washing machine hack: fruit centrifuge

Submitted by drewzhrodague on Thu, 2006-08-24 23:18.

I intend to dump a whole bunch of peaches into an old "Easy two speed spindrier" washing machine. The six peach treas in my yard produce more fruit than I know what to do with. The only solution is to ferment it all.

The washing machine has two chambers: an agitation chamber, and a centrifuge chamber. The agitation chamber contains a spindle and rotor, which is shaped like a screw tapering towards the top. The centrifuge chamber has a basket of sheetmetal, which has holes drilled into it. The washer was probably intended to fill the agitator and go through an agitation cycle, and then start the centrifuge.

The procedure would be a simple manual slicing of the peaches, probably in half, before they go into the agitation chamber. I am not sure if additional water would be a good idea in this situation. After the peaches have been throughly agitated, I would imagine manually scooping out the mess into the centrifuge chamber with a gallon jug with the top cut off. The centrifuge chamber should probably be lined with cheesecloth. The resulting juice would drain out of the wastepipe from the washer, and leave the fruit pulp behind.

Cleaning the machine after (it's yearly or bi-yearly ab)use might prove difficult. Fruit-pulp, skins, insects, sticks, and other detritus would remain in the agitation chamber. Any types of outgoing water filters or screens would need to be removed, as well as any other obstructions from mineral deposits or other constrictions. It may be possible to use sanitizer and additional rinse cycles to clear the vegetable matter.

Cleaning the centrifuge portion might be less difficult, as the cheesecloth should keep most of the fruit pulp in the basket. Fruit pulp may taste pretty good, or may be useful in pies, desserts, etc.

I don't expect to get less than a gallon from a whole washing machine full of peaches. Mixed with honey, this should produce a unique and powerful brew.washing machinewashing machine[img_assist|nid=4018|title=washing machine|desc=easy two speed spindrier|link=node|align=right|width=100|height=75]

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Washing Machine Smoke Test
Submitted by drewzhrodague on Sun, 2006-09-24 20:46.

My friend Gus came over, and we smoke tested the washing machine. It seems to work, just like it did, however long ago it was made.

The agitator chamber has a reciprocating spindle, which I think is not going to be all that uesful, and will have to be modified. We were thoerizing about the possibility of using this old lawn-mower engine I found in the (now removed) shed as a power-source.

The centrifuge bucket seems to spin, though I haven't tried to detect how fast it spins yet. The bucket seems to be out of alignment, and does wobble. I'd like to get this up to a speed suitable for drainging fluid from freshly mascerated fruit-pulp -- and I am not sure just yet what speeds are required.

It would be useful to get another electric motor, probably one that is more efficient, and has more torque. We'll have to thouroughly inspect the inner-working of the aparatus in order to determine the full extent of what it is we have. Otherwise, it seems to be an ancient working washing machine.

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I never heard of this
Submitted by gordman on Tue, 2007-08-28 10:44.

I never heard of this before, it looks quite risky for appliances. A washing machine should be used for washing clothes, not for peaches, although I must admit the idea is as original as it gets. Anyway, I would never consider to use my new Maytag parts, this could hurt my pockets.

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