Forum Activity for @Peter3

Buying a recommended cooler in this case may not be the best idea.

There is a lot of variation in how you use the refiner, in what ambient conditions and in what location. All of these will make a lot of difference to the choice of cooling system.

You may find that the cost of cooling system will be high in comparison to the cost of water used.

1. Your best option is to talk to a local refrigeration company and ask them for a quote, they will be in the best position to make all calculations.

2. If you use the 3 roll for a couple of hours a day and not all the time you may be able to get away with just water storage system without any active cooling (this depends a lot on your location and on maximum inlet water temperature for the refiner). Get a big rainwater tank, connect a pump capable of supplying correct water pressure for what the refiner requires and direct the over flow back to that tank. All depending on how you use the refiner, on how much water and at what temperature you need. 

In any recirculation system you will need some sort of chemical water treatment to avoid scaling, corrosion and growth of nasty bacteria. 

If you can give more information about what are your requirements and what are your ambient conditions I can calculate some numbers for you so you have somewhere to start.

It's relatively easy to do a moisture test - measure out some of your sugar, weigh it, bake it at a low temperature (250F) for say 2 hours, then re-weigh it - the different win weight is moisture loss.  Note:  you may need to play with your times/temps for the best accuracy.

I have tested some of the sugars mentioned here, and am running into too high a moisture content in the bulk bag though the smaller bag I bought for testing worked fine. I don't want to add a sugar drying step to my workflow but I wonder if others do this? And, or, is there a simple way I can test for moisture content myself?

This is useful information. Following

Hi there folks, 

Im hoping to see if anyone might be able to recommend me in the direction of a recirculating water cooler to attach to our three roll so that we don't have to waste water to cool it. 

Kerry: do you have any problem with chocolate starting to melt when using that attachment? I've tried to use the shredding blades in my food processor, but they move too fast and the chocolate starts to melt. Same with an ice shredder.

How much have you done at once?

I do have great success shredding nicely with my little Bosch Compact stand mixer with the shredding attachment - amazingly strong for a little piece of equipment.

I do a 'pulverized' chocolate for a couple customers. Essentially, I just break chocolate blocks into smaller chunks and then put them in a food processor for a little bit. It does a pretty good job. One day, I really want to have one of the automatic shredders like Kerry mentions ( https://www.tcfsales.com/products/c123-chocolate-shavers-automatic/ )

I've also just bought a couple heavier-duty vegetable peelers/julienners to test for exactly this purpose. This one works incredibly well:

http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Kitchenware-Stainless-Julienne-Vegetable/dp/B00FF75XG4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_

With that, I was able to shred 5 lbs in 10 or 15 minutes. It works best if the block of chocolate is no thicker than the width of the blade.

I'm not sure how much I'll end up using it, though, as I need to do 20-50 lbs every so often and my hand starts to cramp up after 10 or so.  :)

Dave - I'm in Canada - I can get guitar sheets from Signature Fine Foods or Qzina. In the US I guess Qzina would be one source.

Design and Realization in Montreal has an electric grater. I believe TCF sales in the US also sells - look under cutting. 

Can't tell what the cost is on Alufoil - but I know that Chocalat-chocolat in Montreal carries coloured foil. 

I currently have been ordering 6"x7" foil sheets from Alufoil however with our weak Canadian dollar as well as fees and duties to ship cross border I am trying to find a supplier in Canada to order from. Does anyone know of one up here. Everything I see online is about 3-5 times the price of alufoil so in that case it still makes sense to pay those border fees.

Knowing the strength (or the 'fold') of the flavor is helpful to guide usage levels.  Most of what you're buying off the shelves is a single fold (single strength) - i might suggest a starting point of 0.1% on a weight basis and evaluate.

I've worked with some essential oils, however, that requires FAR less than that (as in 0.00000x%) - so little that it's hard to even measure it correctly.  It's pretty unlikely that's what you're finding, but it's always good to be aware that it's out there.

