The Slab-o-matic

[Dutch]

Here's a few pics of the fish scaler my buddy Charles and I just finished painting. Built it a couple of months ago and finished tweaking it this weekend.

It's run by a 1/2 horse motor using a 20:1 reducer to achieve 44 rpm rotation. Its chain driven and the drum rotates around the shaft which is plumbed with 6 spray nozzles to provide water. It is lined with 1/4-20 3/8 locked down with a jam nut. We also put in a timer as well as a jog switch to jo the drum around to allow for easy loading/unloading. The frame is on casters for easier moving around.

On its maiden voyage in October it scaled 30 slab cappie in less than 5 min. with no tearing of the fish.

[fishbaskett]

Great ideal. Back in the late 60's and 70's a bait shop on Millwood Lake had an automatic fish scaler, my Dad and I used a few times for both crappie and bream. I recall it looking like a front loading clothes dryer. It was coin operated, maybe 50 cents for so many minutes. It saved the young teenage me alot of work.
Good job, neat.

[rnvinc]

Cool idea...!!

Rickie

[bugman]

That is one heck of a fine set up Dutch them ole crappie taste better with the skin on but i'm too lazy to scale em......i may bend your ear for a little more detailed info so a dummy like myself can build something like that,one question does the scales and slime wash out of the drum while it's turning?

[Dutch]

That is one heck of a fine set up Dutch them ole crappie taste better with the skin on but i'm too lazy to scale em......i may bend your ear for a little more detailed info so a dummy like myself can build something like that,one question does the scales and slime wash out of the drum while it's turning?

We have 2 rows of 1/2 in. and 1 row of 1 in.drilled in the door (where the words are) for drainage. They were covered with tape to keep paint out of the interior.

[windstone]

how bout some close up's of the drive end....

[buffalo13]

I can see the wheels turning Rick
Nice job guys

[Bowler]

So how many fish will it do at one time?

[Dutch]

how bout some close up's of the drive end....

Here you go.

[Dutch]

So how many fish will it do at one time?

It has done 30 with no problem, we built it big to handle a days limit of 60 fish.