Barley Crusher, which size?

[BeerPressure]

Well I just doughed in, If i come back swearing then you'll know it was a stuck sparge.

 

[BeerPressure]

No stuck sparges but my preboil grav was much lower than what it should of been

 

[Catt22]

BP,

I've improved my efficiency some by doing a longer 90 minute mash and a mash out. I hold the 170 mashout temp for 20 minutes. I've been getting an honest 72% efficiency lately and I'm fine with that.

Every brewer needs to experience a well stuck mash at least a couple of times before he/she can be considered a real brewer.

Took me a long time to arrive at the ideal crush for my system. I always had a tendency to crush too fine. I crushed until I got scared and then when I doughed in it got even sacrier when the mash turned to concrete. I concluded that a finer crush in persuit of higher efficiency was a fools wager. I got fooled more than a few times. I don't let that happen any longer.

 

[Sudz]

BP,

I've improved my efficiency some by doing a longer 90 minute mash and a mash out. I hold the 170 mashout temp for 20 minutes. I've been getting an honest 72% efficiency lately and I'm fine with that.

Every brewer needs to experience a well stuck mash at least a couple of times before he/she can be considered a real brewer.

Took me a long time to arrive at the ideal crush for my system. I always had a tendency to crush too fine. I crushed until I got scared and then when I doughed in it got even sacrier when the mash turned to concrete. I concluded that a finer crush in persuit of higher efficiency was a fools wager. I got fooled more than a few times. I don't let that happen any longer.

Very sage advice.... As a matter of fact, my new challenge is in search of the Holy Grail of 75%. Don't want any more of that stuck sparge stuff thank you.

 

[BeerPressure]

My gripe earlier was an error in the recipe counting cane sugar that hadnt been added to the fermenter yet. I actually got 81% with the crush.

 

[Ice9]

I just joined the club!! Can't wait to try this thing out!

 

[thesanch]

I've suggested this many times but it always seems to go unnoticed. Oh well.

A $2-3 plastic wastepaper basket makes a handy extension to the stock 7# hopper. Cut the bottom out with a Dremel and set it into the stock hopper - done.

Do you have any pictures of this? I just purchased the 7lb BC from brewmasterswarehouse.com. It'd be nice to increase the capacity for just a few bucks.

Thanks.

 

[Captain_Bigelow]

I bought the 7lb version from BMW when they had the father's day sale. They kindly shipped me the 15lb version instead. I know it wasn't a mis-ship because the packing slip was changed to reflect the upgrade.

 

[thesanch]

Do you have any pictures of this? I just purchased the 7lb BC from brewmasterswarehouse.com. It'd be nice to increase the capacity for just a few bucks.

Thanks.

Nevermind, they shipped me the 15lb version!

 

[BrewBeemer]

Sudz; your avitar made me laugh as it wasn't Holister just a couple days later staged photo shoot. My dad was there in 47 and 97 the 50th both still riding bike. Sorry OT.

I must add we used two Monster Mill 3-2 models set at the same gap one brand new the other brand new but the pointed knurling knocked off not having the sharp knurling tips just slightly cut down until a little flat spot can be seen.
This made for a better crush with less hull shredding and flower with the
knurling points knocked down vs the new untouched mill.
The other mill rollers had its knurling knocked down then all rollers sent
out to be case hardened.
These are 2" diameter rollers, I wouldn't recommend this alteration with the smaller
1 1/2" roller models due to the higher angle of entry of the smaller rollers with possible
grain slippage problems.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

I bought the 7lb version from BMW when they had the father's day sale. They kindly shipped me the 15lb version instead. I know it wasn't a mis-ship because the packing slip was changed to reflect the upgrade.

When I got my BC from BMW they were out of the 7lb'rs and they shipped me a 15lb one instead, on the house. Gotta, say, that kinda service has made me a repeat customer!

 

[thesanch]

When I got my BC from BMW they were out of the 7lb'rs and they shipped me a 15lb one instead, on the house. Gotta, say, that kinda service has made me a repeat customer!

I completely agree. I'll be going back to BMW for my future purchases.

 

[brettwasbtd]

A couple of things. I agree that refilling the hopper once is not a big deal. The first time I used my barley crusher on the factory settings I got about 82% efficiency and I was making BM's Cream of Three Crops... ended up coming out to about 5.8% ABV, NOT what i was shooting for! Oh, I also didnt know my boil of rate on the new pot, so it ended up being like right at 5 gallons instead of the 5.5 i think it was supposed to be. The rest of the batches I have been getting closer to 78% and I have been using my drill on the crusher for those. I guess that is due to the speed... I am tempted to slow down the speed or decrease the rollers width, but I almost would rather just keep getting the 78% and plan on that, then to keep making changes trying to up efficiency.

Its an inner battle between perfectionism and frugalness, which will win?

 

[BeerPressure]

i extended the hopper on mine with a cardboard box cut to sit on top of the metal hopper