To make the construction process even easier, I sell some of the harder-to-make and difficult-to-find plucker components. CLICK HERE for a behind-the-scene look at my plucker parts manufacturing company. The information below gives you specific details about each of the parts I sell.
WHIZBANG FEATHERPLATE
WITH ATTACHED SHAFT
In my plucker planbook I talk about making a featherplate out of 1/4" aluminum plate. But High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is less money, easier to machine and perfect for the job. HDPE is smooth, dense, and amazingly tough. It meets FDA requirements for direct food contact applications. The HDPE I use to make my featherplates (pictured above) is white and 3/4” thick.
My Whizbang featherplates are 20-3/4” diameter. These plates have 70 finger holes (3/4” diameter) already drilled (including one right in the center). The back side of each finger hole is countersunk about 5/8”, so the fingers are being pulled into a 1/8” thickness of HDPE. All you have to do is get some Kent C-25 fingers (more about this shortly) and pull them into place.
Note: 20-3/4” is the only diameter of plate I make. It will pluck at least three broilers at once or one turkey up to 40 pounds. These Whizbang featherplates are the same diameter as is on my Whizbang Plucker (the one I tell how to make in the book). If you use a recycled 55-gallon plastic barrel for your plucker tub, the featherplate should work (but I don’t guarantee that it will). As an alternative to the barrel-for-a-tub, you can always use a piece of the HDPE plastic sheeting I sell (see below).
Here’s the really nice thing about these pre-made Whizbang featherplates: Each featherplate is mated to a flanged shaft (as seen in the photos), and I have attached a 14-gauge steel backer plate (measures 8” by 8”) to the bottom of the featherplate for added support. I have predrilled the shaft mounting holes through the HDPE featherplate so the shaft is PRECISELY centered on the plate. What that means is you don’t have to fuss around with trying to get the shaft centered on your plate. I’ve done all the hard work! All you have to do is install your fingers and attach the backer plate and drive shaft using the pre-drilled holes. I even include the attachment bolts.
I should mention that the additional support plate is probably not needed, but I feel better selling a featherplate that is extra sturdy. These HDPE plates I’m selling are beautifully crafted and, believe me, I’m saving you a LOT of time and trouble by pre-drilling the finger holes AND centering the drive shaft.Please Note: I do not sell featherplates without a shaft. But I do sell shafts without a featherplate, as explained next...
AVAILIBILITY: BACK IN STOCK & READY TO SHIP
PRICE: $178.00 (postage paid)
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINT & MAIL ORDER FORM
WHIZBANG FEATHERPLATE SHAFT
If you want to make your own featherplate, you can still purchase a flanged shaft from me. This shaft is exactly like the one specified on page 34 of my plucker book: The shaft is 15-1/2 inches long and made of sturdy, wobble-free, 1 inch diameter #1045 ground and polished carbon steel. It has a 3 inch by 3 inch flange welded to one end. The flange has four 3/8 inch diameter holes drilled in the corners. The top surface of all shaft flanges are now machine-ground so they are precisely 90-degrees to the shaft.
AVAILIBILITY: In stock.
PRICE: $54.00 (postage paid)
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINT & MAIL ORDER FORM
WHIZBANG IDLER ARM HARDWARE KIT
This kit contains all the hardware you need to make your idler arm and attach the arm to your plucker (as shown on page 18 of the book). That means you get a flat face idler pulley with reducer bushing, machine bolt, nut, lock washer, large flat washer, hinge, machine screws, lockwashers & nuts for the machine screws, 2 eye screws, extension spring, 7ft of vinyl coated cable (vinyl coating protects from rust and 7ft is enough to use for measuring average barrel diameter--- see page 23 of the book), and two cable clamps. Everything you need to make the arm, except the wood, is in this hardware kit.
The idler is a top-quality pulley made in the U.S. by Fenner Drives. It is 3-1/2” diameter and made of a tough, durable fiberglass and nylon composite, which means it will never rust.
AVAILIBILITY: In Stock
PRICE: $34.00 (postage paid)
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINT & MAIL ORDER FORM
WHIZBANG 16” PULLEY
This pulley is ideal for the driven pulley on your plucker. It has a 1-inch bore, two shaft set screws, and will accommodate a 4L (1/2 inch) V-belt.
PLEASE NOTE: My book recommends a 15” pulley and I sold a 15” pulley for a long time. But the company that I bought from went out of business in 2006 (Chinese competition did them in after several decades of being in operation). I looked around and found a company in Nebraska that makes the 16” pulley that I now sell. They weld the pulleys in Nebraska using Chinese parts. These pulleys are flywheel heavy and VERY WELL MADE. The 1” larger outside diameter will slow the featherplate speed down a bit more than a 15” pulley. But the slower speed is no problem at all.
AVAILABILITY: Back in stock & ready to ship.
PRICE: $54.00 (postage paid)
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINT & MAIL ORDER FORM
WHIZBANG HDPE TUB PLASTIC
You can make your own tub with this 1/8” thick by 20” wide HDPE plastic sheeting. I’ll send you a 7-foot length. That’s enough to make a tub for up to a 24” diameter featherplate. Just overlap the ends and use some small round-head bolts with washers to secure the tub at the diameter you need. Then screw to the plucker frame as explained in the plan book.
AVAILABILITY: Back in stock & Ready to ship
PRICE: $45.00 (postage paid)
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINT & MAIL ORDER FORM
PLUCKER FINGERS
If you’re making a Whizbang Plucker, you’ll need 70 plucker fingers for the featherplate and 50 fingers for inside the tub. My son, Robert, sells top-quality, Made-in-the-USA, Kent C-25 medium durometer hardness rubber plucker fingers. The Kent C-25s are among the best general purpose plucker fingers you’ll find. They have proven themselves over decades of use to be very effective at removing chicken, turkey, duck and goose feathers. They are designed to fit into a 3/4” hole.
Robert sells 125 fingers for $99, postage paid, anywhere in the U.S. You can purchase fingers with your plucker parts order and I will, in turn, get the money to Robert.
Note: If you want to purchase just the fingers directly from Robert, or you want to know pricing on other quantities,click this link: Robert's Plucker Fingers
Fingers to Canada & the rest of the world: Yes, we ship plucker fingers just about everywhere. CLICK HERE FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING DETAILS
AVAILABILITY: TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK. We hope/expect to have more in stock around July 20. Check back here for the status of this item.
PRICE: $99.00 for 125 (postage paid)
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINT & MAIL ORDER FORM
WHIZBANG STICKERS
All plucker parts orders are sent out with a Ask Me About My Whizbang Chicken Plucker bumper sticker and a bright yellow CAUTION sticker (like on page 46 of my plucker planbook).
PLEASE NOTE: The oval shaped "Euro Decal" in the above picture, with the letters, "FOWP", which identify you as an esteemed member of the "Fraternal Order of Whizbang Pluckerbuilders" is no longer available.
The two stickers are included FREE with any parts order. If you'd like to purchase additional high-quality vinyl stickers (with UV-resistant exterior printing), the price is $2.00 each (shipping included).
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINT & MAIL ORDER FORM
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