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Handy Invention Takes Work Out Of Scaling Panfish
“I catch a lot of fish and scaling them was a big job,” says Bernie Coulthurst. But not anymore, thanks to a homebuilt fish scaler he made using the frame of an old propane grill, a black plastic container cut in half, a 1-hp. motor from a meat bandsaw, and assorted pulleys and parts.

    He had two 16-in. circles cut out of oak boards and sealed them with fiberglass to protect the wood, then drilled a hole in the center of each for a 5/8-in. axle. The axle turns a series of 4 pulleys to get the right speed.

    For the tumbler, Coulthurst purchased a galvanized steel sheet to screw to the round ends.

    “I used a can opener to poke holes for cutting the scales off, and drilled holes for the scales to fall through,” Coulthurst explains. “I open up the cylinder on the side and pour in fish, up to 50 at a time, and enough water so it’s 3 or 4 in. high. Then I close it up, plug in the motor, have a beer, and 15 min. later the fish are scaled.”

    A hole in the bottom of the drum drains the water and scales into a pvc pipe that goes off to the side, and after removing the fish Coulthurst washes the cylinder and drum with a garden hose.

    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bernie Coulthurst, 4852 Co. Rd. K, Amherst, Wis. 54406 (ph 715 824-3245; berniec1938@wi-net.com).


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2019 - Volume #43, Issue #2