bigbluegrass
Well-known member
I am thinking about getting a milking machine. I have always milked by hand, as long as I have been around cows. I think I have read enough to understand the basics of how it all works. A few questions for those with milking machines:
The milker:
What style does a better job milking?
Do you still need to hand strip after milking or will the milker get all the milk out?
The two I am aware of are Delaval style or Surge. When I say Delaval style I mean the kind with the "claw", I realize there are several brand names with similar set ups. In my "newness" to this, I am still not aware of all the differences that may exist between all the claw types.
What kind is easier to clean and handle?
What kind is more versatile?
What kind is easier to get parts for and repair?
The vacuum pump:
This would be set up for a single milker. I don't plan to milk multiple cows or have multiple buckets.
What is the CFM and what vacuum does the pump need to be capable of generating?
From what I have read and understand the vacuum of the line should be in the 14" to 15" Hg area. I have seen some say as low as 10" to 11" Hg. What is the advantage to a higher vacuum? How can you tell if it is adjusted correctly?
I have read numbers from 3 CFM to 12 CFM on the airflow side. Are those flow rates at 10"-15" Hg or are they at no vacuum?
Can a low CFM pump, capable of the 15" Hg pressure, be compensated for with extra storage capacity? Similar to how you can get a smaller air compressor and hook it up to a large tank. Once the tank is up to pressure, you can have a short term high demand and still get by. It seems the biggest demand for flow is when the milker is going on. So if there were a larger reserve tank, it seems that flow could be buffered some. I guess what I am wondering is what is the operating CFM for a milker and what is the starting CFM or CFM to apply the milker?
Are there any kinds of vacuum pumps that just won't work? I think rotary vane is the most common I have seen. There are a lot of different types. If I can generate the required CFM and vacuum, will it run the milker?
The procedure:
I have watched a few videos, but tips would be very much appreciated. It looks like you clean the cow off, the same as hand milking. Then put the milker on one teat at a time. I am unsure as to how you determine when it is done in each quarter and how to remove the milker. Does it fall off when it is done? Or is that the purpose to the clear hose I see on some so you can tell when a quarter is done? Do you take one off at a time or all at once? Do you shut the vacuum off first? I have seen some that look like they are really hard to get off. Is that from too much vacuum?
What kinds of things do I need to avoid and do to not have a train wreck on my hands?
I am sorry if some of these questions are really simple. I appreciate all the input from those on here. I am sure everyone has their own way of doing things, which is normal. Just wondering what works for all of you.
Thanks
The milker:
What style does a better job milking?
Do you still need to hand strip after milking or will the milker get all the milk out?
The two I am aware of are Delaval style or Surge. When I say Delaval style I mean the kind with the "claw", I realize there are several brand names with similar set ups. In my "newness" to this, I am still not aware of all the differences that may exist between all the claw types.
What kind is easier to clean and handle?
What kind is more versatile?
What kind is easier to get parts for and repair?
The vacuum pump:
This would be set up for a single milker. I don't plan to milk multiple cows or have multiple buckets.
What is the CFM and what vacuum does the pump need to be capable of generating?
From what I have read and understand the vacuum of the line should be in the 14" to 15" Hg area. I have seen some say as low as 10" to 11" Hg. What is the advantage to a higher vacuum? How can you tell if it is adjusted correctly?
I have read numbers from 3 CFM to 12 CFM on the airflow side. Are those flow rates at 10"-15" Hg or are they at no vacuum?
Can a low CFM pump, capable of the 15" Hg pressure, be compensated for with extra storage capacity? Similar to how you can get a smaller air compressor and hook it up to a large tank. Once the tank is up to pressure, you can have a short term high demand and still get by. It seems the biggest demand for flow is when the milker is going on. So if there were a larger reserve tank, it seems that flow could be buffered some. I guess what I am wondering is what is the operating CFM for a milker and what is the starting CFM or CFM to apply the milker?
Are there any kinds of vacuum pumps that just won't work? I think rotary vane is the most common I have seen. There are a lot of different types. If I can generate the required CFM and vacuum, will it run the milker?
The procedure:
I have watched a few videos, but tips would be very much appreciated. It looks like you clean the cow off, the same as hand milking. Then put the milker on one teat at a time. I am unsure as to how you determine when it is done in each quarter and how to remove the milker. Does it fall off when it is done? Or is that the purpose to the clear hose I see on some so you can tell when a quarter is done? Do you take one off at a time or all at once? Do you shut the vacuum off first? I have seen some that look like they are really hard to get off. Is that from too much vacuum?
What kinds of things do I need to avoid and do to not have a train wreck on my hands?
I am sorry if some of these questions are really simple. I appreciate all the input from those on here. I am sure everyone has their own way of doing things, which is normal. Just wondering what works for all of you.
Thanks
I would put some cool smileys and the jumping banana guy in here. 
