[SEL] OT - Cider Mill update

[brent]

Keith your son really excelled at this project very fortunate to have
supportive parents to encourage him what a great idea as a school project
restoring old machinery  it helps to build confidence in there own ability
and hopefully a life time interest in vintage machinery its great to when
they work thru the whole project from start to completion.I think it will
motivate him on to other projects etc.thanks for sharing your experiences
enjoyed reading your article  brentnz


----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith Kinney" <kkinney at herculesengines.com>
To: <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>; <gristmillers at gristmillers.com>;
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>; <gristmillers at gristmillers.com>
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 5:15 PM
Subject: Re: [SEL] OT - Cider Mill update


> Thanks for all the nice comments about our cider mill
> restoration.  It was a great project and it having been in the family
> makes it especially rewarding.
>
> Both my kids have completed 10 years each in 4-H where our local 4-H
> association has a project called Americana.  The Americana project
> encourages kids to display a antique in one of many categories
> ranging from household items to farm equipment in either original
> condition or restored.  It's purpose is to help the kids develop an
> appreciation for their heritage.  With my dad and I collecting old
> engines, tractors etc. my kids have taken on many projects around the
> barn with the cider mill being the last.  It ends up being a family
> project with my dad, son, wife and friends pitching in to assist in
> the projects.  It is a terrific learning experience for the kids.  On
> this particular project we milled the lumber on our sawmill from logs
> cut on family property.  We dried the lumber in our wood kiln.  Then
> we machined the wood parts in our workshop.  About the only thing we
> farmed out was the cleaning of the metal parts.  These we took to a
> local company called Redi-strip that dips the parts in a vat of
> chemicals. When they come back they look like they just came from the
> foundry.  From there we worked on repairing the broken or worn parts,
> painted and reassembled the parts.  It's would be hard to list all
> the different skills Isaac learned, or was at least exposed to , on a
> project like this.  We still plan to cast a couple of minor internal
> parts and add some pin striping but I'm as proud of Isaac and this
> mill as about any other project we have taken on.
>
> Someone asked about the log structure in the background.  That's
> another one of our restoration project.  It is a log house that was
> originally built in 1840. We tore it down and moved it and rebuilt it
> behind my parents house.  My wife and I lived in it for the first
> year and a half of our marriage.  Here is a web page with more of the
details:
> http://www.herculesengines.com/logcabin/logcabin.html
> If anyone is in the area and needs a place to spend a night or two
> let me know.  The cabin us usually available and it is only 50 or so
> feet away from the barns that house our treasures.  We like sharing
> it with like minded folks.
>
> I'm not sure if we will be taking this mill to any shows.  I'd love
> to but it's not the easiest thing to haul around and we would need
> lots of water for cleanup if we were to make cider at a
> show.  Anybody have any experience with this sort of thing?
>
> Thanks for looking and for all the nice complements.
>
> Keith
>
> PS:  Here are some of our other 4-H Americana project if you're
interested.
> http://www.herculesengines.com/NewAdditions/default.htm
> http://www.herculesengines.com/Superior%2025HP/
> http://www.herculesengines.com/mills/Default.htm
>
>
>
> Keith Kinney
> Evansville, Indiana  USA
> www.HerculesEngines.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> SEL mailing list
> SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
> http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.12/1203 - Release Date:
12/30/2007 11:27 AM
>
>