- Joined
- Apr 9, 2011
- Messages
- 174
- Reaction score
- 13
++. On corona mill. Takes a little getting grinds the way you want them but works great. I still hand crank mine, a little work out to get the blood flowing and mind working before brewing.
I love my Corona/Victoria mill. Works great, twenty bucks, zero modification.
I have a cereal killer and love it for the price. My efficiency is much more consistent than without it.
I am going to be the guy (since I have three in me right now) that will say that most people will spend $200 to solve a $40 problem... Infer what you will...
My Cereal Killer was affordable and performs like a champ.
Same here. Originally bought a Corona mill as per much recommendation and it was just terrible in every regard, maybe it was a poor build but it really let me down, so I moved on and couldn't be happier - so far!
Just got my monster mill on the special deal they have going on. Works great. Increased my efficiency 6 percent.
This. 100% this.The corona is best for someone with DIY experience and a willingness to tinker. If your expectation is to unbox it and be milling in minutes, perhaps not the mill for you.
I'm sure Monster Mills and Barley Crushers are faster, and everything I have heard about them is they are pretty reliable, but I like my Corona with the bigger hopper.
I recently took off the handle and replaced it with a bolt with a recessed hex head (it has a metric thread), and run it with an 18 volt battery drill.
It cost me $30, got it on Buy.com. Probably used it for several hundred lbs of grain. After initially setting the gap, the only time I had to change the gap was when I adapted it for the drill. Running it faster lowered my efficiency. Reducing the gap, brought back my efficiency. Apart from that I have not had to adjust it.
Using Barley Crusher figured it will last me since I never manage to brew as much as I want to.
What bolt/drill exactly did you use? I tried something similar and it wouldn't turn.
Surprised no one has mentioned the Kegco 3 roller selling for $139, seems like a very nice mill for the money.
1977Brewer: Where did you get your $20 mill from?
Caught it on sale in Amazon. May have been $25. Used my church's Prime account, free 2 day shipping FTW.
do you even grind bro?
Who is this question directed to? I'm looking at getting something very soon and wanted to see what people had to say about their mills.
Not sure if this would tip the balance for a few of you on the fence. From a few conversations I had with those who know, the Crankensteins beat the Monster Mills in many regards. As a matter of fact they used to be the same company and split up. Crankenstein is owned by the machinist, Monster Mill by the salesman. Who would you rather buy from?
I came to this knowledge after I had already owned the MM2 for a few years. I then inadvertently bent the 3/8" drive shaft when the HF Low Speed Heavy Duty drill turned unexpectedly, wedging itself between the shaft and the crappy MDF base board. Reason this happened, the non-driven roller had locked itself up after 2 months of non-use. Fortunately I was able to straighten the shaft adequately, then re-designed and built a new baseboard that now secures the drill properly. It won't ever move again. Lesson learned: make sure the slave roller spins freely before milling!
The Barley Crushers are made in China and sold by a company that doesn't honor its advertised "lifetime warranty." They won't even answer your email or pick up the phone. There are numerous reports on that.
For comparison, when I contacted Monster Mill for replacement options after I had bent the shaft, the owner answered my email within hours, and I could buy a new shaft/roller assembly and upgrade to the 1/2" shaft with new bushings at the same time. Some day I may spring for that, but it ain't free.
From what I understand the Crankenstein's shaft is detachable from the drive roller. That's better engineering too!
Not sure if this would tip the balance for a few of you on the fence. From a few conversations I had with those who know, the Crankandsteins beat the Monster Mills in many regards. As a matter of fact they used to be the same company and split up. Crankandstein is owned by the machinist, Monster Mill by the salesman. Who would you rather buy from?
I came to this knowledge after I had already owned the MM2 for a few years. I then inadvertently bent the 3/8" drive shaft when the HF Low Speed Heavy Duty drill turned unexpectedly, wedging itself between the shaft and the crappy MDF base board. Reason this happened, the non-driven roller had locked itself up after 2 months of non-use. Fortunately I was able to straighten the shaft adequately, then re-designed and built a new baseboard that now secures the drill properly. It won't ever move again. Lesson learned: make sure the slave roller spins freely before milling!
The Barley Crushers are made in China and sold by a company that doesn't honor its advertised "lifetime warranty." They won't even answer your email or pick up the phone. There are numerous reports on that.
For comparison, when I contacted Monster Mill for replacement options after I had bent the shaft, the owner answered my email within hours, and I could buy a new shaft/roller assembly and upgrade to the 1/2" shaft with new bushings at the same time. Some day I may spring for that, but it ain't free.
From what I understand the Crankandstein's shaft is detachable from the drive roller. That's better engineering too!
I think you sold me on the crankandatein mill..
I think you sold me on the crankandatein mill. I'm looking at the 3D with hopper and base. I like the added gears in the end of each wheel helping it get started easier. The only thing is that I see that they are in the middle of moving and if I order one it might take who knows how long to get it. I messaged them to see how long it would be before they reopened and hope to get a reply before too long.
Thanks for the info and suggestion.
Well, I didn't mean to be that persuasive, but they're great mills.
I was looking at the 2D and 3D too at the time. Not sure what made me buy the MM2 instead. Maybe it was availability too at the time and the good reviews on the MM2.
I ordered the MM2 with 3/8" shaft, but after the 3/8" drill I had in mind using couldn't even touch the job, I bought the 1/2" HF, then regretting not getting the 1/2" shaft from the get go.
A motor well-aligned to the shaft should work flawlessly, regardless of the 1/8" spindle difference, but dangling that heavy drill from the shaft is not an appealing thought.
They may have a few in stock, ready to ship, who knows. I see they sell the 1/2" adapter, but that doesn't change the shaft at the bearing, which is where it counts the most.
This weekend I was at a small new startup brewery (1.5 barrel boils for now) and they are using an MM2. Now that's a good testing arena for its durability, I'd say. I'll keep checking it.
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