I have been contemplating buying a 50 lb bag of 2 row recently. I do not own a mill yet and this would be another big purchase for me. What are the cheapest effective ways of crushing grain? I really did not want to throw in another $100-150 if possible. Thanks for the help.
Cheap way to crush grain
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LVBen
Well-Known Member
Rolling pin - cheap, but labor intensive
hand-crank mills
mills that attach to electric drills (assuming you already have the drill)
Great_Neck_Brewer
Well-Known Member
If you're doing all grain, sooner or later you're going to have to get a mill.
I bought mine half price from a brewer in my club that was upgrading.
I bought mine half price from a brewer in my club that was upgrading.
RegionalChaos
Well-Known Member
Corona mills are cheap and can be effective.
lady_brewer
Well-Known Member
There is a whole thread on using a pasta crusher to mill grain... https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/using-pasta-maker-mill-grain-75784/ I haven't made one yet, but I have the pasta maker in the brew room. Just waiting for hubby to turn his back so I can mess up one of his drill bits.
This works,
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/CORONA_GRAIN_MILL_P2058.cfm
I highly recommend this one,
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/barley-crusher-maltmill-w-7-lb-hopper.html
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/CORONA_GRAIN_MILL_P2058.cfm
I highly recommend this one,
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/barley-crusher-maltmill-w-7-lb-hopper.html
Richabt
Well-Known Member
+1 on a corona mill for a cheap way to start. I picked up one from grizzly.com for under 30 bucks and I have made some great beer with it.
At some point I may step up to a maltmill, but for now it works great.
At some point I may step up to a maltmill, but for now it works great.
sillyburt
Well-Known Member
ask your LHBS if you can mill your base grains when/after you purchase you specialty grains from them. mine said 'sure'
smizak
Well-Known Member
You'll definitely want a mill if you're going to be an all-grain brewer. It only took me two batches of LHBS crush, one 65% efficiency, the other 85% to know I need to control my own crush.
That being said, I think everyone one who has purchased a Barley Crusher loves it, including me.
That being said, I think everyone one who has purchased a Barley Crusher loves it, including me.
RandomSF
Well-Known Member
A Crankandstein 2S is $76. Pays for itself pretty quickly if you buy bulk.
Here's a link to plans for a hopper.
Here's a link to plans for a hopper.
Synovia
Well-Known Member
Thats a bit hyperbolic. There are plenty of threads on here about issues with the barley crusher. Its a nice mill, but it has its issues, just like all the other ones.
smizak
Well-Known Member
Um, yeah, but I was just posting my experiences with it. I've never had a problem with it, nor does anyone else I know who has it. I've also happened to see "motorized" pop up with Barley Crusher issues which the manufacturer strictly does not recommend.
Synovia
Well-Known Member
Thats fine. It doesn't jibe with this statement, which is demonstratably false:
Thats what I had a problem with.
Sedge
Well-Known Member
cheapest way for me is to just use the mill at the LHBS. If I'm giving them some business while I'm there they don't mind.
2-0turbo
Well-Known Member
+1 on the barley crusher. I just bought mine and so far have put only 16 lbs of malt through it. But, I like it. It did a decent job. I missed my OG target on my beer, but I was making a huge beer and I'm not that experienced yet, so I can't blame the mill. I think the barley crusher is the best bang-for-the-buck for a true roller mill.
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