After having a few reads in the diary's today and hearing a few grumbles(but acknowledging it's a good problem to have) over the time for manually trimming I was wondering if anyone up on here had ever had a go at trying to make their own trimmer for harvesting... Something like this one... Don't think their would be much involved really, and given the money they charge for those things any colateral stress over a DIY version seems like it might be worth it... I was thinking something along the lines of a box fan with retro fitted blades that could be sharpened vs. the plastic one's that are on it, and then strapping it to a tv dinner stand with a trash bag on the bottom... anyone got any insight or better ideas, other than dropping a stack for a store bought one???

Basically a rehoused steel fan with a flat guard.

Can't see it being too difficult.

bartman could prolly knock one up

Kinda what I was thinking too... but of course they want an arm and a leg for a store bought one...


I think in a few weeks I may go shopping for parts, but I still wanna hear some more input from the collective here before I start...

I can't justify one, anyway I would have the dread feeling that If I made one myself and dropped a bud in that it would work like a wood chipper.

Ayup podgy,ya oreet pal?

duder have you ever seen one of these up close??..im just wondering about safety features,like how are the blades set up ect?

i personaly think ud get balled off with cleaning the sticky goo'ness from these things?!

interesting tho duder,i do know leepy has a trimming machine but im sure he never uses it?!..could be wrong on that one but sure he dont.

check this out.
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/841245/

@ snadge naw mang these things have guards that keep'em stoner proof so they can't fall in... Kinda like the guard on a pair of clippers works...

@ bizzle... yah there are some saftey concearns, and I have looked/drooled over the one's that are at my hydro shop, but I just can't justify the expense... They guards across the top and the blades also act as a fan sucking the larger leafs/fan blades in to be cut... Don't get me wrong it's not gonna get'em perfect, but It should save alot of time one would spend on trimming the fat so to speak...



Really it boils down to patience for me... The first plant looks the shizzle and then they get and smoke progressivley harsher... I can't make it through a harvest trimming them ALL properly, and I feel if I could effectively make one of these I could end up with a better smoke for myself... You don't wanna see me harvesting the last plant out of my room... basically use my thumb and index finger, pinch the stem and pull... (Don't do it )

this wasn't what I had in mind but looks very promising...

Always wanted to try the tumble trimmer.


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kwyfaLKHaTE

@ stealth I almost upped that one too , but it looks like it'd be a biotch to home build...


Here's a vid that's along the lines of what I had in mind...
Just not as loud as a lawn mower

E2A: Keep in mind that mine wouldn't be intendted to get that close... wanna keep as many trichs intact as possible...

Naaah dont like the noisy ones!...the manual one looks way more pleasing to use..,and most probably in final product eh??

fascinating to see em tho eh..

"fascinating to see em tho eh.."

drops my jaw everytime I see one in action

what about a handheld version? something like a strimmer?

i have seen some huge field grows in america, and i hear they pay people to trim, or they buy on of the above mentioned machines....

holy shite the hand crank unit retails at 495 euros!!!!! cheaper to buy a powered unit... WTF

I had a very long look at the tumble trimmer at this years expo and no matter how much i pestered the guy he wouldn't sell it

at around £420 it's a good number, just not with a £ infront of it .

there a pricey bit of kit but boy the time and hassel they save is priceless.

i've seen something along the lines of a sheep shearer/hair grader mix on youtube that looks like it could be a cheaper option.

failing that there's the hoover attachments that are cheaper than the tumble and other previous trimmers already mentioned.

if anyone comes up with a cheap home made version that a D.I.Y disaster zone such as myself could make, it'd be great

my thoughts on them

we take time to grow , been careful not to bruise the buds and trics , keeping hands off buds during grow
then we chop em down and smash the shit out of em in a trimmer

ideas good , but i think they may be a little harsh on the bud ?

i prefer the roll a splff , get stoned and then happily trim away with sciscors choosing the frostiest looking bud for that extra cure time

just my thoughts

I did try my best to get him to sell it but he wasnt having it was he?? not like the bong guy that only took 3 days of pestering to get him to sell me that bong at £7 that makes me happy

some sort of salad spinner would be a good place to start when diying one of them, colud probably be built for less than £50

T1

I fancy one of those hand trimmers. Not a big enough grow to justify one, would only save me about 3 days work in 30 but it is nice to have good equipment.

