This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
Just reporting my new RK drum is a beauty!  I've put two one pound roasts
through it so far and loved it!  The rotation speed is so key though.  My
wife bought me a Rotisserie...3 RPM.  I'll be placing and order with Ron for
his motor quickly.  I ended up rotating by hand and it sped up the roast
immediately.  I know it wasn't the lack of power.  I've got 40,000 btus.  I
had temps almost at 800 degrees when I was playing with it to tune it in,
but still had about a twenty minute roast on my first one.  I started going
for slow roast again and picked up the speed and got it pumping good.  Lots
of play time ahead.  I will send some pics and maybe even do a little video
for you all.  
Jeff

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
<Snip>
Just reporting my new RK drum is a beauty!  I've put two one pound =
roasts through it so far and loved it!  The rotation speed is so key =
though.  My wife bought me a Rotisserie...3 RPM.  I'll be placing and =
order with Ron for his motor quickly.  I ended up rotating by hand and =
it sped up the roast immediately.  I know it wasn't the lack of power.  =
I've got 40,000 btus.  I had temps almost at 800 degrees when I was =
playing with it to tune it in, but still had about a twenty minute roast =
on my first one.  I started going for slow roast again and picked up the =
speed and got it pumping good.  Lots of play time ahead.  I will send =
some pics and maybe even do a little video for you all.
Way to go, WOW turning by hand, that is nostalgic. A video would be =
great.
RK

I'll get a video going, but will get you some dimensions as well for my new 
gear driven motor.  I've got four roasts through it so far and am quite 
happy!  Curious about loading it...the first two times I took the drum (and 
rotisserie) out of the barbecue, put it on end and dumped the beans, the 
second time, i left it on, opened the door and used a little piece of 
aluminum that I had fashioned into a "funnel" and dumped them directly...do 
you have any suggestions or is that what you are doing?
Thanks!
Jeff
 
Way to go, WOW turning by hand, that is nostalgic. A video would be great.
RK
I'll get a video going, but will get you some dimensions as well for my 
new gear driven motor.  I've got four roasts through it so far and am 
quite happy!  Curious about loading it...the first two times I took the 
drum (and rotisserie) out of the barbecue, put it on end and dumped the 
beans, the second time, i left it on, opened the door and used a little 
piece of aluminum that I had fashioned into a "funnel" and dumped them 
directly...do you have any suggestions or is that what you are doing?
 
Thanks!
 
Jeff
 
Way to go, WOW turning by hand, that is 
nostalgic. A video would be great.
RK

At 09:55 AM 7/30/2004 -0700, Jeff Wikstrom wrote:
<Snip>
Congrats Jeff!  I built my new drum with Ron's motor and the roasts
are very even with no tipping or divots, etc.
The only thing I'm missing is the "drum cam" so I can see what
is going on in there!  :)
Have fun and please post your pictures or video.
Allen
am

In a message dated 7/31/2004 2:27:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, am 
writes:
At 09:55 AM 7/30/2004 -0700, Jeff Wikstrom wrote:
<Snip>
I got my new drum in the garage and everything else I'll need to get it 
setup. I'm going to pick up a grill in the morning. I think I will be ordering one 
of Ron's Gear Motor's in the near future. I'm not much of a tinker or I would 
try to come up with one of my own. I did make a Shop Vac/Bucket bean cooler 
(picked up a nice heavy Stainless steel colander from Bed Bath and Beyond for 
$19.95).
 I put a 1/2# of Kona I roasted in my Hot Top in the cooler and it was cooled 
down in less then 2 min.
  I'll be at Home Depot first thing in the morning to get a grill; Can't wait 
to get roasting/
George Holt 

At 08:24 PM 7/31/2004 -0400, GHHOLT wrote:
<Snip>
George, I'm a fan of Ron's motor.  It is expensive but I could
have easily spend that much and more trying to roll my own.
If you enjoy tinkering, then by all means have fun.  But if you
want a proven "turn key" solution, then I highly recommend Ron's
motor as a companion to his drum.  In fact, there may be a little
tinkering involved to help satisfy that tinker craving if you
don't want too much excitement.
Allen
am

In a message dated 8/2/2004 1:42:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
jgraham writes:
Curious about loading it...the first two times I took the drum (and 
rotisserie) out of the barbecue, put it on end and dumped the beans, the second time, i 
left it on, opened the door and used a little piece of aluminum that I had 
fashioned into a "funnel" and dumped them directly...do you have any suggestions 
or is that what you are doing?
Thanks!
Jeff
I'm new to this BBQ roasting. Do you preheat the drum before adding the beans?
George

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
Jeff I usually take out to dump the beans in the cooler. and sit the =
drum up leaning against the metal frame of the grill. I have on occasion =
put it back in the grill and loaded the next batch while in the grill. =
Either way. By sitting it upright on the ground I can close the lid on =
the grill and retain more heat while I cool and then load a new batch.
RK

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
I start with a cold drum and with successive batches the drum is still =
warm. I don't preheat except in the cold winter days.
RK