Going to look at and hopefully pick up a small fan mill tomorrow. From the pictures it appears to be complete and in excellent shape. I have had one on my list for a few years ever since I used one at the fair. Much more efficient then the hand winnowing I have done in the past.
Farm Fan Mill
- Thread starter mecoastie
- Start date
I'm jealous!
Summerthyme
Summerthyme
Check FB Marketplace. I found several out in western NY but got lucky and this one is 20 mins from work. More expensive but it saves a 16 hr drive
Cool... i don't do Farcebook, but my kids do. One interesting thing is that the Amish mostly don't have much use for some of the old tools for processing/cleaning grain. They don't use whole wheat, don't grind their own cereal or flour, so items like a fanning mill can sometimes be found for a very reasonable price.
However, an older 3 tine hayfork sells for $80-100 at any auction. We need one, but can't afford to outbid them!
What I REALLY want is one of the new, European walk behind combines! There are a lot of new inventions being made that are designed for small farms/homesteads, and while they aren't cheap, (the ones I've seen are under $10k), they are amazing.
Summerthyme
However, an older 3 tine hayfork sells for $80-100 at any auction. We need one, but can't afford to outbid them!
What I REALLY want is one of the new, European walk behind combines! There are a lot of new inventions being made that are designed for small farms/homesteads, and while they aren't cheap, (the ones I've seen are under $10k), they are amazing.
Summerthyme
Do you mean the wooden ones or the metal forks? I got a new metal fork at our local Ace Hardware for $35 to 40. I had a hard time finding a used one as well. Mostly it was just the head for $20+. By the time I hafted it, it was more expensive than new and the tines were usually worn a couple inches.
Metal. If you put a fork made 30-40 (or more) years ago next to a new one, there's no comparison. Metal quality, fit and finish are all pathetic these days. Hay doesn't slide off the tines easily, and they aren't sharp.
I'd buy a used head and put a good handle on it in a heartbeat. In fact, I've thought that it probably could be a moneymaker if i could find a source (not near an Amish community!) for the used forks or heads, import them and resell
Summerthyme
I'd buy a used head and put a good handle on it in a heartbeat. In fact, I've thought that it probably could be a moneymaker if i could find a source (not near an Amish community!) for the used forks or heads, import them and resell
Summerthyme
naturallysweet
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Nice to.know they are making new mini combines again. My dad used to own a mini combine that was pulled by a.tractor. I really wish he still had it. It was sold to someone who raised flower seeds.
I hope to.someday find one in a machinery auction. It would.be lovely to raise an acre of grain for livestock feed.
I hope to.someday find one in a machinery auction. It would.be lovely to raise an acre of grain for livestock feed.
There are a lot of neat innovations appropriate (in both capacity and cost) for mini farms. I'd love one of them to grow a couple acres of hard red (or white, if it would do well here) winter wheat. I think I could find a ready market for fresh ground whole wheat flour, selling to the summer tourists...
Summerthyme
Summerthyme
Very nice! Hope you'll let us know how well it works when the time comes...
Summerthyme
Summerthyme