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Adjustable-Float Annular Dasher Churn: Floats on a Ring Set More or Less Oblique
Tinny

Created by

Tinny

7. October 2026US
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Adjustable-Float Annular Dasher Churn: Floats on a Ring Set More or Less Oblique

Goodrich Lightfoot of Elgin, Illinois, received US 16,210, dated 9 December 1856, for an annular plate on the shaft's foot carrying floats above and below, each on a bolt through its centre, "turned more or less angularly or obliquely so as to present a greater or less resisting surface to the cream." This rung prints the plate, floats and gears, builds the churn and makes butter.
Intermediate
About 3 hours, plus printing

Instructions

1

Setting the floats

Loading Jupyter Notebook...
2

Adjustable resistance before it

Gore turns fixed pins in the wall; Lightfoot sets floats on the turning ring.
3

Read US 16,210

"The plate A, has floats or buckets b, c, attached to its upper and lower surface, by bolts or screws d, which pass through their centers. These floats or buckets may be turned more or less angularly or obliquely so as to present a greater or less resisting surface to the cream, as desired, and consequently the cream may be subjected to a greater or less degree of agitation—as desired."
4

Print the parts

Print the annular plate (/uploads/blueprints/adjustable-float-annular-dasher-churn-annular-plate.stl), eight floats (/uploads/blueprints/adjustable-float-annular-dasher-churn-float.stl), the step (/uploads/blueprints/adjustable-float-annular-dasher-churn-step.stl), the crown wheel (/uploads/blueprints/adjustable-float-annular-dasher-churn-crown-wheel.stl), the pinion (/uploads/blueprints/adjustable-float-annular-dasher-churn-pinion.stl) and the standard (/uploads/blueprints/adjustable-float-annular-dasher-churn-standard.stl). Print in PETG at 0.2 mm layers, 30 % infill, 4 walls; wash before first use.

Materials for this step:

PETG FilamentPETG Filament1 piece

Tools needed:

FDM 3D PrinterFDM 3D Printer
5

Plate and floats

Bolt a float above and below the plate at each of its four holes with a stainless M4 screw and nut, snug enough to hold the angle you set. Push the plate onto a 10 mm square hardwood shaft standing in the step, in a square food-grade container about 200 mm across.

Materials for this step:

Machine ScrewsMachine Screws1 piece
Hex NutHex Nut1 piece
Hardwood DowelsHardwood Dowels1 piece
Food-Grade Storage ContainerFood-Grade Storage Container1 piece

Tools needed:

Screwdriver SetScrewdriver Set
Adjustable SpannerAdjustable Spanner
6

Lid, gears and crank

Fix half the lid with a hole for the shaft, the pinion on the shaft's top and the standard with the crown wheel meshing it; screw a dowel handle into the wheel.

Materials for this step:

Mild Steel RodMild Steel Rod1 piece
Hardwood DowelsHardwood Dowels1 piece
#8 x 1" Wood Screw#8 x 1" Wood Screw1 piece

Tools needed:

Screwdriver SetScrewdriver Set
Cordless DrillCordless Drill
7

The build in 3D

FreeCAD model of this build: the box cut away to show the annular plate with floats above and below, set oblique, the shaft on its step, and the crown wheel and pinion.
Design FileBLENDCC0 - Free
8

Set the floats and churn

Let the heavy cream stand until it reaches about 15 °C, checked with the thermometer. Pour in 2 litres. Set the floats oblique for thin cream, more square for more agitation, and crank steadily; time until the butter comes. Pour off the buttermilk, add cold water, churn a little and pour off again until it runs clear; work in a pinch of salt and weigh the butter.
Step 8 - Image 1

Materials for this step:

Heavy CreamHeavy Cream2000 ml
Coarse Sea SaltCoarse Sea Salt1 piece
WaterWater1 piece

Tools needed:

Leave-In Probe ThermometerLeave-In Probe Thermometer
StopwatchStopwatch
Digital Kitchen ScaleDigital Kitchen Scale
Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl (Large)Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl (Large)
9

Troubleshooting

Adjustable-float churn troubleshooting.

Flow

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10

History and honest limits

**Goodrich Lightfoot** of Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, US 16,210, 9 December 1856. The specification letters both the box and the annular plate A. He claimed the adjustable floats on the annular plate secured to the shaft. A container, printed parts and a crown wheel with a pinion stand in for his. FDM prints hold food in their layer lines, so wash well and replace when worn.

Materials

10

Tools Required

8

Design Files

1

CC0 Public Domain

This blueprint is released under CC0. You are free to copy, modify, distribute, and use this work for any purpose, without asking permission.

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