Crankandstein 3GT

[GoeHaarden]

Since there isn't much info online about the 3GT, I figured I post some pics and measurements. Received it 3 days after ordering it so shipping is quick.

Weight: 9.5lbs
Length: 6.25"
Height: 3.5"
Width: 3.75"
Roller width: 1.5"
Roller length: 5" (excluding gears).
Drive shaft: 0.5"

This thing is a beast. Very substantial. Now I don't know for sure what the actual metals are, but I'm fairly confident that it's the same materials and quality as the other C&S mills. Probably a safe bet to say spec-wise it's close the commercial 320G only with 1.5" rollers. The crossrod holds this thing solid and seems like it will help prevent racking/twisting. The indexed adjusters are awesome, and I will measure their accuracy with some feelers when I get some time. Not sure when I'll be able to mount this thing and try it out but I'll update when I do.

I wanted to buy a mill that I would never have to replace, never have to deal with a stuck roller, never worry about having to dump a hopper, etc. Take it how you want but I feel like this thing will be unstoppable, and at the same price point as the MMG3, the Crankandstein 3GT is a no brainer...

 

[Gusso]

Dang, looks like a beast!

 

[passedpawn]

that there is a brick sh1thouse. Wonder if it works?

 

[day_trippr]

That's a chunk for sure.

Are there no gap adjusters? Don't see any.
And what's with the peck marks?

[edit] I just realized there are no side plates? Really?

Cheers!

 

[GoeHaarden]

that there is a brick sh1thouse. Wonder if it works?

If not, it looks cool...

 

[GoeHaarden]

That's a chunk for sure.

Are there no gap adjusters? Don't see any.
And what's with the peck marks?

Cheers!

The gaps are actually indexed at 0.005" increments that actually click which is pretty cool. It's the rod with the bar through it. I think the pecks marks have something to do with gaping. I didn't have too much time to get to mess with it before going out of town.

 

[day_trippr]

Ah, gotcha. The picture angles make it tricky to see what those thumbscrews lined up with.
What are you going to drive that with?

Cheers!

 

[GoeHaarden]

[edit] I just realized there are no side plates? Really?

Are you talking about the side covers that are usually incorporated in the hopper??

What's the issue?

 

[gello22]

The peck marks look like someone ran a hardness test which is a little odd for the aluminum plates.

Looks like the rollers might be hardened.

 

[Tom R]

My C&S 3D has a single punch mark to indicate the middle detent position (line up the end of the roll pin with the mark).

It looks like this model has a series of marks to indicate the middle detent, and a single mark at the least gap setting, with a double mark at the greatest gap setting. If this is so, the photo shows the gap is set to detent "6".

 

[day_trippr]

Are you talking about the side covers that are usually incorporated in the hopper??

No. This is the first mill I have seen that doesn't have plates that connect the hunky end plates with the bearings, adjuster, etc, together...

Cheers!

 

[GoeHaarden]

Hmm. Do you have any example? Not sure I know what you're talking about then?

The MM and C&S mills have no such plates connecting the aluminum end plates...

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Is it me or better for the the gears be on the outside? Gears on the outside would possibly preventing chaff from getting into, and maybe clogging, the gears? I ask as I don't know.

@GoeHaarden thanks for taking the time to post pictures and info, but we still don't know the material of the rollers, the bushings, gap range, etc.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Are the gaps accurate?

 

[GoeHaarden]

Is it me or better for the the gears be on the outside? Gears on the outside would possibly preventing chaff from getting into, and maybe clogging, the gears? I ask as I don't know.

@GoeHaarden thanks for taking the time to post pictures and info, but we still don't know the material of the rollers, the bushings, gap range, etc.

I honestly doubt these gears will get clogged. The teeth are probably 1/4" deep and they are fairly thick, so I'm guessing they will pulverize any grain material. Nothing that I'm going to put through the mill is going to stop them, they are beefy. The commercial version 320G has been out and I found nothing but rave reviews on the pro forums. Surely an issue would've been found with the amount of grain they're putting through. The external gears on the MM look rather thin in comparison.

As to the materials question. I thought about this as well, but if you look at their mills they all run the same materials. I'm willing to bet money, and I did, that they use the same materials in the 3GT. It wouldn't make sense to source other materials for this one mill in their line-up. Fairly minimal risk in my opinion.

 

[GoeHaarden]

Are the gaps accurate?

Gaps are indeed accurate. Feelers lined up with the expected gap appropriately

 

[day_trippr]

Hmm. Do you have any example? Not sure I know what you're talking about then?
The MM and C&S mills have no such plates connecting the aluminum end plates...

Right - I guess I just missed that they didn't have side plates. I thought they were necessary for stability, apparently not.
Anyway, fwiw, here are some examples of mills that have the side plates...

Cereal Killer

Barley Crusher

Hullwrecker

Mighty Mill

etc...

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I honestly doubt these gears will get clogged. The teeth are probably 1/4" deep and they are fairly thick, so I'm guessing they will pulverize any grain material. Nothing that I'm going to put through the mill is going to stop them, they are beefy. The commercial version 320G has been out and I found nothing but rave reviews on the pro forums. Surely an issue would've been found with the amount of grain they're putting through. The external gears on the MM look rather thin in comparison.

As to the materials question. I thought about this as well, but if you look at their mills they all run the same materials. I'm willing to bet money, and I did, that they use the same materials in the 3GT. It wouldn't make sense to source other materials for this one mill in their line-up. Fairly minimal risk in my opinion.

A couple of weeks ago I emailed Crankstein asking about the roller material, bushings, etc. So far, no reply. IMO, not very good impression for an eager customer.