3 days a month wishing I'd bought the trimmer or less than 1 day a month being very pleased I bought it.

i hav heard of a few people using these machine its more commerical i thing i hav seen the trimer on the second vid working u wanna see the thc that gets spread all over your floor just a bad waste an it does take the edges of some bud wen i was watchin i would rather take longer an no i had loads of thc leaves to put in a washing machine to make pollen woo hoo

While I like the idea of something manicuring my buds for me I've already said that's not where I'm going with a DIY version... I want to build one that will take off the larger fan blades and collect them underneath in a BAG (for those that think these things just throw crystals everywhere, they don't I've seen them in action and the pro ones are very effeceint when used properly) for BHO... I would have every intention of following up with a traditional hand trim...

You know, I remember a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon
where the kid is impatient for something

and the father is saying the anticipation of something
is as worthwhile as the event itself

also the reason why wine buffs like a cork is the 'ceremony'
of opening the bottle, the delay gives you time to savour
the idea of enjoying the product

with that in mind hand-trimming a nice bit of bud, taking your
time to snip away, imagining what a nice smoke it's going to be
giving it a close once-over to admire all the handiwork you have
put into it is like a mini-christmas present all year round

An auto-trimmer? No thanks, you can keep it!

vangraffe

lemme know how your first chop goes

heheh, yeah it's like that for the first few ounces, it don't last! still, i wouldn't use an auto trimmer, maybe as you say for the larger fan leaves, but those are the easy bits!!

ta! Will Do!

I'll be doing a diary very soon!

vangraffe

I haven't given up on this I'm just window shopping for materials... apparently the large hardware stores in my country keep their shelves stocked for the seasons demands and not mine... Can't find me a Box fan anywhere.... Just like I couldn't find any peat pods a few weeks back when I had some seeds soaking...

What about a DIY "Aardvark" trimmer (attaches to a hover):



Seen in action in this (3:10sec in):


Or what about a DIY "Testarossa" or "Bonsai Hero". They are like automatic (9 Cuts per second):



Maybe you could make your own adaption to the "Cordless PowerScissors", make it a little more suitable for trimming plants!


These options IMO are probs best to keep us much crystal on the buds as possible, some of them other machines look a bit OTT to me, unless you had a shit load and were lazy! Also, these kinda things look easier to make in my opinion! Looks like they both just use some kind of electric motor! Probs be able to work summit out with a bit of research and a trip to Maplin or summit! Pickup some kind of Motor and stuff, I'm sure they'll be some experts on here if you needs any assistance!

With the hover one, I'd just make sure it was a direct line to the "bag", then hopefully it'll just blow any remaining crystal straight onto the leaves ready to be frozen and water extraction!

Let us know how you get on!

Podgy 1st time iv seen this thread mucka .But i built one of those trimmers 2yr ago but a smaller version for table top use il knock one tomorrow for ya an put some pics up thats if ya still want to make one that is

Sounds great vato !!! Kinda had the wind knocked outta my sails over the weekend and just can't seem to get the creative juices flowing... YET!!!

cant wait to see what leepy comes up with!!!!!
i dont grow enough to make one, but i will probibly still have a go!!!

[quote name='-=DrGreenThumb=-' date='Dec 7 2008, 02:22 AM' post='1564809']
What about a DIY "Aardvark" trimmer (attaches to a hover):



the aardvark trimmer looks cool, and easy to use with no mess!!!


Seen in action in this (3:10sec in):



the testarossa flicks the trimings allover the room, cant remember were i saw it? maybe youtube
not very good if you want to make your own hash (unless you have a clean room and hover up afterwards?)


