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Shorten the Cord
The Quest works best when used without an extension cord. However, many users like to see the power
displayed in Watts, so they use the roaster via an energy monitor, such as a KIll-a-Watt
®
. However,
because it is difficult to read a monitor plugged into a wall socket, they put the monitor on an extension
cord then plug the roaster into that. A increase in voltage occurs simply by keeping the extension cord
as short as possible and by shortening the supplied power cord, especially on the M6 because of its
bigger heaters.
Knobs/Handles
The supplied knobs and handles are relatively small. Some users make longer ones.
Bean Cooling
The supplied rectangular bean collector placed in the chaff collector cools the beans. This works but
has several drawbacks. First, it is slow. Second, there is no air circulation through the roasting chamber
with the bean collector inserted into the chaff collector. Use an external cooler instead, such as the
optional one from the manufacturer or make one. Make a small box with a muffin fan in it and set the
bean collector on top. The flow of ambient air through the beans is much more efficient than the
Quests’ inbuilt cooling function.
Venting
The Quest can be used indoors. The factory suggests putting it on a counter next to a window and
opening the window wide enough to take the stream of exhaust. Some owners have roasted under a
kitchen fan, which works reasonably well, but some smell still lingers in the room. Here are some ideas
to vent the Quest.
For improving exhaust removal in the kitchen under a range hood, cut a piece of thin metal the size of
one of the range hood's air intake filters and cut a hole in it. Attach a piece of dryer vent hose to the
metal plate. Put the metal plate in place of the range hood filter, and place the other end of the hose
near the Quest's vent. Because the hose does not touch the Quest, heat would not be an issue due to the
range hood also sucking in air from the room.
A straightforward modification is to direct the exhaust upwards. This modification would work best if
the range hood has better suction than average. Attach a small hook to an aluminum dryer vent elbow.
Hang the elbow over the back of the Quest so that it covers the ventilation slots.
To roast in any room or garage with a window, cut some plywood 6" by window height. Cut a hole in
the plywood and install a muffin fan on that, blowing outside. On the inside of the fan, connect a piece
of clothes dryer vent hose. Open the window enough to put the plywood in and close the window on it.
Place the other end of the hose near the Quest's vent.