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DIY: Pistachio Vibrating Machine

Sorting shelled pistachios using impact vibration eliminates the labor-intensive, inconsistent and sometimes unsanitary need for manual shelling and sorting, according to a Department of Agriculture study. Though fashioning a vibrating machine requires some technical skill and familiarity with the basic operation of various power tools, it can be accomplished in a few short hours. Each of the items necessary for completing this project can be purchased at a local hardware retailer.

Things You'll Need

1 sheet of stainless steel, 2 foot by 4 foot by 3/8 inches
3 saw horses
Handheld concrete vibrator
Wrench
Pencil
Power drill with metal-drilling bits
4 bolts, 1/4-20 thread, 1-1/4 inch
4 fender washers, 1/4-20 thread, 1-1/4 inch
4 nuts, 1/4-20 thread by 1-1/4 inch
4 locking nuts, 1/4-20 thread by 1-1/4 inch
Measuring tape
4 pieces of lumber, 1 inch by 2 inches by 24 inches
Circular or table saw
Vice
14 3/4 inch wood screws
Glue
2 foam vent supports, 24 inches by 48 inches

Instructions

- 1
  Set the sheet metal atop the three sawhorses, making sure each is evenly spaced.
- 2
  Remove the bolts connecting the motor of the concrete vibrator to the metal plate using the wrench.
- 3
  Set the metal base atop the center of the sheet metal. Mark the location of the four holes in the metal base onto the sheet metal with the pencil.
- 4
  Drill through the locations of the four pencil marks with a 1/4 inch drill bit.
- 5
  Guide the 1 1/4 inch bolts through the fender washers and then up through the bottom of the sheet metal and the metal vibrator base.
- 6
  Mount the vibrator motor back onto the metal base, locking it in place with the washer and lock nuts onto the bolts.
- 7
  Thread on the nut and locking nut, tightening them carefully.
- 8
  Remove the sheet metal and attached vibrator assembly from the sawhorses, instead leaning it alongside them so that the bottom is facing you.
- 9
  Roughly 1 inch in from every edge, draw a small mark on the sheet metal with the pencil at each 6-inch increment. Drill a hole through each mark. These holes will support the screws that attach the wooden pieces to the edge, forming a railing to keep the pistachios on the vibrator.
- 10
  Position the lumber over the edges, and draw lines to indicate any overlap. Trim the pieces to fit using a circular or table saw and vice them into place.
- 11
  Position the wood screws so that they will be forced through each hole in the metal up into the wood above and proceed to drill them into place.
- 12
  Thinly coat the side of one of the foam pieces with glue. Wood glue or craft glue both work well. Align the foam piece with the second piece and press the two pieces together. Allow the glue to dry.
- 13
  Lay the joined foam piece atop the sawhorses and place the sheet metal vibrating board atop the foam. This ensures that the maximum amount of vibration is transferred to the nuts, rather than the sawhorses and greatly decreases the amount of noise the machine produces.
- 14
  Plug in the concrete vibrator and place unshelled pistachio nuts on the stainless steel surface. Turn the concrete vibrator's switch to "On" to begin the vibrating process.

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