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**cyberbackpacker** · 07-31-2010, 08:17 PM

I finally got around to making a milling station for my 3 roller Crankandstein mill.

Total Cost: $4.00

I had some old MDF scraps laying around, and I am using an old fermentation bucket as the base. The only thing I had to buy was the 5 gallon Culligan bottle.

Pics:

Mill mounted to sheet of MDF.

Slot over rollers cut out, and hole drilled in side of bucket with plastic "ribs" removed from bucket in that area to allow for the drill chuck to fit and spin freely.

Top view. Board was left long to act as a counter weight for when the drill is attached to the mill.

Box that the Culligan water bottle hopper will fit in.

to be continued...

**cyberbackpacker** · 07-31-2010, 08:19 PM

Hopper "box" attached.

And the finished product with the Culligan water bottle hopper and my nice Dewalt that powers things!

FYI I just used a jigsaw to cut out the bottom of the Culligan bottle. A dremel would work well too.

I am happy with it; for the price it cannot be beat!

robtotten · 07-31-2010, 08:35 PM

That looks great. Just out of curiousity, roughly how many pounds of grain can the water bottle hopper hold? It looks like it would be enough for most 10 gallon batches I love toys!

**cyberbackpacker** · 07-31-2010, 08:40 PM

I haven't had a chance to test it to capacity, but I do believe the grist for ten gallon batch should be handled pretty easily. I've had 15 pounds in it and I think it was probably right about half-full, maybe a bit more.

**SankePankey** · 08-01-2010, 11:11 AM

I've heard 25 lb. full. Haven't weighed mine yet.

(and nice job!)

Catt22 · 08-01-2010, 02:31 PM

I can fill my water jug hopper with at least 20 lbs of grain. I've never bothered with filling it to the brim to determine the exact capacity. IMO, hopper capacity is NOT very important at all. I could easily get by with a 10 lb capacity hopper and only be inconvenienced to the slightest degree. It's not something to fret over for sure.

Here's some pics of my motorized single roller Phil Mil I with the water jug hopper:

**cyberbackpacker** · 08-01-2010, 06:42 PM

Thanks guys!

And, Catt22, I like that mounting setup for the hopper. I may have to fab up one of those for my version 2.0! Dang HBT; I was quite happy with my solution, but then I have to see this!

JOHN51277 · 08-01-2010, 07:37 PM

Nice job. Looks like a winner to me! I need to fab one of these up once I get my garage in order!

Catt22 · 08-02-2010, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberbackpacker

Thanks guys!

And, Catt22, I like that mounting setup for the hopper. I may have to fab up one of those for my version 2.0! Dang HBT; I was quite happy with my solution, but then I have to see this!

I thought you might like that and it's the main reason I posted the pics. One nice feature is that you can easily remove the hopper with grain in it without spillage if need be. You can move it to the side or slip a thin piece of cardboard under the flange and you can lift it off the platform entirely to dump the hopper if necessary. Fortunately, I've only had to do that once when I had to tighten the LoveJoy hub on the mill side. Made it easier than lying on the floor to do it.

That red stuff is a piece of sheet vinyl I had laying around, but a piece of Masonite would probably work just as well.

**cyberbackpacker** · 08-02-2010, 12:23 PM

Thanks Catt... what section of a hardware store would I find that metal flange? And from the looks of it, the other part is just a pvc smooth to threaded piece. Did you glue that piece into the hopper?

I like this idea, for the reasons you indicate-- access.