antique fanning mill

[Anonymous-0]

I recently bought an antique grain and seed cleaner, a Perfection No. 4, and I would like to know how the thing works. It has all the screens with it, but I can't figure out how I'm supposed to set it up. If I put a screen in Section A, at the top, all the grain comes rolling out onto the floor, and doesn't go through the rest of the machine. If I don't put a screen in Section A, all the grain comes out Section B out the chute on one side. It has five sections (A through E). It used to have a label on the side that gave set up instructions, but that is long gone.
Any help is much appreciated.
Thank you!

 

[Butch(OH)]

I spent many hours behind a Hance cleaning seed beans, same concept differant make. Even with a book in hand it is not as easy as put in X screens and turn it on. I remember changing screens from year to year because of the beans being small or large. Basicaly the top screen should be sized so all but the very largest seeds pass through it. The bottom is sized so that the seeds pass over it and dirt, splits and very small and shrivels pass through. You also have to regulate the feed, it is important as the screens. There should be a sliding plate in the hopper. You start out slow to get the correct screens selected then increase the feed until it begins to over run the top screen and back off a little. The fan on our Hance could be regulated and was apible of blowing lightweight seed like oats out of the machine.

 

[Goose]

I have one I'd like to get rid of. I put it on an auction once and never got a bid. I tried to donate it to our County Historical Society's museum and the guy I was dealing with croaked before we got the deal done.

It's too nice a machine to just throw out. Maybe I'll name it "Herpes" because I don't know how to get rid of it.

 

[ddl]

Goose where are you at?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I don't know you from the man in the moon, but I wonder if you understand that if you were to place the oats in a funnel with a 1 1/2" opening, that is the max flow it will handle.

 

[Don-Wi]

Not sure how different that is from a Clipper Cleaner, but that's what we've got.

As has been said, the top screen needs to be big enough to let the seed fall through, the bottom small enough to let all the but the smallest seeds and weed seed/dirt/other stuff fall through. The stuff off the top screen discharges to one side, what falls under the bottom screen discharges to the other side. The clean seed passes through the cleaner through the air from the fan. The air speed has to fast enough to blow the light seeds and hulls out, while letting the heavier good seeds pass through and out the bottom.

It handles much more than what an 1 1/2" funnel will let pass through. Dad can have 40 bushels we need in a good day (including set up / tear down), 2 days if he gets distracted with other things going on.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[JMS/.MN]

That was one job I hated at home, especially when we had to sack it. Nothing automated, carry shovelsful from a far bin in the granary, keeping up with shoveling it away, never holding the sack right, or using hooks on the wall that didnt"t hold it right. Sacks wiretied to the rafters offseason, yet mice found them. DUST! (BTW- this computer/program is wrong- said it should be "shovelfuls". Not according to my good English teacher- she would say you can always get more shovels, but once it"s full, it"s full! Teacher wife agrees. Granted, common usage is "fuls")

 

[Goose]

Milford, Nebraska, 20 miles west of Lincoln.

 

[Tom from Ontario]

Top screen scalps,(takes off big trash). Put grain in at the very top of the screen and all the grain you want cleaned should drop through no more than 2/3 of the way to the bottom, otherwise it's overloaded.
Bottom screen sifts (little junk drops through, holds good grain). Air blast should be strong enough to blow off lights and dust. If you want super clean, air blast should set to take off a FEW good seeds.
Screen sizing is critical. Take screen out, scalp screen should allow good grain to drop through, sift screen should JUST hold good grain.
Will take a bit of fiddling and trials,but even little mills should be able to give you a decent product. Do NOT let screens get rusty, grain won't flow. Keep machine dry. Some of the best money you'll make is cleaning your own seed.

 

[[email protected]]

Goose like you iI bought a fanning mill at an auction because no one bid on it. I have no use for it but did not want to see to junked. Most of the screens are there and good, but I do not know how to get rid of it. Do you have any ideas.

Thanks for your time