief. Running the machine for however long and collecting all fallen crystal from the flat glass surface.

I forgot to mention one important aspect! The bucket will have several large openings cut (90+% of side surface removed) along the sides leaving 5 or 6 thin strips left to connecting (just enough to support it's original shape). I ordered a 160micron screen that I will use to cover the exterior of the bucket/drum. Do you think 160micron is to fine? The axel will be glued/secured to the end portion of the bucket and left unsecured where it protrudes through the bucket's lid because I will need to be able to easily open the bucket to remove/replace spent trimmings.

All in all one should be able to set one end of the bucket/axel into/through the hole in the tote at an angle and then lower the other end down into the tote until it is lined up and connected onto the motor's shaft. Flip the machine over onto a glass table and let it works its magic :D

Please feel free to share any advice/insight/constructive criticisms!
 

piecemasta

Active Member
My intention was to increase my odds of getting some "constructive" feed back. Not everyone reads multiple threads. I should have posted it in the Do it yourself thread but I did not see it when I originally posted this. When I post my final DIY thread for this I pinky promise to post it once in there :D
 
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