For Pecans It Is A Time Saver
We live in a pecan-rich area where pecan trees are in parks and everywhere else. A neighbor brought us a large number of pecans in the shell. I began thinking that I really need something that will help shell all these. I didn’t have enough pecans to justify a powered machine but something that would handle this quantity without taking forever.I decided to try this hand operated cracker. Just as a reference, I stopped at 65 pecans, which took between 3 and 3.5 hours because I may have taken some little breaks. The photo is a point before I reached the 65 number. As you can see, sometimes I get perfect halves and other times they are broken up in slivers. The only other tool I used was a picker. Sometimes I needed it, other times I could just finish with my hands. Sometimes a pecan would just flawlessly present two halves with no more work. I had to find the ideal average adjustment on the threaded size adjuster. Smaller pecans may need a different setting. Regardless, always adjust the sizer so that the handle will start closer past the midway point for better leverage. Just a little learning curve.I put the cracker on an old towel and after pecan is in place, lay some of the towel over the pecan to keep pieces of shell from going everywhere. Even when being careful, some small shell fragments may show up on the floor, so sweep or vacuum. It would probably be better done outside when possible. I can say that at least after 65, it works well for pecans but I can’t say how well it works for other nuts with a harder shell. Does need a fairly strong hand and sometimes I used two hands on lever, and I do have a strong grip.