How to Build an Electric Nutcracker

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • 3-inch-square tough metal box

  • Pillar drill

  • Vice

  • Metal tap

  • 5-inch bolt

  • Hand-held electric drill

Break through nut shells the easy way with an electric nut cracker.

If you have a large nut harvest to shell, breaking all the nuts by hand can be tiring at best, and at worst all the nut cracking could land you with a case of repetitive strain injury. Electric nut crackers can be bought for a few hundred dollars but you can construct your own at a low cost with a few workshop tools.

Advertisement

Step 1

Fit a 3-inch-square tough metal box in the vice. Position it under a pillar drill. Drill a hole through one of the sides.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Lubricate the tap. Place the tip of the tap in the hole. Apply moderate pressure and make a clockwise turn. Uncsrew the tap, clear any burs, reinsert the tap and cut a further turn. Remove it again and remove the burs. Repeat this process until the thread is cut through the entire hole.

Step 3

Place the bolt inside the box. Place the tip in the hole and screw the bolt through hole. When the tip of the bolt is protruding 2 inches out of the side of the box, open up the chuck of the hand-held drill and close it around the tip of the bolt.

Step 4

Pull the trigger of the drill to move the bolt back and forth. Place a nut between the wall of the box and the head of the bolt. Squeeze the trigger of the drill to crush the nut with the bolt.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references