Milking machine ?'s

[Reauxman]

OK, so in anticipation of my first milking goats, I've decided I'd better start shopping for a milking machine. Not that I don't want to milk by hand(and will sometimes I'm sure), othes may have to milk for me at times and I'd rather make it easy for them.

So I've decided on an old surge converted over. Found one I like and plan to buy. All rebuilt and at a good price. Now the pump. What kind of pump do I need? How strong does it need to me? Can I hook up a surge to milk two goats at a time? Will this change what I need in a pump?
Thanks in advance for reading these obvious questions, but I can't find anything about this online,
Lance

[Raftercat5]

Lance: There's a bunch of info about building your own milking machine in the past issue of Countryside magazine. My hubby said he's going to try to build me one for next spring when I will have (hopefully) 3 goats in milk instead of just the one I hand-milk now. Good luck!
- Kathy

[moosemaniac]

I've found this place http://www.partsdeptonline.com/ to be a good source of milking parts and stuff.

Ruth

[Reauxman]

So I guess 6 cfm will do for a single bucket system hooked up for 2 goats?

[Reauxman]

Well, ended up buying a 6 cfm pump for $135. It's a pump that retails for over 400 bucks, got it rebuilt. Small and portable. Now I just have to get the bucket and I'll be set!

[Raftercat5]

RooMaN: When you get it all up and running, please let us all know, ok? I'm hoping my hubby 'gets on it' to build me one before I have to milk more goats next spring! I have carpal tunnel syndrome, and am hurting just typing this. I have to milk in one hour (groan).
- Kathy

[Reauxman]

Mine will end up costing me about $250 by the time every thing is done. May seem high, but I bought a pump that could handle at least two, more likely 4 bucket milkers(4-8 goats at once). I am using the old surge milkers, as I rqather stainless steel to plastic.

[billooo2]

IK had bought an old surge machine 2 or 3 years ago. I just got around to actually trying to use it.

I talked to some other goat breeders who are using old Surge machines, and they were all using 1/2 hp motors. I bought one, hooked it up, and it would not run. Then I called a place that works on dairy equipment (they have a coule older guys who used to work these all the tiume), and they said that the Surge model that I have (SP-11 or 12) needs at least a 3/4 hp motor. However, I need to upgrade the "box" in the barn. Hopefully I will get that done today.

[Reauxman]

I'm still waiting on my buckets(bought another tonight, couldn't pass it up, bucket with working pulsator, extra pulsator, three sets of shells, just needs new hoses. Got it fr $50 shipped. I figure I can hook both up at the same time if I get more goats next year(I'd milk off 4 goats per bucket, in two runs, pointless to clean two when one will do)

Did you get yours set up?

[paperboy-7]

looks like your comming along w/milkers at a good price where are you shopping? i need a good pump to help w/mine happy milking p

[Reauxman]

Everything comes from Ebay. I'll have about $250 in it and have two buckets, a pump, all new hoses and the vacuum pump.

There are a few things one can do to save a little money. For the hoses, you can get silicon hoses meant for water lines in a truck for a lot cheaper(I paid $.13 a foot after shipping. Same exact hoses, just marketed for different reasons. Learn who is cheapest for what. Hamby isn't very cheap, except on the inflations. I'm using rubber as they are cheaper than silicon, and can be thrown out each season. Hamby is high on pretty much everything else. For the shells, I can get them for $5 each on Ebay.