Handy Prep Item

[Wags]

If you grow (or plan to) grow dent/flint corn for corn meal or animal feed you might find this corn sheller handy. It looks like the ones I used in my youth and at under $32 it doesn't cost and arm & a leg like the rest of them seem to do.


http://www.premier1supplies.com/deta...&criteria=corn



I just ordered one for us, even though the crows managed to wipe out my entire corn crop this year.

[bourbonred]

I've been looking for one. DH grows corn for the beef cattle and I can use some for the birds. I'd like to crack it first and that means shelling. Also, If one wanted to keep their own seed, that's a lot of shelling too. Is it sturdy/durable? I've committed to trying to buy tools I can hand down to my kids.
BTW, we figured out in our area, if we get the corn out earlier, we get it picked earlier and beat the flocks of crows.

[Wags]

I haven't gotten mine yet, but have made purchases from Premier1 over the past 4-5 years and have always been satisfied. I doubt its as sturdy as the cast iron ones, but then again those can cost upwards of $200.

[machinist]

If I didn't have my antique shellers, I'd sure consider this one. I don't know how long the plastic sheller wheel would last, but it could be pretty good. Wait until the corn is very dry and it will usually shell easier anyway.

I too rebelled at the cost of the new cast iron ones, like the one sold by Lehman's store. That one, FWIW, I am pretty sure is made by C. S. Bell Co., in Ohio. I have one of their burr mills I bought 35 years ago and still going strong. Good stuff, and they STILL have parts for it! I recently bought a new set of cast iron burrs "just in case" then found that the originals had no measurable wear on them after grinding feed for livestock for years. http://www.csbellco.com/grist-mill-60.asp Mine is the larger mill, bought without the motor. It will do about 200 pounds of chicken feed an hour, and flour at 40 to 50 pounds/hour, since I run it through 3 or 4 times. I have a 1 1/2 HP electric motor on it, which is about the minimum. 2 HP would be better if you are going to push it grinding animal feed, but it is a workhorse as-is.

I would buy Bell's corn sheller in a heartbeat, but it is going to cost far more than the one you found.

I'd try the popcorn in it anyway. If it only gets half of the grains, so be it. It would be a lot easier to do by hand once half of it is shelled!

[bee]

I don't currently do enough corn shelling to justify a sheller. I take a very dry ear in each hand and whack them together one across the other. At point of impact several kernals will be popped off and give you a starting point. I just keep applying pressure working the two ears against each other. Like I said I don't shell much corn....but this is relatively quick and painless.

[texican]

I've got two of the antique ones, that work just great! Don't think I've ever used em.

[Just Cliff]

I have the C.S. Bell No2 grinder. It is stout. I have seen thier corn sheller. It looks good also. Pleasent Hill has it for $79.99. They say it also shells Walnuts. I may have to aquire one of those soon. Lots of walnuts get thrown away here.