I have access to corn at a good price in bulk @ 120/ton. The problem is that some of the corn is dusty and has lots of paper like fines. I built a kan-burnbuilt out of a 4 inch drain PVC with a 45 degree 2" tee inlet that seals to the top of a 5 gallon collection bucket. The unit transfers the corn well but is not cleaning as thoroughly as I need. I am using 1/4 inch hardware cloth to stop corn from entering shop vac. I noticed a lot of static electricity in the collection bucket. I am wondering if this is causing a problem. Any suggestions to improve the design is welcomed. I will try to post some pictures when I am home later. Even after running it through several times there is still quite a bit of fines. Thanks, Matt
Need help with cleaning corn
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I tried to sign up on Iburncorn but the site won't let me register and seems jacked up. Figured the guys here would have some insight.
tsmith
Minister of Fire
You need to ground your system. I used a thin solid bare copper wire wrapped around my corn cleaning system and then attached to a copper grounding rod driven into the ground outside. I fastened the wire to the pvc by drilling self tapping screws through the pvc and using washers to hold the wire to the pvc pipe. This takes away some static as well as allows the corn to flow better through the system. I have a 55 gallon steel drum with a corn vac system on top and used my shop vac to pull the corn from my truck through the corn vac to clean it and transfer it into the barrel. I then had a valve at the bottom of the barrel to fill 5 gallon buckets to put into the stove. I am no longer burning corn, but i still have the system.
I built a cleaner myself using 1/2 hardware mesh and 1/4 hardware mesh. it is 1 ft square w/ a 1/2 mesh screen tray in top to catch cob and stalks. Then a ply wood ramp at 45deg w/ a opening about 1 1 1/2 inches then the corn runs down a 45deg. 1/4 mesh where the dust and fine fall thru. this does a good job at minimal cost.
thanks for the replies. T smith can you explain how you ground the system? Where do you run the ground wire to and from. Also what did you use to cut a hole in the metal barrel? I would like to set mine up the same way.
tsmith
Minister of Fire
When I get home from work, I will try to attach pictures of my set up. I used a large hole saw on my drill to cut the holes. The wire is just wrapped around the wand and hose and all the way around the drum, it is attached by the self tapping screws and washers. You could attach the other end of your grounding wire to your water supply line as that is most likely grounded especially if you have your own well. Where do you live? If near by me you could check mine out, I might even sell it for a reasonable price as I no longer burn corn and it is kinda in my way.
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