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Swing-Valve Gambrel Box Churn: A Pendulum Frame of Swinging Beaters in a Tapering Box
Tinny

Created by

Tinny

7. October 2026US
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Swing-Valve Gambrel Box Churn: A Pendulum Frame of Swinging Beaters in a Tapering Box

Lewis W. Beecher of Avon, New York, received US 18,671, dated 24 November 1857, for a churn box "of a pyramidal shape, with gambrel shaped ends" of double tin, and a pendulum dash frame with a flat lifting beater and two swing beaters that turn an eighth of a circle each way, dividing the cream into two diagonal currents at each swing. This rung prints the box at one third of his size, the frame and the swing beaters, and makes butter.
Intermediate
About 4 hours, plus printing

Instructions

1

His box at one third

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2

Floats that swing in a frame, before it

Clement's floats fold on the stroke; Beecher's beaters swing an eighth of a circle and split the cream.
3

Read US 18,671

"When the frame is put in motion one half of the cream is forced up and against the end of the churn box in the shape of a wedge, and is then divided by the rod D. The lower part passes through upon the lower valve in an upward diagonal direction to the opposite end of the churn box at the same time the upper part passes downward in a diagonal direction to the same end that the other part did."
4

Print the parts

Print the box (/uploads/blueprints/swing-valve-gambrel-box-churn-box.stl) standing up, the dash frame (/uploads/blueprints/swing-valve-gambrel-box-churn-dash-frame.stl) flat, and two swing beaters (/uploads/blueprints/swing-valve-gambrel-box-churn-swing-beater.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

Frame and beaters

Pin the two swing beaters in the frame's holes with 3 mm stainless rods so each swings freely; the dividing rod between them limits each to about an eighth of a circle. Hang the frame from a 4 mm rod through the box's pivot holes near the top.

Materials for this step:

Mild Steel RodMild Steel Rod1 piece

Tools needed:

HacksawHacksaw
Cordless DrillCordless Drill
6

Lever and lid

Fix a pine lever to the frame's top, bent over the box to a hand staff. Cut a two-piece lid from thin plywood with a slot for the lever.

Materials for this step:

Pine BoardPine Board1 piece
Plywood SheetPlywood Sheet1 piece
#8 x 1" Wood Screw#8 x 1" Wood Screw1 piece

Tools needed:

Hand SawHand Saw
Coping SawCoping Saw
Screwdriver SetScrewdriver Set
7

The patent drawing

US 18,671 drawing sheet, public domain (expired patent).
Step 7 - Image 1
8

Temper and churn

Let the heavy cream stand until it reaches about 15 °C, checked with the thermometer. Pour in 350 ml, under half full. Stand the box in a tub of cold or warm water as he did, to set the temperature. Swing the frame steadily by the hand staff; 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.

Materials for this step:

Heavy CreamHeavy Cream350 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

Swing-valve churn troubleshooting.

Flow

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10

History and honest limits

**Lewis W. Beecher** of Avon, Livingston County, New York, US 18,671, 24 November 1857. He made the box of double tin and tempered it by standing it in a tub of hot or cold water. The specification leaves the lower beater's width blank and gives the upper one as 7 inches. He claimed the swing valves or beaters. A printed box at one third size stands in for his tin box. FDM prints hold food in their layer lines, so wash well and replace when worn.

Materials

8

Tools Required

10

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.

Support the Maker by purchasing products through their Blueprint where they earn a Maker Commission set by Vendors, or create a new iteration of this Blueprint and include it as a connection in your own Blueprint to share revenue.

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