Friday, May 17, 2013

How to make a biltong box

There are numerous and some really ingenious ways of making a biltong box, I've large water bottles being used to cardboard boxes, but the best that Ive seen is using a plastic storage container as a biltong box, quite clever actually, and the bonus is you can store it anywhere without it being an eyesore.


Doing some research the other night on biltong boxes I came across a method that is cheap and can be made within 3 hours.

what you will need:

1 x 55-litre sealable plastic container (it must keep flies out and should be deep enough for the hanging meat not to touch anything). Cost: R75
7 x (8 mm x 450 mm) lengths of dowelling. Cost: R32
1 x 220V, 80 mm square (including housing) computer-type fan. Cost: R70
2 x clip-on vents fitted with open cell foam filter screens (to fit the fan). Cost: R13 each
1 x plastic bayonet light fitting (sold for hanging lampshades). Cost: R8
1 x 40 W golf-ball type incandescent light bulb (don’t use an energy saver – you want the heat). Cost: R15
1 x 2 m length of twin-core flex. Cost: R7

1 x three-prong plug. Cost R12
4 x (M4 x 40 mm) countersunk machine screws with nuts. Cost: R7

4 x (M4 x 12 mm) countersunk machine screws with nuts. Cost: R7
Paper clips (to hang the meat)


Drilling the holes for the dowels, make sure that when drilling that the dowels do not get in the way of when you have to close the container lid. Use tape on the long sides of the container to make marking off of the holes easier. Make sure the holes for the dowels are 60mm apart.

now on the narrow sides of the container, on the one side, near the bottom you are going drill two holes, one for light fitting, and one for the fan, on the opposite side of the container you are going to drill one hole near the top for the air outlet. On one side, mark a hole for the light fitting 75 mm from the bottom, and another 150 mm from the bottom for the fan. To get the centre point for the air outlet on the container’s opposite side, measure 320 mm from the bottom.

Next, using the 8 mm drill bit, drill out the holes for all the dowelling rods, then use the 29 mm hole saw to cut out the hole for the light fitting, and the 76 mm hole saw for the fan and outlet vent holes.

Adding the fan, make sure that it is facing the correct way when attaching it to the container, making sure that the air from the fan flows into the container. Once you have the fan in place, use a 4 mm bit and drill the holes for the screws.  Attach one vent (comprising three parts: a frame, cover and filter) to the outside of the fan before bolting it to the container. Next drill the holes for ventilation on the opposite side.

Attach the light fitting and making sure that all cables and wiring are taped closed. attach the plug, slide the dowelling rods into position, and install the bulb.

once completed, give the container a wipe with a damp cloth and bleach, this make sure there are no germs getting onto the meat. After cleaning the dryer, switch it on for about 30 minutes to make sure it is dry before hanging the meat.

Have fun....










No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...