"Derald" wrote in message
...
"Steve B" wrote:

We were in a different south. In Louisiana, they say either puh-cahns or
pwah-cahns.
Could be. I've heard variously pee-can, puh-cahn, p'cahn. Only been
to LA twice and never made it past N.O. and Algiers. Tree nuts were not
discussed on either occasion.
How you coming on your rig? I'm looking forward to the
photos/video. How you gonna get the nuts off the ground, just spread
drop cloths?
--
Derald
USDA9b
Peninsular FL, USA

I tied it to a tree today, then took a strain with the loader to tighten up
the chain. Not much vibration through the tree at all. Next, I think I'll
try just strapping it to the trunk, and seeing how it goes.

It appears that it is going to be difficult to shake the trees so they
vibrate much on the ends, and rigging it high up in the branches is very
difficult, and pecan trees are notoriously unsafe to climb. Sthil does sell
a vibrator, SP200 that is a long pole with a chain saw engine on the bottom.
Just depends on your reach, your strength, and your youth. Mine are all
very low at this time in my life.

I have a 2.5" vacuum that I shall test soon that I think a whole shell will
pass through, hull and all. By tumbling, I hope that any with the hulls on
them will be de-hulled by the time they reach the holding area of the
vacuum. Maybe have to put in a metal plate where they shoot into the vacuum
hopper to give the hulls a rap to dislodge the hulls.

There is a lot of money in shelled pecans, but the cleaning machinery costs
upwards to $15,000. I believe that I can go around now and get a lot of
free or cheap pecans to practice on, and build a cleaner of some sorts. I
can always sell them unshelled, and a lot of people buy them that way, as
they run about $1.50 unshelled, and $6 shelled. More in some areas.

It is a challenge, and I like challenges. And the good thing is that this
happens every year, so I will have lots of time to arrange yards to clean up
next year, and find buyers for the nuts. And putter making some machinery.

It just bugs me to drive by and see all that money hanging on trees.

Steve