Newest Threads

**Hoppopotomus** · 01-08-2013, 01:23 PM

The springs actually do provide tension, so that the belt doesn't slip. I tried it without the springs at first and although there was no belt slippage, there was some excessive vibration and light bouncing of the motor. Once I put the springs on as tensioners, it has been smooth as silk with no motor jumping or excessive vibration. I'm at work now, but I can update some closer pics. later if needed. I stole the idea of using the motor weight as the tensioner from my grandpa, who was an avid woodworker and had a similar setup for his antique wood lathe, with step pulley system of course.

**perogi** · 01-09-2013, 11:35 AM

Thank you. Pics whenever you can get to it would be very helpful!

**mrjofus1959** · 01-10-2013, 02:18 AM

VERY nice looking mill Hoppopotomus! Makes my new grain mill station seem rather boring! I too used motor weight to tension a la my table saw, but I like your spring tensioner addition. I think I may have to borrow that!

**Hoppopotomus** · 01-10-2013, 01:28 PM

Thanks for the compliment. I added the spring tensioners just to cut down on the bit of chattering that the motor was doing without them. Go for it.

perogi....I'll try to shoot some pics later today. I would have preferred my tensioner springs to be more vertical, but they were a little too long, so I had to anchor them out laterally, which gives them the appearance that they aren't holding tension, but they are.

**mrjofus1959** · 01-10-2013, 03:50 PM

FWIW here's a pic of my mill setup. My motor is sitting on a longer board that's "hinged" at the front where it's held in place with 3 long wood screws and washers that pass through oversized holes and are loosely attached. I'm thinking I could drill through the board just in front of the motor and drill through the bottom of the cabinet. Then I could pass a long bolt from underneath such that it extends a few inches above the board, place a compression spring over the bolt, and then use a washer and nut to apply spring tension. Do you think that'd do the trick? Thanks, Kevin

**Hoppopotomus** · 01-10-2013, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrjofus1959

FWIW here's a pic of my mill setup. My motor is sitting on a longer board that's "hinged" at the front where it's held in place with 3 long wood screws and washers that pass through oversized holes and are loosely attached. I'm thinking I could drill through the board just in front of the motor and drill through the bottom of the cabinet. Then I could pass a long bolt from underneath such that it extends a few inches above the board, place a compression spring over the bolt, and then use a washer and nut to apply spring tension. Do you think that'd do the trick? Thanks, Kevin

That's a great looking setup and a solid plan to provide tension.....go for it!

**Jeebas** · 02-01-2013, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoppopotomus

That's what I was thinking too. I'm sure there will be a few arguments against using it, but for now that's my plan. Thanks man!

I am not sure what the issue was with the wood you lined the inside of the hopper with getting wet, but this might present a minor issue if you ever decide to do Malt Conditioning. Sorry if you have already thought of this or addressed it somewhere else.

Nice work!

**Butchv12** · 02-07-2013, 10:05 AM

My only words are Wow and Fantastic!

Thanks for the pictures of your brewery and talents

ButchV12

**Hoppopotomus** · 02-07-2013, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeebas

I am not sure what the issue was with the wood you lined the inside of the hopper with getting wet, but this might present a minor issue if you ever decide to do Malt Conditioning. Sorry if you have already thought of this or addressed it somewhere else.

Nice work!

Sorry, it's been a while Jeebas. The inside of my hopper is lined with a laminate hardwood flooring material left over from when I built the house. I seriously doubt if there would ever be any issues, even with malt conditioning. I certainly don't think that a little bit of moisture in the grains would leach anything harmful from the laminate, espicially with just a couple of minutes worth of surface contact while milling. I've read some of the grain storage threads, especially about using non-food grade buckets (like HD homer buckets), and the debates get pretty heated. Although I lean toward the camp of using food safe buckets for longer term grain storage, I seriously don't see any harm in my laminate flooring application for the hopper. Again, I'm sure some would disagree and that's why I posted many moons ago early in this thread that I didn't want to start any debates.

.....and THANK YOU Butchv12, you're far too kind.