Setting mill gap with common household items

[vance]

I'm borrowing a mill from my LHC in an attempt to fix my efficiency woes. It's a barley crusher with adjustable gap. I don't have easy access to a caliper or anything to set my gap - what should I set it to, and how should I measure that gap?

 

[SlitheryDee]

I've heard that you can use a credit card in between the rollers to get a good sized gap.

 

[BrewerBrad82]

Folding a crisp dollar bill in half three times will yield right around 0.040", which will be a good starting point. Barley Crusher sends their mills out with a default gap of 0.039", so this will get you very close to the factory gap.

 

[Revvy]

If the credit card cap is too big or too small, you can actually use playing cards- build up or down a stack how many cards you need thick.

 

[ebstauffer]

You can pick up a sparkplug gap set for about $5 at any autoparts store.

 

[k1ngl1ves]

If the credit card cap is too big or too small, you can actually use playing cards- build up or down a stack how many cards you need thick.

This works perfect!

 

[IslandLizard]

Take a short stack of regular credit (or playing) cards, measure the total thickness. Divide by the number of cards. That's the thickness of each card.

A regular credit card is around 0.034", a good start.
You can go down to around 0.028-0.030" for barley (sand off the credit card). Wheat, rye (small kernels) and flaked goods down to 0.024-0.026".

With BIAB you can go down a bit more, the mesh bag is your filter.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Yep...smooth gift card has worked perfect for me for years. Insert card between rollers and tighten till the rollers move when you pull on the card with minimal force

 

[vance]

I think the playing cards are gonna be my way to go. Thanks everyone! Excited to see if this finally fixes my lack of efficiency.

 

[Murphys_Law]

You mean they make tools for that sort of thing?! I've always thought the was what credit cards were for!

 

[BongoYodeler]

You mean they make tools for that sort of thing?! I've always thought the was what credit cards were for!

Yes!! A credit card works perfectly. I used mine to buy a set of feeler guages for around $7.

 

[Murphys_Law]

Yes!! A credit card works perfectly. I used mine to buy a set of feeler guages for around $7.

I used my credit card as a feeler gauge and spent my $7 on yeast.

 

[Revvy]

Yes!! A credit card works perfectly. I used mine to buy a set of feeler guages for around $7.

I used my credit card as a feeler gauge and spent my $7 on yeast.

I used both your credit cards on hookers and blow. :fro:

 

[RM-MN]

You mean they make tools for that sort of thing?! I've always thought the was what credit cards were for!

You use the credit card to buy the feeler gauge. Then you have the ability to measure different mill gaps.
I'd probably adjust by feel. Put some grain in and try to mill it. If it goes through, tighten the gap until you have trouble getting the grain to go through, then open it just a smidge.