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Old 08-10-2008, 07:16 PM   3 links from elsewhere to this Post. Click to view. #1
Nostrildamus
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Default Using a pasta maker to mill grain.

While making pasta with my pasta roller thingy:



it occured to me that it may very well serve as a grain mill. Sure, it might not have a hopper and may not have large knurled rollers but it may work, right?

If one were to hack off the crank handle so that it could be attached to a drill, use a dremel with a cutting disk to cut some shallow lines into the rollers to aid in dragging the grain through and to build a makeshift hopper out of some spare wood would this do the trick? The smallest gap is .031 and can be adjusted to larger sizes.

I'm asking before I go out and pick up a cheapy in a garage sale and try it out.

Wadda you think ladies and gents? Have I just made it feasible for everyone to start milling their own grain for approx. $30 or am I wasting my time?
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Old 08-10-2008, 07:19 PM   #2
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fixed that picture for ya:

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Old 08-10-2008, 07:20 PM   #3
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you could always make a hopper for it.

i guess it just depends on how big the space is that they would pass through. you want them cracked open, not shredded.
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Old 08-10-2008, 07:40 PM   #4
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Thanks for fixing the pic.

I can set the gap to the same as the Barley crusher as well as larger and smaller. So gap size doesn't seem to be an issue.

Very true, I could always fashion a hopper out of wood or...

... wait for it...

... METAL!

Nathan Explosion wouldn't have it any other way (this will surely be lost on those who are un-metal).
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Old 08-10-2008, 07:45 PM   #5
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The question, I suppose, is whether it would be better than a $20 Corona mill. Seems like the hardest part will be getting the rollers right.
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Old 08-10-2008, 08:11 PM   #6
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i wouldn't use "heavy metal"...sheet metal might work better
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Old 08-10-2008, 08:17 PM   #7
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Sound advice from the mash-pit.

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Old 08-10-2008, 08:24 PM   #8
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It might work. If not, I suspect it will fail spectacularly. I'm interested to see how it turns out. Instead of scoring the rollers with a Dremel, try roughing them on a diagonal with some 40-60 grit sandpaper. They don't really need a ton of "bite."
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Old 08-10-2008, 08:28 PM   #9
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why do you need the rollers to be roughed up anyway? my LHBS is flat rollers and i find it to be the best crush out there. the other rollers with the rough surfaces like to shred grains.
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Old 08-10-2008, 08:29 PM   #10
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Well then, if it has received the blessing of the tech-diety Yuri Rage, it surely must be worth a go.

Like he said, the worst that can happen is miserable failure!!!

I can totally see it breaking, exploding under high revolutions or otherwise crapping out half way through a 20 pound grind! I can't wait to swear and then throw it across my backyard and onto the street.
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