The title pretty much says it all.  I'm looking for some frames.  I'm looking for the Maratello 5 plastic frame set but the full size one, not the mini.  I'll take other frames too, 12x12x1/4" and 12x12x1/2" are the other sizes I want but I'm flexible. 

I'm also looking for frames for my pate defruit.

I love this perfect combination. Mint chocolate is one of my favorite flavors, I've tried them on teas and cheesecakes.  I'll try that product

Hello @honmeid,

Good for you!  I'm glad you made it and found employment.  I'm in the Ecole Chocolat program right now for making bean-to-bar chocolate, so I might look for a job at one of the bean-to-bar chocolate companies in the Seattle area after graduation.

I hope all goes well at Theo!

The Lorann oils doesn't seem to be cheaper, they sell it in a tiny amount of 1/8 oz

Ok so I just found this on their website. They offer for you to send in your old arm and they make the adjustment, this kind of tells me it is not that big of deal. Anyone know where I can get an assembly like this...Maybe Ace hardware?

 Tension Cocoatown.JPG.jpg - 20KB

Hi!

I have a Cocoatown ECGC 12SL (the smallest machine they make) without a tension adjustment, my machine is about 2.5 years old. I have noticed it does not refine as fine as before and my chocolate is coming out consistently coarser and coarser, so I want to add a Tension adjustment. I know they sell a machine with the adjustment but I don't want to buy another when it looks like they just drilled through the top and added a turning knob. I have never seen one of these in person so I am going off only what they have on their website. I think it would be as easy as drilling through the top bar and adding an adjustable knob to push down on the spring already there...any thoughts?

Can someone direct me to a way I can make this modification without destroying my machine? Thanks.

In our case the taste is pretty good, both in milk and dark chocolates.

We have been selling the product in large quantities for years.

Hi - thanks for your interest!  I have someone else who expressed interest from a different forum so will be back in touch if they end up not taking them.  Elaine

Hey everyone,

I have a few culinary clients who are wanting shredded chocolate rather than in block form, which makes sense. I have researched equipment, even a few machines I could re-purpose and maybe get away with.

Im looking for a chocolate grater / flaker / shredder that someone isn't using and would like to sell. Or recommendations to specific pieces that you've used. Volume is minimal, maybe 5lbs / day (but willing to buy larger for scale).

Thanks!

I would be interested. Can you get me a shipping quote for 84403?

Update: I am alive and well in Seattle as of two months ago! I am currently working at Theo Chocolate as a chocolate production operator. 

FS Bulk wholesale bonbon packaging

Location: Boston

Cost: Free + shipping

We purchased these a couple of years ago for a wholesale account, but ended up not using them.  They're taking up a bit of space in our limited storage area and I'd love to move them on.  We've used just a few of them, maybe 5% of the stock at most.  We paid $205 (not including shipping), and would be delighted if someone would take them off our hands

http://tomric.com/packaging?product_id=3039

http://tomric.com/packaging?page=3

http://tomric.com/packaging?product_id=3037

FS: Double confectionary guitar with 4 frames (30mm x 2, 45 mm, 15mm) and metal slide.  Is in very good shape.  Do not have any repair parts to go with it.  

Location: Boston

Price: $900 + shipping

http://www.bakedeco.com/detail.asp?id=8790&trng=fgle&gclid=CPDNsuSwpcsCFYQfhgod2bYCPg

 Guitar3.jpg - 381KB

All the aromatherapy stuff is hella overpriced - and often the taste isn't as great as the smell. I used Lorann for my latest experiments, which was easily available and better than the 3 different brands of aromatherapy oils I could get my hands on.

Thank you, helpful advises.

1 ml per kg is a lot less from what I would guess.

Do you know this product: http://il.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Essential-Oils-Peppermint-2-fl-oz-59-ml/21127

And from your point of view, how was the taste?

Peppermint oil from Sevarome.

Use 1 ml per 1 kg.

