A while back Tom discussed drilling the Fresh Roast to slow down the roast.
Now I'm ready for the details.
Has anyone done this?
Where EXACTLY did you place the hole?
What size was the hole?
Any tips / caveats?
How well did it work?
thanks - mas
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If you want to open it up more try removing the screen. My FR was
overheating so the thermostat kicked in too early. Removing the screen kept
it cooler.
Also, at about 2 minutes you can turn it to cool down for about 10 seconds
then back on. This increased my roast a good 30 seconds or so.
steve

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kept
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Does the chaff blow everywhere when you remove the screen?
mas
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It sure did on mine!!

Not a lot. I have been running mine either outside or in the fireplace due
to smoke anyway. But even still, it's not that bad.
Of course a lot depends on the bean. Sulawesi has hardly any chaff, Sumatra
a bit more. Others like Yemen and Brazil have a lot but I notice most of the
pieces are still pretty good size and tend to stay together in a 'pile'
inside.
steve

 
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I think Tom accidentally opened the top of a FreshRoast trying to 
drill a hole in it -- the plastic is brittle.
As an ex-jeweler who's worked with many different types of plastic, I 
think it can be done. You should be sure to support the top (on a 
mound of sand, say - formed to fit the top), make a starter dent 
before drilling, then drill slowly, possibly with some lubricant to 
keep things cool. If all else fails, the FR people sell replacement 
chaff collectors for $17...
Some have had good luck just by removing the interior screen, which 
is held on by rivets of some sort. Barry Jarrett of Riley's Coffee 
rigged a sort of mesh chimney extension, about a foot tall (I think) 
for his FreshRoast -- it replaces the chaff collector top, allows 
more heat to escape, and catches the chaff.
Kathleen
--
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<Snip>
Ditto to Kathleen's comments. be very careful to drill slowly and not force
it. This plastic tends to shatter if you force it too much! I would use a
hole saw and just go slow!
BTW I have heard that Freshroast has a top with larger holes in the screen.
They charge a lot for these kinds of theings, and dont give me much of a
break ...but changing the screen to something more like aluminum window
screen could have a very positive impact on the roast, and extend its
length...
Tom
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
                  "Great coffee comes from tiny roasters"
           Sweet Maria's Home Coffee Roasting  -  Tom & Maria
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