Or what about a DIY "Testarossa" or "Bonsai Hero". They are like automatic (9 Cuts per second):

Got to say i agree with the other posters who don't like these.. seems like a heavy handed way to chop what we've spent so long being ultra delicate with.

I like the trimmers I bought from Chesterfield Market. (non sterile packed) Swann-Morton medical scalpels and scissors, sharp enough to castrate a spidermite. Quid a pack (scalpel + 5 #26 blades or 1x scissors) Sheffield steel.

/me grins

E2A: i can see the point if you have a REALLY big grow but we're supposed to be cannaseurs.

I've seen one of those in the OP at work, and they are the dogs..
just imagine laying your bud softly on a table and then gently picking it up and turning it over, thats all you have to do...
It works as harsh as you want it to, if you push on it, it will trim more...
The resin gathers on the non-stick surface grill, peels off easy and smokes even easier..

has anyone got any ideas about what i can bucher to get a moter so i can convert my henry the hoover?
i was thinking drill, but i have no ideas for blade????

got my first ever crop yesterday! (not much due to mold or fungus or whatever)
but i lost patients with it and choped it all up threw the lot in to a bucket with ice n made some gammy hash.
HELP!!!!

I built a small scale trimmer some years back but alas have no pics so you will have to bear with my awful use of paint so I can attempt to explain how it goes.
Now I want to say that this device is in no way approved by anyone, anywhere, not even me - in short, it can be feckin dangerous
You will need....
A food blender (speed control option preferred)
A plastic tube (middle of shrink wrap ideal)
A dustbuster (other handheld vacuum's are available)
Various tools, araldite, patience also required.

Click to view attachment
Take your blender and remove as much of the plastic beaker as you can (dremmel multi did the job) so you are left with similar...
Click to view attachment

I then got some mole grips and bent the 2 flat blades up at 90deg ready for the tube to slide over them. This I found to be quite fiddly as if the blades were not centred then the whole unit shook wildly. In this 4 bladed pic, you would bend the 4 blades up towards you as even and straight as poss.
Click to view attachment

Cut plastic shrink wrap tube to approx 6inches and then cut/melt a slot approx 80mm long by 3mm wide. The wider the slot, the shorter it will cut as you can get the buds closer to blades. The slots location must tally up with where the blades are.Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

Once I was sure that the tube was sitting perfectly, I added a whole pack of araldite strengthened with small angle brackets to hold things solid. I made a cradle for it lay horizontal in and so I could strap it to my workmate and then fitted the hose from the dustbuster to suck away the trim
Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

It did work surprisingly well, the bud was simply dragged over the slot, the leaves were sucked in, chopped off then spat into the hoover for hash recovery at a later date but I never quite trusted using it and it was a bit too noisy for my liking.
If I was to get another blender, do you think a variac could be used to slow the blades and quieten things down?

Cheers

dunno? but i am going to give it a go!!!

success!!!!!!!!

i did not use a food blender though.

bloody hell that was quick
when r u gonna get a vid of it working

!!! i have been chopin everything up! dont think i have even got any house plants left!!!

ok then, how do i post videos?

!!! i have been chopin everything up! dont think i have even got any house plants left!!!

please try and get a pic mate,, how does the blender cut the leaves when the tube is so long?? i'm probably having a blonde moment

T1

EDIT, No pic needed now, i understand, didnt see the slot bit before

i thought you could use a rc moter for a more easy to use?
i will try and make one in a week.

Hi, I did think of ripping the guts out of something with a slower running motor but it would of then given me the headache of making and attaching blades. The benefit with the blender was it just needed tweaking.
Im still not sure if a variac would be able to slow the blades in a blender so I am looking at a couple of variable speed ones on fleabay as I am gonna build another.
What is the best way to stick plastic to plastic? Is there a glue that plumbers use that melts and fuses pipe together?

Many thanks and good luck munchie

upload to youtube then post a link to your video

What is the best way to stick plastic to plastic? araldite epoxy will do it

ok will do in the morning