Green Coffee Buying Club

Coffee Discussion boards => Hardware & Equipment => Topic started by: headchange4u on May 30, 2010, 11:15:11 AM

Title: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: headchange4u on May 30, 2010, 11:15:11 AM

When I upgraded my roasting setup to an RK drum I also built a a larger bean cooler. After using the cooling setup for a few months now I am finding it inadequate to cool the bean in a reasonable amount of time. Now that I am using the setup in the hotter summer months I find that it takes ~4 minutes to get the beans down to a temp where they can be agitated without using gloves. Right now I am using a larger variation of this setup. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/headchange4u/BeanCooler021.jpg)

While doing research on the internet I found this a writeup on this cooler with links to several variations on the design. I really like the simple compact design:
(http://imgur.com/49AQI.jpg)

(http://imgur.com/gpwvw.jpg)

I am having trouble finding the fan shown in the pictures.  Anyone know where to source one? The original post was made to an Australian forum (http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1274757802/10), so I am looking for an equivalent item in the US market. I've looked at the exhaust fans at Lowe's (in the bathroom dept) and they don't look anything like what's in the picture above.

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: mp on May 30, 2010, 11:31:36 AM

headchange4u, have you run across this (http://cafe-grendel.blogspot.com/2006/09/coffee-bean-cooler.html)?

 :)

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: peter on May 30, 2010, 11:33:25 AM

This would work, but you'd need to make a flange or ring for it, since it's only 6.75" diameter.

http://xrl.in/5hff (http://xrl.in/5hff)

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: grinderz on May 30, 2010, 12:26:36 PM

I made a bean cooler out of a Rubbermaid tub, a screen box and a garage sale leaf blower. Cools 18 ounces in <30 seconds.

(http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=7547.0;attach=6265;image)

And, yes Jeffo, I'm starting this sentence with a conjunction AND "tub" does not have an "e" in it. :)

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: BoldJava on May 30, 2010, 12:56:17 PM

Quote from: HGR on May 30, 2010, 11:53:44 AM

I use a box fan - $14.95 at Target. I think it's 20"x20". I built a box the same dimensions and put bronze screen (hardware store window screen size holes) on the bottom and then added another 1" after the screen to keep it off the fan...

I will be tackling this next weekend.  Big Mike was also after a simple set-up/design and I will share with him.  Oh boy, science project and shop class all rolled in to one.

B|Java

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: J.Jirehs Roaster on May 30, 2010, 01:50:23 PM

I can't find my bean cooler pics?!?!?!

I used a squirrel cage fan out of a car...  mounted it in a 5 gal bucket, second bucket on top, kitchen strainer in that and it pulls lots of air...

pete from I have a Bean has a nice cooler that blows air in from the bottom and blows chaff out the top... (using a leaf blower, but he has bigger batches)

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: headchange4u on May 30, 2010, 03:15:51 PM

Quote from: HGR on May 30, 2010, 11:53:44 AM

I use a box fan - $14.95 at Target. I think it's 20"x20". I built a box the same dimensions....

Sounds similar to what i was think of using for my second design choice for a new bean cooler. The bucket design is my first choice because i already have  all the materials needed except for the fan.


Are you setting the fan on buckets for air intake?  Got a pic of your setup? 

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: Tex on May 30, 2010, 03:33:30 PM

I just cut the bottom out of a 5-gallon plastic bucket and tied it on an inverted table fan using plastic ties. A large sieve holds the beans and it cools 2 lbs of beans to room temp in 2 minutes flat!

I've been meaning to get a fan that sits flat but this works so I haven't been too motivated to change it.

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: Ringo on June 01, 2010, 05:26:30 AM

I used a fan scavaged out of a house furnace, these are cheap to buy used.  If you know a furnace man he will may just give you one.   Not very portable but if you can make it work it really pulls a suction.  I just made a plywood box around mine to duct the air, with a stock pot sitting on the box.

