MACHINES!

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El Tigre, the threshing machine

We thank God and our ministry partners! Through a grant, we were able to buy a small threshing machine! This machine has proved very useful to us and a few farmers who wanted to try the machine too! The machine offers savings on time and labor costs. This machine introduces farmers to new technologies and also shows them another oppertunity to grow their agribusiness by offering machining services. If a farmers wants to buy the machine, he can! 

All I need is my machinist apron!
During our field day in May, we met Miguel, his family has a good size agricultural machine business. They sell tractors, combines and other farming equipment. They also fabricate equipment in their shop. I was talking to him about a small, portable machine for threshing beans. He said they had a new model they fabricate in their shop in the capital city Managua. He showed me some pictures and a video, and I decided to order it! Everything was made in the shop, except for the 6hp motor that powers it. 

After a few months the machine was finished and ready to pick up. I was excited and fell into a bit of nostalgia while in the shop. It remined me of my time working in the tool and die industry. The shop had old Milwaukee mills and some machining lathes. The mills did not look like they were being used, as they were in the back and rather neglected. Miguel's dad, Miguel Sr. gave us a tour of the shop. He said he used to live in Wisconsin and worked for John Deere. This is where his inspiration for building and working with farm equipment came from. I had no doubt about his machining abilities when I saw him, he wore suspenders over his long sleeve shirt. A machinist's standard uniform back in Grand Rapids, Michigan! He asked me for some feedback on the machine and if there was anything that I would like changed or modified to let him know.

After threshing a total of 8 acres worth of beans we did desire modifications to the machine. It was throwing to many grains out of the reach of our tarps. Also, the feet on the machine were steel squares with sharp corners, this was snagging and cutting our tarps. After harvest season I took the machine back to the shop and asked for longer guards and for disks to be placed on the feet. I also asked them to install a guard over the pully. A large open pully and belt was a hazard to the people working around an already dangerous equipment with moving parts. They made the changes for us and a few weeks later the machine was back on our hands ready for the next cycle! 

El Tigre is easy to transport
There are great opportunities for fabricating farming equipment here in Jinotega, because Miguel's shop in Managua is three hours away! If you have followed this blog, you will remember I have wanted to open a machine shop, since we made El Muchachon! This adventure in machining in Nicaragua has helped solidify what was already in my heart to do. A metal machining shop will be a part of Finca Avodah!

Bean Producer David inspecting El Tigre

                            A short video of El Tigre in action! Five days of work done in one! 
Location: Jinotega, Nicaragua

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