[AT] Corn Shellers?

[Dean VP]

Grant,

I'm not sure if the full ear hand crank corn shellers can be adjusted for the size of the ear. I have a parts List for a JD version
but I don't have an Operators Manual so am unable to look it up. But I would like to share an experience my DAD had the one and only
time he raised a field of Popcorn. 10 or 20 acres or so.  He could sell the unshelled ears to Jolly Time Popcorn in Sioux City, IA
so shelling wasn't going to be a problem. But it was. We had several 100 acres of regular field corn which was harvested by a JD 227
two row mounted corn picker. He tried to use that same corn picker to harvest the popcorn. The snapping rollers unfortunately
shelled some of the ears just snapping the ears off the stalks and then to add insult to injury the husking rollers did some more
damage.  The pop corn ears were just enough smaller that they were not the right fit for the corn picker. We spent many hours
manually picking up the ears that didn't make it through the corn picker on to the wagon and obviously lost a lot of shelled
kernels. He never planted popcorn again.  

I don't know how you plan to harvest the ears but you might want to consider harvesting the corn the way they do in the Midwest.
Find a local shelling combine set up for corn harvesting with a sickle head rather than a snapping roller set up. I assume there are
a few of those in the San Joaquin Valley somewhere.  However, some of the sheaves/screens might even have to be changed for popcorn
on the combine.  Surely, you are not the only one in the area raising pop corn.  

Dean VP
Snohomish, WA

Change occurs "when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of change!"

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Grant Brians
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 10:11 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: [AT] Corn Shellers?

I have a different kind of post this time. I grow popcorn and need to be
able to shell it efficiently. Our production is small so I know I am looking
at a used unit. The problem is that I know nothing about different models of
them. I understand the theory of operation and have hand cranked them when I
was younger visiting the midwest, so that should be no issue, but how much
should I spend? How can I assure the unit I get can be adjusted for
efficient operation with the small diameter ears that I produce? Are some
units "self-adjusting" for ear diameter? Some varieties I grow have kernels
on the top of the ear, some do not so does that impact the chosen model and
its efficiency? Should I get a hand crank unit or a newer electric motor
operated sheller?
     As the old expression goes, enquiring minds want to know. But then the
add on is that this enquiring mind wants to get a good tool in operation!
     This is also somewhat time sensitive as I would like to start selling
our popcorn to assess market demand.
           Grant Brians
           Hollister,California
           Vegetable, Nuts and Fruit farmer

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