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: MMW on June 01, 2010, 05:57:50 AM

Electric radiator/condenser fan?

Something like this (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRM-19128/Application/?prefilter=1)??
(http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/prm-19128_w.jpg)

At 2100 CFM, you might need to dial it back a bit ;D

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: BoldJava on June 01, 2010, 01:10:49 PM

Curly's cooling apparatus, reduced.

B|Java

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: BoldJava on June 01, 2010, 01:14:42 PM

Quote from: HGR on May 30, 2010, 11:53:44 AM

... and then added another 1" after the screen to keep it off the fan. I used bronze ...

Curly

I followed everything but the statement above.  Added 'what' another 1" to keep 'what' off the fan?  Yer speakin' Minnesota, der Curly.

Bought the fan.  That's a start, no?

B|Engineer

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: headchange4u on June 01, 2010, 03:09:13 PM

Since I was having no luck in finding a fan to fit in a bucket, I also purchased a 20" box fan this  weekend. I am going to forgo the wooden box until I can get some scrap, so for now I'll be cutting up a plastic tub to set over the fan. I'm sure stepping up from the 10" fan I'm using now to a 20" fan will greatly reduce my cooling time. I'll post pics when done.

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: bobvilax2000 on June 01, 2010, 07:17:45 PM

If I use a 5 gallon pickle bucket to make a cooler, do you guys think it will taint my beans at all?  ??? 
I wouldn't think so, but... :-X

- -Barrett

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: Tex on June 02, 2010, 12:28:38 PM

Quote from: bobvilax2000 on June 01, 2010, 07:17:45 PM

If I use a 5 gallon pickle bucket to make a cooler, do you guys think it will taint my beans at all?  ??? 
I wouldn't think so, but... :-X

- -Barrett

Maybe - I'd opt for a bucket used for pickled Jalapenos just top be safe.

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: Tex on June 02, 2010, 12:45:56 PM

Quote from: HGR on June 02, 2010, 12:40:39 PM

Quote from: bobvilax2000 on June 01, 2010, 07:17:45 PM

If I use a 5 gallon pickle bucket to make a cooler, do you guys think it will taint my beans at all?  ???  
I wouldn't think so, but... :-X

- -Barrett

Go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy a bucket. They don't cost much.
Curly

That's what I did - but you take all the fun out of helping a guy!

edited: And the colander came from Kohl's.

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: J.Jirehs Roaster on June 02, 2010, 08:42:58 PM

The pickle buckets I have gotten in the past are 6 gal... the local donut bakery has 3 gal buckets... the pickle bucket smelled really good for quit a while..

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: gt on June 03, 2010, 06:47:25 PM

Here's a simple one that works good for a half pound maybe more.  The white food cover was made with a flat bottom, I pushed the green one in to make it sit flat. 

(http://www.mnlakecams.com/beancooler001.jpg)

(http://www.mnlakecams.com/beancooler003.jpg)

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: bobvilax2000 on June 03, 2010, 08:23:04 PM

Aw, I was looking forward to a couple batches of pickled coffee. Guess I'll head over to Lowes.

Thanks,
- -Barrett

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: J.Jirehs Roaster on June 04, 2010, 06:35:00 AM

Quote from: bobvilax2000 on June 03, 2010, 08:23:04 PM

Aw, I was looking forward to a couple batches of pickled coffee. Guess I'll head over to Lowes.

Thanks,
- -Barrett

LOL... would be fun to slip into a blind cupping some time

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: blzrfn on June 04, 2010, 01:10:42 PM

When I used a Poppery to roast I just flipped the heater off with the switch I installed and it cooled the beans down to under 100 in about three minutes.  Now that I use a modded UFO/GG I needed to come up with a cooling solution.  I had a shop vac and I stole a large plastic flower pot from my wife's gardening supplies.  I then headed down to Goodwill and picked up a stainless colander that fit inside the pot.  I used some duct tape to cover the drain holes on the bottom of the pot and cut a hole for the shop vac hose to slide in and now am able to cool a one pound batch in about two minutes or so.  I'm loving this whole setup!

