CONSTRUCTION OF POTATO cutting
EQUIPMENT
T7hen-n former has a large number of potatoes to cut for
seed, he needs to use every labor saving device that
he can. Frobably a good many use a butcher knife sibuck
through a board, but here is on improvement on this
method that can save you still more time. 0
In this case the knife is double edged rhich makes
it possible to cut the potato from the back and
front side both, thus saving one motion of bringing
the potato back to the sharp edge for the neict cut
ting.
T is method as pictured uas illustrated at the Form
and Home nook this nintor by Dr. Babb. It not only
saves labor, but is constructed to disinfect tho
knife and thus prevent tho spread of disoaso from ,
one potato to another during the cutting process.
Nearly any table can be nuickly adapted for
using the tuo-odged knife. The three most
important points to keep in mind in remodeling
AS f
or building a table are: (1) Provido a Constant
supply of potatoes on the far sido of the knife. ,
The opening at(8) should be large enough to let
a supply of potatoes through on both sidoc of tho
knifo. Tho potatoes should roll free oncugh to bo
easily grasped. There should be an opening near tho
eorKor so ^nax; potatoes can oc aroppea into tau uusr.ux ocxur tao cutting piuwuna.
The can placed on the top of tho bin can ho a five gallon can or other container on
to rhich a stopcock has been soldered. To the stopcock attach a rubber tube to con
voy tho liquid to the top of the knife. See a snail lanprick together and nakc a
collar rhich rill slip over tho tip of the knife and also fprn a collar into rhich
the lover end of tho rubber tube rill fit.' A snail circular lanprick that rill Just
fit the knife blade should be satisfactory* In cither caso use a paper clip or other
device to press the rick to the sides of tho knife so as to insure a constant ovon
flor dorm both sides of the knife. Solder a catch basin 3 inches long and lb inchos
ride to the bottom of the knife. The sodinent tank on thocatch basin should be about
3 inches deep. The used solution is dram off through the spout (gas lino) "oar the
top of tho tank by neons of a rubber hose. A snail piece of rindor screen placed
over tho catch basin rill keep out dirt and sprouts.
The solution used in the tank is nado up of 1 hnd 1/3 ounces of mercuric chlorido to
5 gallons of rater.
In tho abovo draring (l) is the tank of disinfectant; (?’) rubber tubing; (3) lamp
rick; (4) double edged sharp knife; (5) is the disposal tube loading to the disposal
contain (6); The potatoes roll fron bin (7) to the supply platform (fi). They'uro
picked off this platform and pulled through the knife, tumod half ray around, "and
pxishod back over tho knife and dreppod through the opening into the baskot (9).
The accomparting diagram shows the topviow of the snpnly platform '
near the cutting knife, Ifo (in the Ijiife while the two sec
tions marked (16) and (?.l) re openings through which the potato
is dropped,after being cut,into the basket below, A potato that
requires only two cuts, is pulled through the knife to tho front
then pushed back and dropped through opening (10); but if it
requires three cuts, it is brought back across the knife and
dropped through opening (ll).
T knife should have at least a 6 inch blade. The blado should
be thin, but also rigid enough to facilitate cutting, A thick
blade is not desirable because it slows up cutting. C;;re In sharpening both edges
is important. iTcver use a file or any sharpening tool which will leave a rough sur
face. ' Sor final sharpening and kcoping the blade sharp without removing it fron the
table, me a fairly fine hand stone.
T'i knife nay be fastened to the cross bar by a 1/4 inch cable clanp or U-bolt. The
total cost of this equipment is not a large iton as most of it can be made right on
the farm.
This method is said to increase the speed of cutting potatoes by 25?$. 0: c should
learn to cut with as fom movements as possible and every move should be made to count
Ool0»® feSymog&Siifed Stationary Potato Co Ulna I
■ ife.