Do not add to the grinder or conche.

Add to liquid chocolate before tempering or even better just before depositing if you can mix it in well. This will reduce the clean up.

Please remember that chocolate absorbs flavours very well so you run a risk of everything smelling a bit minty if you are not careful while producing or cleaning. 

Gently used for only 1 year and like new. I am putting a link to the exact machine from ChocoVision here so you can compare the quality of what I am selling versus the new one.  Comes with 10 lb. hopper attachment,  1 bowl, 1 solid baffle, 1 holey baffle, instruction manual, 3 pack of scrapers, 1 baffle brush, set of knobs, 1 cover. The white plastic rim that sits between the bowl and machine got thrown away by a former employee, so that is the only part missing. Asking $1000 but will take reasonable offers. Located in New Orleans, LA. Contact me at kellyespivey@gmail.com if you have any questions.

 20160510_153442.jpg - 105KB

Hi,
Did anyone try to mix essential mint oil in chocolate?
It's a popular taste recently.
Which oil do you use?
how much oil approximately you need to 1 kg of chocolate?
boiling point to avoid from evaporation while in the grinder?

Thank you

Yes, we did. Of note: they'll tell you that shipping is included, but not that its only to your nearest port. You'll need to pick it up from there or pay a good amount of money to get it to you via a LTL intermediary. There will also be misc fees to bring the equipment in, paid at the port of entry... Also there are storage fees that can rack up pretty quickly at ports if you don't pick the equipment up or arrange for an intermediary to do so quickly, which is a little annoying since the arrival date is never set in stone. Santha didn't make this crystal clear to us, so the few hundred extra dollars and man hours we spent to finish the transaction was a sizeable annoyance. I say this to encourage you to ask lots of questions and to be prepared to jump on it when you receive notification that it has arrived. 

This is the only thing I've seen: http://www.packagemachinery.com/packagemachines/table-top-diefold-entry-level-wrapper/" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.packagemachinery.com/packagemachines/table-top-diefold-entry-level-wrapper/&source=gmail&ust=1463108640698000&usg=AFQjCNERyLG53PPluCqjHEiziBldqfeNBQ"> http://www.packagemachinery. com/packagemachines/table-top- diefold-entry-level-wrapper/

It's spendy - about $30K!

Hi Brian,

thanks for taking the time to reply. You have certainly helped me make up my mind and I will place an order for the 65lb chain driven machine tonight. Did you order from SanthaUSA.com?

Barry, is the pan still available?  Robert

Great adds to the discussion...thank you for your time!

CAT

Hey,

Please email me to discuss this product. I am located in Virginia. byrdeus at gmail.com. Thanks

I have 2 Hilliard little dippers for sale. I bought them brand new, I am the sole owner, I have had them for 5 years. They are in excellent condition. Each little dipper comes with a case of 100 watt incadescent light bulbs. Each bulb has a 10,000 hour life.

$1000 each. (shipping not included)

If local pick up, then the sale will include the stand. The stand is on wheels and hold about 8 half sheet bakers trays

Call with any questions.

201-424-6064

 IMG_5476.JPG.jpg - 75KB

I've used the smaller Spectra 11 units, and can confirm they burn out belts like crazy. The Spectra 40 however has been chain driven since we bought our unit a couple years ago, and I absolutely love it. Just make sure that if you buy a used one, you get one that's chain driven... We have of course had some issues with it over the years, with mixed results as to how quickly / easily of a time we've had getting spare or replacement parts. However, we did have the seal on the drum go out in less than a year from purchase, and Santha stood by their one year warranty and shipped us an entire new drum free of charge. Between this action and the price on these machines, I'm convinced they're the best option on the market right now if you're dedicated to refining with stone. 

Are these machines still available? Sent an email but haven't heard back..

Kerry,

Will you share your source for the flexible plastic guitar sheets?

I LOVE your chocolate shop. Wish you could pick it up and take it with you and hoping you are coming over to our side of the pond?