I. - 2nd Crack Finish and Cooling

We'll can walk you through your first roasts over the phone!!! We'll guide you step by step on what to expect, what to look for and when it should happen! Give Us a Call when you are ready to roast!

Walt Lewis - Chiammaya Custom Crafted Chocolate

Hard to believe I've been using my RK drum since 2004 and it is still as great as day one. In looking for information for a friend and having been away from the site for several years I was amazed to see the progress made. I saw the new drum latch and had to have it. It arrived last week but only got around to installing it today. I had to roast some almonds for some Custom Crafted chocolate I make.
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Allen M

July 17,2004 Allen M

This is a copy of a email posted on Sweet Marias coffee list.

Ron and All,

I finished assembly of my RK drum roaster today and I burned it in and I'm ready for my first roast!
I used a 35k BTU Char-grill model from Home Depot and I'm using Ron's gear drive motor which is sweet. The drum spins fast and
smooth and should be quiet enough to hear first crack. I located my thermometer about an inch too high but other than that, I think this is going to be a great little rig. Tip:
If you choose a Char-grill Pro thermometer like I did, use a "step bit" to drill the ~7/8th hole for the threaded mount. Step bits are expensive (about $35) but I use them almost everyday
at work to drill holes of all sizes in sheet metal. It cuts through the Char-grill lid like butter.

When I fired it up, the first thing I noticed was the large amount of heat that it puts out which is a big contrast from my Rosto. I realize this isn't quite a fair comparison, but I can already
tell that I'm going to enjoy roasting outdoors in winter. I played around with the controls while performing the break-in and the controls are sensitive but very responsive. I'm surprised how
quickly the temperature can shift and then hold steady.

Putting one of these together is not difficult, but there are a few considerations that give it a little twist over buying a pure appliance. I ended up pulling out my dremel tool to cut off the
"foot pegs" of the flame diffuser to lower it about an inch. Now it is perfect and enabled me to put the drum down low closer to the flame. When ordering, I told Ron I wanted the motor on the left side, but
I changed my mind during assembly. I really like how Ron designed the hardware to be re-configurable. It was a simple matter to change the motor and switch over to opposite hand. All the holes were
pre-drilled for mounting either side.

I would like to thank Ron for his help along the way. It is evident that he really cares about his drums and drum customers. I will reserve further comment and praise until after such time that I get to sample the fruits of his and my labor. More pictures
to come.

Allen

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Rob Whelen, Wilimington, NC (Epula LLC)

Hey Shane-- just did my 50th roast last night. I am really excited about the outcome. The 1 and 2 lb roasts go a little fast, since my grill puts out a lot of heat. But the 5 pounds are going about 15-17 minutes and the flavor is fantastic. Great product.
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Eddie Dove

I just wanted to let everyone know that dealing with Ron Kyle was a pleasure. He patiently answered every one of my questions, made some recommendations, told me when it would be shipped and it arrived as he stated. Not only did I enjoy dealing with a man of integrity, Ron's craftsmanship is a work of art.

Thanks, Ron!

Sincerely,

Eddie
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Justin Collins

I bought the 8 lb. drum from Shane about a year ago and since then I have easily put over 500 lbs through the beast! The drum is flawless! I had my learning curve of course, but after a handful of not perfect (yet very tasty) batches, I caught on. Now I never miss a beat. My roasts are flawlessly even across the whole drum. Shane probably wouldn't approve of this, but I cram 12 lb. into the 8 lb. drum, and 26 minutes later I have a perfectly even 10 lb. batch of Full City+. I also have a grill that could take the place of my furnace in a pinch;) When I do fairs/bazaars I punch 100 lbs through this beast without even a hiccup. AMAZING!!!!! I really can't say enough good about these drums. They are built like tanks and infused with a little piece of Shane's heart. Skip the cheap thin gauge junk on ebay. Once you buy one of Shane's drums you will never want anything else. It's worth the coin, plus it will outlive Armageddon;)

I also purchased the new "RK Model T" cooler and I love it! It looks good, runs like a champ, and, like the drums, is one solid piece of machinery!

What is really amazing is not just the drum... it's Shane! He made the process of transitioning into small batch commercial roasting easier for me. Not only does he stand unwaveringly behind his products, but he loves to help the novice overcome the learning curve. Thank you Shane... You Rock!

One RK Convert,

Justin
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I. - 2nd Crack Finish and Cooling

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