Feather plucking machine from a Malutka washing machine

For a time, compact Malyutka washing machines were extremely popular in the post-Soviet space. However, they're now practically unused, even though they're very high-quality and still work. To save money, if you're so inclined, you can make a wonderful feather plucking machine out of a Malyutka washing machine. How do you do it?

We acquire strong fingers

In fact, the Malutka device doesn't require any major modifications when converted into a feather plucking machine. The only major aspect that needs attention is the feather plucking fingers. For the machine to function smoothly, they must be of high quality.

Finding poultry plucking fingers isn't difficult. They're sold either in specialty stores or online; you can even find good ones on Avito. Experts recommend:

• For plucking small birds (quail, partridge, and chickens), use Plucker plucking tines. They have a Shore A hardness of 48, an overall length of 5 cm, and a working length of 4.5 cm. The mounting hole is 1.05 cm in diameter, and the mounting groove is 0.2 cm. They cost between $0.15 and $0.18 each.
• For preparing large poultry, larger fingers with a hardness of 50 units, a total length of 9.3 cm, and a working length of 8 cm are suitable. The seating hole is 2 cm in diameter. The price for one finger starts at $0.24.

Plucker's pluckers are made of high-quality rubber, whose softness and elasticity prevent damage to the birds' skin during feather removal. The material is non-toxic and has a long service life. Transforming the Malyutka into a feather plucking machine requires approximately 50 pluckers, perhaps a little more or less.

Making a typewriter

Let's begin constructing the device. Take your Malutka, with or without the lid. It's best to keep the lid, as it can prevent the bird from flying out of the plucking chamber during plucking. Next, remove the activator. Cut a circle from an old plastic basin to fit the activator. Next, drill 12 holes in the plastic circle, matching the diameter of the finger slots.

Important! If the hole diameter is correct, you won't need to secure the pins; they will fit snugly in the mounting grooves.

Now insert 12 pins into the holes. Now we move on to the washing machine's drum itself, which will house the new feather plucking machine. Drill holes evenly spaced around the perimeter of the drum walls, covering the entire inside of the drum. Make sure the holes aren't too close together—the ideal distance is 7-10 centimeters. Once the holes are ready, we first install the activator in place and then screw the circle with pins onto it.

For the feather plucking machine to function properly, it's necessary to ensure a water supply to the chamber. Simply insert the end of a water hose into the machine. A strong pressure isn't necessary; it's important that the water drench the bird during the plucking process.

Checking and further operation of the machine

Before testing a new machine, you need to consider its location. It's not recommended to place the feather plucking machine indoors, as it will create a lot of mess during operation: feathers will fly everywhere, and the waste water will need to be drained somewhere. Therefore, it's better to install the feather plucking machine outside or equip the room with a drain. Only then can you begin the test drive.

1. We connect the machine to the electricity.
2. We start the machine and wait until the activator picks up speed.
3. We start the flow of water and place the scalded carcass under the stream.
4. We throw the bird's body into the chamber and watch the plucking.
5. When one bird is ready, remove it from the tank and add the next one. There's no need to turn off the machine or turn off the water between each plucking cycle. If the bird's skin shows signs of damage after plucking, increase the water pressure.

Experience shows that homemade feather plucking machines perform remarkably well, despite their simplicity. The plucking fingers also last a long time and don't require frequent replacement.

   

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