1st roast: chaff stuck in damper

[Jo]

Did my first roast today.
After the roast I found that the Huky hardly cooled down and there was hardly any chaff in the chaff collector sieve.
Taking apart the T-pipe showed that more than half of the chaff was stuck in the damper. I had it halfway open during the entire roast, 'cause i don't have a dimmer yet.

Anyone else experienced this?

[Wayneg1]

It makes sense that using the damper to control airflow instead of a variac would create chaff issues because you are restricting the passage.  I roast with the damper full open and don't have an issue with chaff not making it to the tray.  Once you get your dimmer I think this problem will be gone.

[Jo]

Thanks. It does make sense, but I know there's more people here without a dimmer. So that's why I was wondering how they do it. 😃

[hankua]

The damper is very sensitive, good idea to move it around while looking down the pipe (cold) to get a feel for settings. Also every minute or so open it up for one or two seconds to clear it out. This can cause beans to get trapped in the pipe, so needs to be done carefully.

[Curtis Martin]

I am sure this is against what a lot of roasters on here do, BUT, my personal system right now is to leave the damper 100% open the entire time! I roast by adjusting my flame and I still get some pretty darn good flavored coffee (for the sake of leaving the damper open).

The second thing I do is leave the "charge" damper open, which draws some air through there as well thus drawing less air through the Huky. It seems to work pretty well for me.

[MJ5150]

I do the same thing Curtis.
By the way, do you have any more Nicaraguan beans available?

-Mike

[rodraguirre]

The second thing I do is leave the "charge" damper open, which draws some air through there as well thus drawing less air through the Huky. It seems to work pretty well for me.

Well, you gave here the most important and unquestionable statement - that it works well for you.

Said that, I think it's a bit weird leaving the charge damper open. Airflow will tend to always find the easiest path - and in that case it will be coming in from the top and from there to your exhaust fan.

When you say "less air through the Huky", are you sure it isn't in fact ZERO air through the Huky? Just out of curiosity, did you do the trier cigarrete lighter test to confirm if you do have any air at all going in the drum?

[hankua]

I went to look at a Primo 6lb roaster last year that had a similar type of air flow device. A sliding gate on the exhaust tube coming out of the drum, and worked counterintuitive. Opening the gate created more airflow not less, sort of a vacuum effect.

It's most accurate to check the air in reverse everything connected; from the segment that fits on faceplate nub. That's with an anomometer reading negative wind speed, which turns out to be pretty easy on the Huky. Unfortunately in my situation outside wind can affect air pressures on the pipe, and my exhaust fans also affect room air pressure.

[MJ5150]

Just out of curiosity, did you do the trier cigarrete lighter test to confirm if you do have any air at all going in the drum?

I haven't tried this, but I'd like to. Can you elaborate please?

-Mike

[kenneroast]

By the way, do you have any more Nicaraguan beans available?

His Nicaraguan is delicious!

[Jo]

Did my second roast today, with the dimmer.
No more chaff stuck in the damper. Now I had some beans stuck in the chute.
But I have been reading about that, so I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon.

Next step: configuring Artisan and make my roast profiles visible...

[rodraguirre]

Just out of curiosity, did you do the trier cigarrete lighter test to confirm if you do have any air at all going in the drum?

I haven't tried this, but I'd like to. Can you elaborate please?

-Mike

This is in Scott Rao's book, it's very simple. With the roaster on, starting with your lowest airflow setting, remove your trier and light a cigarette lighter flame close to the hole. Slowly increase your airflow until the flame gently leans toward the hole. Consider that your "low airflow" setting.

[Daave]

This is in Scott Rao's book, it's very simple. With the roaster on, starting with your lowest airflow setting, remove your trier and light a cigarette lighter flame close to the hole. Slowly increase your airflow until the flame gently leans toward the hole. Consider that your "low airflow" setting.

My lowest value from this test was 25v. It was a little scary having that flame so close to the probe wires, but everything ended up just fine.

[rodraguirre]

Mine is about 25V too.

Now I'm about to have additional information with the anemometer. Will post once completed.

[hankua]

Did my second roast today, with the dimmer.
No more chaff stuck in the damper. Now I had some beans stuck in the chute.
But I have been reading about that, so I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon.

Next step: configuring Artisan and make my roast profiles visible...

Was it drinkable or did you throw it away/compost?