How to Build an Automatic Nutcracker

Break nuts open the easy way with an automatic nutcracker.

Shelling a large haul of nuts by hand is time-consuming, tiring and can even lead to repetitive strain injury. Avoid this by letting a machine do the work and break the thick shells for you. This is quicker and safer and the machine can be constructed using a few simple materials and tools. With it, you will be able to really take advantage of nature's harvest. Does this Spark an idea?

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Strong metal box 3-inches square
Electric drill
Vice
Metal tapping tool same size as bolt
1/2-inch diameter 5-inch-long bolt

Instructions

- 1
  
  Position the metal box in the vice with one of the sides facing up. Tighten the box in the vice. Using a drill bit with a slightly smaller circumference than that of the bolt, drill a hole through the center of the box's side.
- 2
  
  Lubricate the tap and position the tip in the hole you have drilled. Make a clockwise turn while applying moderate pressure. Stop, remove the tap with a counterclockwise turn and clean out the metal burs. Reinsert the tap and give it two turns. Take it out again, clean the hole, then reinsert, giving three turns. Continue like this, adding an extra turn each time.
- 3
  
  Screw the bolt through the hole from the inside of the box to the outside. Open up the chuck of the electric drill and position the tip of the bolt firmly within it. Tighten the chuck around the tip.
- 4
  
  Start the drill to move the head of the bolt back and forth inside the box. Switch the direction of the drill to extend and retract the drill. Be careful not to tighten it hard against the box's side. To crack a nut, place it inside the box between the wall of the box and the head of the bolt. Keep your fingers clear and pull the trigger of the drill to tighten it until the shell breaks.