Dear readers,

Well it seems there is something to be said for the old(er) tried and true Popper Pumper type Popper for roasting; the kind with the Venting at the bottom of the shaft of the Popper BIN.

I with an extension cord, was able to do a very nice roast with about 3-4 oz of beans and very manageable v. the Popper with the screen vent in the bottom.

This older unit cycles or pulses the heat and fan, for whatever reason on and off during the cycle. 1250W unit.

The beans "swirl' in a rotating fashion and the roast was VERY EVEN.

The unit cost $4.06 at a Thirft store, found by chance.

For what it's worth...great success here as per Sweet Marias Poppery posts on home roasting; much better control.

John

Dear readers,

Note of caution: the fan motor died suddenly...the unit after surgery did not respond.

$4.

I am considering a 120V AC fan instead with a dimmer on it but as things go - It's probably not worth the effort.

It just died after 2 small roasts.

The motor seems to have shorted...could have been a surge; ah well back to the walmart equivalent - with the non-recommended screen in the bottom.

FWIW

John

The 18 volt DC motors on the newer poppers are not very robust. Poppers should be treated as, in essence, disposable heating/air units that attach to a permanent and more expensive control units and roasting chambers. However, even doing that, I think it's still more cost effective to pay the $20 to $50 on Ebay for the older cast aluminum, 110 volt motor Pumper and Poppery than $5 for the newer silver paper and DC motor versions.

Fwiw, I have a Wear-Ever Pumper. So far so good, 12 batches and counting. Not sure if mine is higher voltage. I doubt it since it feels light and has a yellow and white plastic exterior.

You might be able to a non-screen-bottom popper at JCPenny or Sears (if I recall correctly). Not sure since I haven't checked myself......yet.

Jim,

I am not sure what silver paper means...if you mean the decal yes, silver...the cover was bright yellow and the Motor had 4 diodes on it in rectifier format; DC yes.

It looked pretty skimpy.

The chamber however was HARD aluminum.

The disk for the fan looked like a shiny material; plastic? Looked like sandstone layers.

Agreed...it was a $4 experiment.

I am back at square one with the Walmart unit - furnace...

thanks for the input.

John