North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jim Fruth <jfruth@uslink.net>]

   Cracking butternuts is really quite simple and you can obtain 95% perfect
whole halves.  Get a (minimum) 4" bench vise, anchoring it securely to a
tabletop. Take the vise apart and drill a partial hole in both jaws so they
are exactly opposite each other and only you only need to drill far enough
into the metal so that the drill's taper point penetrates.  Reasemble vise.
Hold the nuts so that each end of each nut fits into the tapered 'holes' and
crank the vise closed until the nut cracks.  Drilling isn't necessary but it
makes the job alot easier as the tapered 'holes' prevent the nuts from
turning sideways or getting away altogether.
-- 

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN
www.bberryfarm.com