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: Tex on June 04, 2010, 01:32:25 PM

There's always more than one way to skin a cat.
I prefer genetics:  :angel:
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vr8Xl0cbUZA/SOZ206DRmpI/AAAAAAAADmE/2tuEeWuBlOI/s400/Image+%3D+More+Than+One+Way+To+Skin+A+cat.jpg)

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: hobiwankinobi on June 04, 2010, 02:43:47 PM

the first photo was my original cooler used for popper roasts I had put a small honeywell fan inside the bucket. Worked great. I think I paid 6$ for the mesh strainer and 10$ for the fan, I got the bucket from work.

Then the second and third pics are the box fan I had laying around and then I made the box to put on top out of four boards and an old window screen I was not using anymore. I got the wood from a friends scrap pile so it was all free basically.

Steve

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: J.Jirehs Roaster on June 04, 2010, 08:55:26 PM

looks like a winner to me

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: headchange4u on June 08, 2010, 12:37:08 PM

I abandoned the search for a fan that would fit in a bucket. I managed to scrounge a couple of scrap 2x10's at a nearby construction site. I had just enough wood to build this:


The "legs" of the bean cooler:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/headchange4u/coffee%20related/ipodjune8006.jpg)

Add a $15 box fan:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/headchange4u/coffee%20related/ipodjune8012.jpg)

Used some aluminum screen that I had lying around to make a cooling tray:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/headchange4u/coffee%20related/ipodjune8014.jpg)

The result:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/headchange4u/coffee%20related/ipodjune8005.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/headchange4u/coffee%20related/ipodjune8002.jpg)

And I only manged to hit my hand once with the hammer:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/headchange4u/coffee%20related/ipodjune8007.jpg)


Cost:

Wood:  Free
Screen: Already had
Fan:  $15
Epoxy: $6
__________________________

Total:  $21  ;D

Trial run tonight..... ;D

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: mp on June 08, 2010, 01:20:23 PM

Quote from: headchange4u on June 08, 2010, 12:37:08 PM

I abandoned the search for a fan that would fit in a bucket. I managed to scrounge a couple of scrap 2x10's at a nearby construction site. I had just enough wood to build this:

Cost:

Wood:  Free
Screen: Already had
Fan:  $15
Epoxy: $6
__________________________

Total:  $21  ;D

Trial run tonight..... ;D

Sweet!

Well done.

 :)

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: Charly on June 08, 2010, 02:06:18 PM

Quote from: HGR on June 01, 2010, 05:50:55 AM

Here are some pics. The depth is 8"

 That is similar to mine, except I have a little door with a latch at one bottom corner. That way I don't have to tip the box right over to empty it. The sides are about 28" and if my powerful fan is set above low I'd lose all the beans. 6 lbs cool in less than a minute on a hot day, mere seconds in mid winter. If I have visitors who I know have a sense of humor I let them get close in to watch me pour in the beans from the roaster. The chaff storm that envelopes them always makes me laugh, he he.

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: BoldJava on June 13, 2010, 10:11:47 AM

OK, game on.  RK installed and bean cooler needs finishing.  Done.

Before we get there, you have to appreciate how intimidating all this tool foolishness is.  I had flashbacks to 7th and 8th grade shop where I would rather have gone to the dentist.

My arsenal today consisted of my $29 drill and the Czarina's father's saw he brought over on the SvenandOllieflower.  My brother (carpenter/engineer) has a standard line when he visits and "we" do a project.  "Did you get this stuff in the toy department?"  Funny.  Ha.  Ha.

I used Curly's model.    I think they call them 1 x 8s -- but they measure .75" x 7.25" -- that makes sense, right?  See where I am going with all this?  I used 1.5" (yeah, they are 1.5") wood screws with liquid nails on the board.  Belt and suspenders, I suspect.  Withstand a Wisconsin tornado.

