Hi Folks,
Just posted a comment on another topic regarding building a DIY cocoa butter press.... that's not something I'd ever try although I've got a full workshop with a welder, lathe etc available.
But still, in the spirit of DIY, here's something both useful and relatively easy to make, I've attached two photos of the 6 mold shaker I built this week. I looked to buy a similar set up and it was going to be $2000! My version uses the same Oli brand vibration motor I found under one of my purchased commercially made single mold shakers (Catalog price 1000 Euro!)
This bigger version cost me less than $400 and a few hours of messing around in my workshop. Main parts needed: One Aluminum NSF marked 18 x 28" sheet pan, some 1" stainless tubing, plastic joints and some fasteners etc., along with a 18 x 26 Silpat mat. The vibration motor and compression springs were $220 on Amazon and the rest of the parts were found / sourced locally. I even fitted a cheap router speed control ($7 at Harbor Freight) to make the thing fully adjustable. Using my lathe I machined 4 sets of bushings for the springs and also a piece of tooling to countersink the mounting screws in the sheet pan, apart from that only hand tools needed.... Mainly a big hammer to fit the plastic frame joints!
Looking forward to being able to vibrate 6 filled bar molds at a time, also good for Easter eggs etc. If anyone wants details, send me a message and I'll provide more detailed info....
MJ
updated by @powell-and-jones: 03/13/16 11:47:41