Milking Machines

Timberline · #1 05/25/11, 11:54 AM

I'm interested in getting a milking machine. I have been hand milking for 20 years now and my carpal tunnel is getting bad. I have no experience with machines.

I'm looking for a portable milker for one cow.
What do you guys use? I'm not wild about the sursingle idea, but I'm sure my cow be fine with it with a little training. Someone I knew had a milker and it was so loud you couldn't be anywhere near it. I'd like to avoid that. Also needs to be easy to clean.

Got any suggestions for me?

Callieslamb · #2 05/25/11, 12:25 PM

Delaval bucket milker. Look on ebay - there's a guy that refurbished them. It was probably the vacuum pump that was making all the noise. The pump will need to be kept from freezing in the winter. I had my pump in one room and the cow in another. We used PVC to run the air back to the milk station. My pulsator sits on the top of the bucket, but there are other kinds too.

arcticow · #3 05/25/11, 12:37 PM

One of the new portables made to run 1 milker shouldn't be that loud, but you can always pie the exhaust noise and air thru the wall to the outside.

10kids · #4 05/25/11, 12:39 PM

We use a Surge Bucket Milker, love it, got it used for $100, replaced a part and it has been working perfectly for 5 years.

linn · #5 05/25/11, 01:01 PM

I have a Surge Belly Milker and I like it when I use it. Here is the one I have. It has a small electric vacuum pump that makes the whole thing very portable.

http://www.portablemilkers.com/catal...25/4127062.htm

sammyd · #6 05/25/11, 02:15 PM

I would recommend a floor type bucket of the surcingle type.
An older DeLaval bucket with an attached vacuum operated pulsator can run you over 200 at a farm auction.
If you want a quiet vacuum pump you have a few choices.
1-An older piston style, Surge did have a decent one. Hard to find and usually pricey.
2-A Universal vane pump, they are hands down the quietest vane pump ever made and provide the highest CFM per HP in the industry. Hard to find in the 1-3 HP size and can be pricey. a plus is they are usually on top of a balance tank so you don't have to find or make one of those.
3-A newer small oilless vacuum pump. Readily available at most supply houses and on-line sources and not too pricey.

Timberline · #7 05/25/11, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

Delaval bucket milker. Look on ebay - there's a guy that refurbished them. It was probably the vacuum pump that was making all the noise. The pump will need to be kept from freezing in the winter. I had my pump in one room and the cow in another. We used PVC to run the air back to the milk station. My pulsator sits on the top of the bucket, but there are other kinds too.

Yes, it was the pump that was so loud. My barn is really small, 12x20 and it's one room. With the weather here I need something I can roll out to the barn for milking, then bring back in for storage.

Timberline · #8 05/25/11, 04:11 PM

Thanks, Sammyd, I'll look into those.

I've been looking at that one, Linn. Glad to hear good things about it.

springvalley · #9 05/25/11, 04:11 PM

DeLaval bucket milker and a older Surge pump, will last as long as you need it. > Marc

Timberline · #10 05/25/11, 04:30 PM

Thanks, Marc.

cathleenc · #11 05/25/11, 05:19 PM

I've got a surge belly milker - not the vacuum, just the bucket, lid and pulsator - looking to sell it as I no longer have my cow. Would like $50 plus actual postage costs.

You would need to get the vacuum pump, attachments, new hoses and new seals to get this up and running. The attachments, hoses and seals 'may' run about another $50. Oh, depending on the height of your cow you might need a surcingle, too. My cow was so short we just put the belly milker on the ground (no other choice, really).

Offer is good to anyone who could use this milker.

Callieslamb · #12 05/26/11, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chalk Creek

Yes, it was the pump that was so loud. My barn is really small, 12x20 and it's one room. With the weather here I need something I can roll out to the barn for milking, then bring back in for storage.

We were going to build a cart for mine too. Where I milked wasn't heated. It was just less hassle for me to put in the PVC line. You do have to worry about freezing temps. We kept everything in a plastic-type cupboard to keep flies and dust off of it.

I also like the bucket because I couldn't see myself getting the surge clean enough. And I suspected my cow might fill the surge bucket and I would have to take it off, dump the milk and them milk the cow some more. I was raised on a dairy farm and the bucket and type of claw was what I was already familiar with. I paid a lot more than $200 - more like $1200 for the entire system. part of that was opting for the dual pulsation pulsator and upgrading the claw that was part of the deal.

sammyd · #13 05/26/11, 08:49 AM

prices can be all over the board.

I paid 160 each for the 2 DeLaval buckets I have now but they had no pulsation.
I paid 100 for the Universal bucket with pulsator and claw I used to have. but you can't get parts for those pulsators anymore.
I have run buckets up to 220 only to be outbid by a young Amish guy looking to start farming...
I priced a brand new bucket at the Boumatic dealer...I can't remember the exact price now but I believe that's because I went into shock when I heard it

I have a Universal 6000 pulsator installed for the bucket at home, brand new just the pulsator cost 400 bucks....then you need to add a power supply.
Interpuls makes a decent vacuum operated pulsator that they can adapt to the DeLaval bucket and parts depot has them for a decent price.

I bought a 3 HP Universal pump on a balance tank for 100 bucks, replaced the bearings (20 bucks) and was ready to go.
I was just outbid at auction for a 1 HP Universal and I went up to 150.

I picked up 4 milking units with Boumatic barrel claws for 30 bucks at an auction. These are great claws for goats, I cut off the 2 forward inlets and welded them shut. (all to 3A standards of course)
I picked up a Universal Tidal Flow claw with shells and weights for 60 once...I used to sell used ones for 150 bucks

so for less than 300 bucks (which includes 60' of PVC pipe and stall cock and so forth) I built our original system and was milking. We have the pump on one side of the garage and our milk stand is on the other. The pump operates fine all through the sub zero temps here in WI. Only problem is the occasional freeze up of condensation in the stall cock.

Timberline · #14 05/27/11, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathleenc

I've got a surge belly milker - not the vacuum, just the bucket, lid and pulsator - looking to sell it as I no longer have my cow. Would like $50 plus actual postage costs.

You would need to get the vacuum pump, attachments, new hoses and new seals to get this up and running. The attachments, hoses and seals 'may' run about another $50. Oh, depending on the height of your cow you might need a surcingle, too. My cow was so short we just put the belly milker on the ground (no other choice, really).

Offer is good to anyone who could use this milker.

Thanks for the offer, but being so unfamiliar with them, I'd like to get something that is ready to go. I'll get it in mind, though.