Mushroom Log Inoculation Tool?

[Paul-MMParticipant @mayamushrooms]

Good evening all,

Please excuse me if I’m unknowingly crossing any forum rules here, but I’m in need of someone in the UK to manufacture a number of what is known as a mushroom log inoculation tools. Photo attached.

Model engineering or machining is not my remit, and I’m struggling to figure out where best to turn, or what even to Google, so I figured a community of engineers will likely be able to help point me in the right direction, I hope.

The tool is very simple in nature; it’s a thumb/palm inoculation device consisting of a few parts.

Tool in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw2BtznC4Vk

Thumb Style: https://www.fieldforest.net/product/Thumb-Style-Brass-Inoculator/inoculators
Palm Style: https://www.fieldforest.net/product/Palm-Style-Brass-Inoculator/inoculators
Metal Style one: https://growmushroomscanada.ca/shop/growing-supplies/log-tools/inoculation-tool-for-sawdust-spawn/

I’m trying to find someone who would be happy to make these up for me so I can use them and sell them to our customers. If I had the time, and a lathe, I’d love to get involved and learn how to do it myself, but sadly, I don’t, so figured I could pay someone who does…?

Is this something someone out there (based in the UK) might be prepared to do? Ideally someone who already has experience in doing similar work. I have a few inoculators here with me of just one style and can post one to someone who might be interested for further analysis, if needed?

Internals are a spring which is pressed up against a brass washer (held against an indentation in the brass pipe), with a threaded brass rod passing through, on the end there is a threaded brass tip/plunger a fraction smaller than the internal diameter of the pipe. Similar to a syringe, with a spring for rebound. Super simple.

I’m not sure how many I will need in the future, but think a run of 50 of each type (palm & thumb) might be a good starting point, could potentially end up selling hundreds of them. A wooden handle would be nice, dipped in oil or waxed on the lathe. I don’t see why it couldn’t be an ongoing gig for someone who’s interested?

Can be made out of brass, or I guess stainless steel which I also like. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help, and apologies if this is not the place to put such a post, if not, feel free to move or delete it.

So as to avoid this being purely a ‘job post’, keen also to hear if anyone has any ideas or improvements on how to make the ‘ultimate’ inoculation tool…?

I’ve attached some photos too…

All the best and hope to hear from a few of you soon,
Paul

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

It will be hard to compete with the prices in your link.

Based on size of photos and the sketch a quick look at material cost and you are looking at arounsd £20 that leaves £12 for the labour and your profit. Even if set up for a batch of 50 you will be hard pushed to get anyone to do it for  a few quid each.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Im with Jason on this, I did a similar job a few years ago and regretted it ever since i was working and wearing out my machinery for a fiver an hour.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Jason and Bernard have pointed out the costings Etc, what is a likely selling price ? Though it galls me to say it this seems a job for the far East where materials and labour are lower. Noel.

[David Millar 3Participant @davidmillar3]

These look a lot like a woodworkers’ “push pin”, or “ram pin”, used for driving small nails into a workpiece.

Although the barrel bore may not suit.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Noel, the links to ones in America work out at £32 average which is why I said it would be hard to compete

I based material costs on 12″ length of 1/2″ dia brass tube which looks about right from the photos and other bits to suit which is a bit bigger than a pin pusher.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

£52 delivered from Lithuania on Ebay . I  would be tempted to contact the seller and ask  for a bulk purchase discount.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

This is, of course, NOT directly comparable … but it’s in the same engineering ball-park :

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/26569/lakeland-easy-apple-corer

… if Lakeland can flog them for that price; someone must be making them quite cheaply.

MichaelG.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Michael,

I wondered if the Lakeland versions might be a little broad for the application. From the pictures it looks as though the stuff injected is fairly dry and I question whether that aspect is important.

Cheap plastic syringes without needles could easily inject a sloppy wet mix through a predrilled hole. I’m sure they can be found on eBay.

Brian

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Past experience would suggest that a wet mix of sawdust in a syringe would not work…the water phase getting squeezed out preferentially and the residue gumming it up.

It’d be easier to find an addition that would allow the creating of mini sticks that could be dropped into the drill hole and a soft wax thumbed in to seal.

If the drill hole diameter isn’t critical then say an old style cigarette rolling machine to form sticks? And cut into lengths.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

A syringe with the end cut off so you basically just have the outer “tube” and the plunger would just push it into the hole, better than trying to get it through the reduced end which as you say will squeeze out the water first.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Background info.

https://www.wildabundance.net/blog/how-to-grow-mushrooms-on-logs/

MichaelG.

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