I used aluminum window screen, heavily stapled to the bottom.  I put the angled braces on the outside of the screen rather than the inside to also raise the cooling box up and off the fan.  I used 1 x 8s on two corners and 1 x 4s on the other two.  I wanted to minimize hot pockets and if the 1 x 8s do preclude cooling, I will just replace them with 1 x 4s.

Injury report?  Smacked knuckle and blister on hand.  Not bad for a rookie.

Now, let's roast.

Thanks Curly!

B|Java, C+

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: peter on June 13, 2010, 10:40:24 AM

Reminds me of a song we sing at church, "I stand in your presence amazed..."

Very nice job B|NormAbram!  I would've helped, but this was better, since now you know you got it in you.

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: BoldJava on June 13, 2010, 12:29:55 PM

Been working out profiles with burn-off beans.  2 lbs cools in a little over a minute with the CurlyII.

B|Java

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: headchange4u on June 13, 2010, 08:38:08 PM

Finally got to test my box fan bean cooler tonight. It works very, very well. Didn't time how long it took but I know it had to be less than a minute with a 2# batch.  The snaps stopped almost immediatly whereas with my old cooler the snaps would continue for 10-15 seconds.

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: JimsJava on June 22, 2010, 10:31:37 PM

Hey, B|Cooler -

You might want to reinforce your screen on the bottom of your cooler. I used 1/4" hardware cloth (and no, it isn't "cloth" unless you like wearing stiff chainmail). It will make your screen last much longer.

If you look closely, you can see the hardware cloth under the screen:

(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p83/JimsJava/CoffeeCoolerCloseUpSm.jpg)

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: BoldJava on June 23, 2010, 03:28:50 AM

Quote from: JimsJava on June 22, 2010, 10:31:37 PM

Hey, B|Cooler -

You might want to reinforce your screen on the bottom of your cooler. I used 1/4" hardware cloth (and no, it isn't "cloth" unless you like wearing stiff chainmail). It will make your screen last much longer.

If you look closely, you can see the hardware cloth under the screen:

Thanks.  I will be roasting this weekend and will consider it.  It would be simple to add.

B|Java

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: Ringo on June 23, 2010, 04:17:42 AM

I thought the first project in  high school wood  shop was always a birdhouse?  You jumped right into the third 9 weeks lessons, could be dangerous.

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: BoldJava on June 23, 2010, 04:33:19 AM

Quote from: Ringo on June 23, 2010, 04:17:42 AM

I thought the first project in wood high school shop was always a birdhouse?  You jumped right into the third 9 weeks lessons, could be dangerous.

<Chuckled out loud>  7th grade was Wood Shop; 8th grade was Metal Shop.

Actually, made a knickknack shelf for my Mum.  She cherishes it today, as only a Mum can. <grins>

B|Java

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: J.Jirehs Roaster on June 23, 2010, 06:10:51 AM

Nice coolers...  I'm looking at B|BeanChillin's and thinking if you put a hole in one of the 1x8 corners you could have a bean drain..  make it the size of the biggest 'drain plug on chain' you can find (I got hole saws and need to come up and get some beans from you)

~~dimensional lumber diversion~~

I used to make dorm room futon frames and etc in college out of construction lumber..  my brother wanted a red oak frame...  I ordered the wood from an Amish carpenter friend down state..   the 2x4s were 2x4 !?!?!  messed my whole design up.. but I got-er done..

Title: Re: Fan For A Bean Cooler.
Post by: mp on June 23, 2010, 06:33:45 AM

I think this is a great idea for a sifter/sieve/bean cooler.

http://www.mowermagic.co.uk/acatalog/Rotosieve_Manual.html#aROTOSIEVE (http://www.mowermagic.co.uk/acatalog/Rotosieve_Manual.html#aROTOSIEVE)

I think you might even get off without using a fan.

 :-X