One Pound Roaster For under 100

[peter]

If you have time and can wait for a deal on craigslist, or thrift stores, you'll spend way less than $100.  I see Stir Crazys all the time.  That TO on ebay I linked to, would be good too.

[sea330]

That's kinda how I do it, built one for my brother for right around $40 bucks, these older GGs and Stir Crazys are built really well, I have had one for 4 years and it is going strong. Just roasted up two 12 oz loads of Brazil Bob-o-Link Peabodys this morning, very happy with the results. I have a 2Kilo Ozturk that I use couple times a week roasting about 30lbs a week for family and friends. I really like the SC/TO highly modified for sampling, the only thing I watch close is temps, not to let it go above 440 deg, the rest is time, color, smell, and dump at 2nd crack maybe a few sec into. I have found the older TOs are much better then the new stuff floating around. Never had a heating element go out on the GG but I have figured out a way to build my own if needed.

[Ascholten]

What sea said, you can easily get the nichrome or whatever alloy wire they use for the elements and run your own.  If you know simple ohms law it is very easy to get it to put whatever wattage you want into your roaster.

Aaron

[sea330]

Heating elements do deteriorate over time, calculating for a new heating element is vary easy. I found some heating element material in China that would work, however I really would like to find some U.S made stuff. Never had one fail yet but you never know. Just for shits and grins I will make one anyhow and if mine never fails maybe somebody on GCBC might need one.

[Burner0000]

100 isn't deal breaker but a cheaper 1/2 pound roaster is better. im thinking of going with the sc/to

I almost bought one of these from a homeroaster building them to sell but I chose to go old school for learning purposes. :p
Check this out

[sea330]

Some great ideas and info come out on this site, I to am building a roaster using a SS pot I have everything I need to assemble I just need to figure out a way to fab a stir arm and a drive shaft, I am using a 120 volt dc motor with speed control up to 100 RPMs thinking 40 to 50 RPMs will be about right. I have a Watlow temp controller with rs232 communication for data collection and storing profiles. Started on this last Winter, finding time to work on it sucks. The link that you posted is interesting.

[smico]

Kosmo is very active on Homeroasters.org forum.
Great guy, always ready to help.

[sea330]

Thanks for info, I seem to never get enough tech ideas

[Burner0000]

100 isn't deal breaker but a cheaper 1/2 pound roaster is better. im thinking of going with the sc/to

Friendly tip.  If you decide to take the sc/to route and you are able to loft 1 lb of coffee around in the roaster, look for a 1500W or higher turbo oven.  The heat generated will be enough for 1 lb.

[sea330]

Yes I have 3 GGs 1500 watt TOs. Bought one the other day had to pay $49.00 for it but it was new, thought I better grab it, they are getting really hard to find. I am going to mod one with a 25 amp ssr and a real temp controller hoping to improve control with out having to deal with the 10 to 15 deg dead band. The units come with thyristers that work well if you don't need tight controls. Not been very happy with running a full pound, I find a sweet spot around 12 to 14 oz. 4 or 5 years ago Larry on this site turned me on to this method and it really works well for sampling and run small batches for my self.  Keeps me from needing to firing up the big guy for personal use.

[espressomaker]

whered u find a new gg for 50 bucks?

[sea330]

From a garage sale on my way home from hardware store, haven't seen one new for years. There is nothing out there that compares to them, I grab every one that comes available

[espressomaker]

if you have any extra new ones id be more than interested in buying one.
do you know of any other good brands?

[peter]

if you have any extra new ones id be more than interested in buying one.
do you know of any other good brands?

I'd suggest not getting hung up on 'new'.  They last a long time, and most likely you'll find a used one with very little use.  There are new ones on ebay, but they're twice the money, and you won't get twice the life out of it.

But even if you paid $90 for a new one, and another $50 putting the whole contraption together.  Say it lasts you six years...  mine have roasted thousands of lbs. so you should be able to get at least six years out of one...  six years of roasting for $140, or $25 a year.  If you complain about that, we'll see that your membership is revoked.      

[sea330]

I have a couple 1200 watt ones that work very good, I prefer GGs, I wouldn't worry about buying used.