Taylor Pea Sheller - Zipper Cream Pea vs PHP

[mudfish2]

Several weeks ago I assembled my Taylor Pea Sheller as the zipper cream peas were nearing harvest.  The first picking of the zipper peas we did by hand.  As a child my grandmother use to make us shell these things and I hated it.  It makes your thumbs hurt and it goes on and on for a long time.  Once I got several gallons of peas I headed for the Taylor.  Zipper peas are fairly large peas and the Taylor Pea Sheller did a pretty good job.  Because of their size you have to point the blossom end into the rollers pretty much one at a time.  I was able shell up several pounds of peas in about 10 to 15 minutes.  Way easier than by hand.

This morning I went to the garden and picked about a dozen PHPs (just starting to mature) to test out the Taylor on those.  Wow!  This pea sheller pulls PHPs through the rollers fast.  All you have to do is get either end of the pea near the rollers and they just dissappear into the machine.  I am now looking forward to processing PHPs.  My only regret is that I did not give my grandmother one of these things 50 years ago.  If you have a bunch of PHPs then you definitely need one of these shellers.  Two thumbs up!  

Tip - Last winter somebody posted about using pipe insulation as a cushion on the Taylor.  I thought it was a good idea.  While in a Dollar Store the other day I picked up one of the "swimmy things" that toddlers use in the pool for a buck.  If you cut it in half and take a razor knife and slit it long ways it will fit just right on the Taylor.  See picture.

[richardbragg]

The idea of the swim things on the edges is one of those "slap your forehead and say why didn't I think of that moments".  Going to get some today.  Thanks for the tip.

[ashlogcreek]

Another thing you can try with zipper cream peas:

First, the end of the rollers on the Taylor, that is OPPOSITE from the belt end, has gears on them that mesh together. If you raise up the THAT end too much, the gears won't mesh and it'll skip really bad. BUT if you raise up the end NEXT to the belt, just a bit, and throw the zipper creams through that end, it will shell em better, and the gears on the other end will still mesh good, so no skipping. 

[mudfish2]

Hi Ash-
I probably have one more picking of zipper peas left.  I will give your suggestion a try.  Even though the "larger" peas are more difficult it is still easier than by hand.

[robie robinson]

I sorta discovered that the end away from gears should be left open more than the other. whether i'm shelling butter beans or TPPEPHP's there is a place that is efficient and i feed'em thru that approximate area.   robie