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Wedge-Disk Rotary Churn: A Geared Disk With Wedge Teeth Throws Cream Up Into a Collar, Slanted Holes Let the Milk Back Out
Buttercup

Created by

Buttercup

11. November 2026IE
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Wedge-Disk Rotary Churn: A Geared Disk With Wedge Teeth Throws Cream Up Into a Collar, Slanted Holes Let the Milk Back Out

D. T. Ward of Mansfield, Ohio, received US 30,941, dated 18 December 1860, for a square box churn whose upright staff is spun by a crank and toothed wheels. At its foot a disk with a ring of wedge-shaped teeth cuts the cream and throws it up into a wide collar on the disk; slanted holes through the disk let the milk run back out, so a current flows through the collar while the butter gathers inside it. The patent gives no sizes; every size here is ours.
Intermediate
About 2 days

Instructions

1

The disk's speed

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2

A geared spinning dasher, two months before

Kellberg's wings throw the cream outward against a fixed disk. Ward's teeth throw it upward into a collar that holds the butter.
3

Read US 30,941

"When this disk and rim, or collar are revolved rapidly the milk is cut and agitated by the projections on the disk, and also is given an upward tendency by them. It is thrown into the collar D, and passes out at the openings s, s, s. Thus a constant stream or current is produced from the out to the inside of the collar and vice versa. The butter remains and is gathered in the collar while the milk as has been stated passes out at the openings s, s, s."
4

Box A and lid

Glue up a square hardwood box A 300 x 300 mm inside and 400 deep, sides and bottom 22 mm, joints sealed with silicone sealant. Cut a 12 mm HDPE lid to the outside, 344 mm square, with a 32 mm hole at the centre.

Materials for this step:

Hardwood BoardHardwood Board3 pieces
Wood GlueWood Glue1 piece
Silicone SealantSilicone Sealant1 piece
Wood ScrewsWood Screws24 pieces
HDPE SheetHDPE Sheet1 piece

Tools needed:

Table SawTable Saw
JigsawJigsaw
Spade Bit SetSpade Bit Set
Cordless DrillCordless Drill
Bar ClampBar Clamp
Screwdriver SetScrewdriver Set
Tape MeasureTape Measure
5

Print the step

The step on the box's floor: 60 mm across, 15 high, with a 10.6 mm hole 9 deep. PETG, 0.2 mm layers, 30 % infill, 4 walls.
Design FileSTLCC0 - Free
6

Print the disk C and collar D

Disk C and collar D in one: a 160 mm disk with a ring of twelve wedge teeth to 220 mm across, each full depth at its leading edge and sloping to nothing at its trailing edge, four 18 mm holes s slanting 40 degrees the other way, and the collar 150 mm across and 60 high on top; 28.4 mm bore. Needs a 230 mm bed. PETG, 0.2 mm layers, 30 % infill, 4 walls.
Design FileSTLCC0 - Free
7

Print the wheel F

The toothed wheel F on the staff's top: 14 teeth, module 2.5, 16.2 mm bore. PETG, 0.2 mm layers, 30 % infill, 4 walls.
Design FileSTLCC0 - Free
8

Print the wheel E

The toothed wheel E on the crank shaft H: a crown wheel of 42 teeth, module 2.5, 16.2 mm bore. PETG, 0.2 mm layers, 30 % infill, 4 walls.
Design FileSTLCC0 - Free
9

Staff B

Turn a hardwood staff B 28 mm across and 400 mm long. Set a 10 mm stainless pin 14 mm out of its foot and a 16 mm stainless rod 90 mm long 20 mm into its top. Slide the disk C on so its underside is 10 mm above the staff's wooden foot, and pin it with a dowel through its hub.

Materials for this step:

Hardwood BoardHardwood Board1 piece
Stainless Steel RodStainless Steel Rod2 pieces
Hardwood DowelsHardwood Dowels1 piece
Wood GlueWood Glue1 piece

Tools needed:

Wood LatheWood Lathe
Cordless DrillCordless Drill
Drill Bit SetDrill Bit Set
HacksawHacksaw
Files (Hand File)Files (Hand File)
10

Upright G, arm d, standard a, shaft H and crank

Cut a hardwood upright G 40 x 40 mm and 295 mm long, with two slots 10 mm wide and 40 long through it, and fix it upright on the middle of the box's back with two carriage bolts, washers and wing nuts, so it can be raised or lowered to set the wheels' mesh. Glue and screw a hardwood arm d 50 x 25 mm, 332 mm long, across its top, reaching over the box's centre, bored 16.6 mm there for the staff. Screw two hardwood bearing blocks 50 x 25 x 108 mm on the arm, one 60 to 85 mm in front of the staff (the standard a) and one 25 to 50 mm behind it, bored 16.6 mm across 83 mm up. Stand the staff on the step through the lid and arm, pin the wheel F on its top, run a 16 mm stainless shaft H 180 mm long through the blocks with the wheel E pinned on it meshing F, a shaft collar, and a crank of mild steel flat bar, 100 mm throw, with a hardwood handle.

Materials for this step:

Hardwood BoardHardwood Board1 piece
Carriage BoltCarriage Bolt2 pieces
Wing NutWing Nut2 pieces
Flat WasherFlat Washer2 pieces
Wood GlueWood Glue1 piece
Wood ScrewsWood Screws8 pieces
Stainless Steel RodStainless Steel Rod1 piece
Shaft CollarShaft Collar1 piece
Split PinSplit Pin3 pieces
Mild Steel Flat BarMild Steel Flat Bar1 piece
Hardwood DowelsHardwood Dowels1 piece
PETG FilamentPETG Filament1 piece

Tools needed:

FDM 3D PrinterFDM 3D Printer
Table SawTable Saw
Chisel Set - WoodChisel Set - Wood
Cordless DrillCordless Drill
Drill Bit SetDrill Bit Set
HacksawHacksaw
Files (Hand File)Files (Hand File)
Bench ViseBench Vise
Adjustable SpannerAdjustable Spanner
Screwdriver SetScrewdriver Set
11

The build in 3D

FreeCAD model of this build, the box cut open: the step, the staff with the wedge-toothed disk and its collar, the lid, and the upright G with arm d, the bearing blocks, the crank shaft, the two toothed wheels and the crank.
Design FileBLENDCC0 - Free
12

Churn

Pour about 12 litres of heavy cream at about 15 °C, checked with the thermometer, into the box so it stands over the collar, put on the lid and set the wheels' mesh with the upright G. Turn the crank briskly, timing it. When the butter comes, much of it lies in the collar. Lift out the staff and disk, take out the butter, pour the buttermilk into a bowl, wash the butter in cold water until it runs clear, salt and weigh it.

Materials for this step:

Heavy CreamHeavy Cream12 l
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)
13

Troubleshooting

Wedge-disk churn troubleshooting.

Flow

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14

History and honest limits

**D. T. Ward** of Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio, US 30,941, 18 December 1860, "Churn". He claimed "the disk or wheel C, constructed as described and in connection therewith the rim or collar D", and said currents had been made before. He does not give the number of teeth or holes, or the form of his toothed wheels; ours are 12 teeth, four round holes and a printed crown wheel and pinion. His upright G had a diagonal brace; ours is bolted through slots so it can be raised or lowered. Every size here is ours.

Materials

17

Tools Required

19

Design Files

5

CC0 Public Domain

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