 

[Tom R]

A couple of weeks ago I emailed Crankstein asking about the roller material, bushings, etc. So far, no reply. IMO, not very good impression for an eager customer.

Just guessing, Tobor, but perhaps you didn't notice that although the "Contact Us" page of the website has a form, the text above the form says not to use it!

It's too bad that the website doesn't do his product justice.

 

[GoeHaarden]

A couple of weeks ago I emailed Crankstein asking about the roller material, bushings, etc. So far, no reply. IMO, not very good impression for an eager customer.

Looks like the page has been updated...

Crankandstein 3GT

Imagine that, the exact same specs as the other mills. Everyone can rest easy now...

 

[GoeHaarden]

A couple of weeks ago I emailed Crankstein asking about the roller material, bushings, etc. So far, no reply. IMO, not very good impression for an eager customer.

Like @Tom R mentioned, don't use the contact us as stated in the page.

When I saw your post I emailed them at 3:38pm and Don responded at 5:04pm. His response:

"The materials are the same as our other mills,
aluminum frames and crossrod, steel rollers and gears, tool steel driveshaft, SAE 841 bushings impregnated with motor oil. It's all rebuildable to last indefinitely. The design brings together the best features and materials from more than 20 years in the business. The knockoffs can't or won't be made as thoroughly thought out. Like any other competition, it's policy not to inform them of their mistakes by being too specific about specs. Rest assured you have the best.
Performance sells the product.
Don"

That's an impressive response time. Much faster than a lot of retailers on here. I'd say his customer service is top notch, and you won't be disappointed in any aspect. Just buy the damn 3GT already, lol...

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

@GoeHaarden Thanks for the mill info!

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Just guessing, Tobor, but perhaps you didn't notice that although the "Contact Us" page of the website has a form, the text above the form says not to use it!

It's too bad that the website doesn't do his product justice.

No, when I visited the site, Contact Us, I noted ' Please send any messages to [email protected] from your email instead of the Contact Us form below. " and sent a direct email.

 

[Tom R]

Well then, that sucks.
As a former small-business owner, I know what it's like to be buried in work.
But I still strove to answer all email within 24 hrs.

 

[GoeHaarden]

Tried to post a video but I guess mp4 is not supported here and then the file was too big when I converted it to a gif.

Does anyone know what video format/size is supported on HBT?

Anyways, put 10lbs of grain through the 3GT in a little under a minute. Not pushing it really, trying to dial in a speed with my corded yellow drill. Set the gap to .030" and it flew through it. I tested it before on 0.025" and it kind of scared me a little, torqued the whole wooden frame. Lol. I think I'll get one of those router speed controller for dialing it in. I'll get a video up next time if I can figure out what kind hbt allows and size limits.

Crush on one pass (0.030") in under a minute...

 

[mbg]

Tried to post a video but I guess mp4 is not supported here and then the file was too big when I converted it to a gif.

Does anyone know what video format/size is supported on HBT?

Anyways, put 10lbs of grain through the 3GT in a little under a minute. Not pushing it really, trying to dial in a speed with my corded yellow drill. Set the gap to .030" and it flew through it. I tested it before on 0.025" and it kind of scared me a little, torqued the whole wooden frame. Lol. I think I'll get one of those router speed controller for dialing it in. I'll get a video up next time if I can figure out what kind hbt allows and size limits.

Crush on one pass (0.030") in under a minute...

@GoeHaarden Thanks for the detailed info on this mill. I just ordered one! Do you have any pics of how you added a hopper to this mill - looking for ideas.

Thanks

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

What about sides for the 3GT?

 

[Tom R]

Not a 3GT, but I made sides and a hopper for my 3D.

The hopper is 3/8" hardwood plywood and 1/8" acrylic. It holds about 6-1/2# of grain, so I have to stop and refill. I usually use an aux handle (not shown) to avoid tweaking my wrist when milling, it takes some serious torque to run this mill when the gap is set tight.

The sides are more 1/8" acrylic. If the sides extended into the cutout, that dust wouldn't be there. But that was all that escapes after a typical 5 gal grain bill, so I'll probably leave it as is.

The circular base has a rabbet on both sides, one to center onto my MLT, and the other to center on a bucket for inverted storage.

 

[GoeHaarden]

@GoeHaarden Thanks for the detailed info on this mill. I just ordered one! Do you have any pics of how you added a hopper to this mill - looking for ideas.

Thanks

Mine isn't as elegant as @Tom R but it was something I put together quickly with repurposed materials and it works rather well. Used an old pvc reducing coupler that was already torn on the side I cut off. A few pieces of scrap plywood and acrylic for the sides like Tom. Had a better bottle that was cracked so I cut the bottom off. 12 pounds filled it a little under half way, and I bet it'll easily hold 25lbs.

I plan to make a little cabinet/cart for it but for now I'm kind of digging the frankenstein feel of it to match the mill.

One thing to note, is that this mill is a beast and the rollers will NOT slip. That being said, if it gets packed your drill will torque hard with a tight gap. 0.025" scares me a little so I've jist stuck with 0.030 for now. I suggest securing the whole system. I hose clamped my drill to the plywood and it works.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Not a 3GT, but I made sides and a hopper for my 3D.

View attachment 739487
The hopper is 3/8" hardwood plywood and 1/8" acrylic. It holds about 6-1/2# of grain, so I have to stop and refill. I usually use an aux handle (not shown) to avoid tweaking my wrist when milling, it takes some serious torque to run this mill when the gap is set tight.

View attachment 739488
The sides are more 1/8" acrylic. If the sides extended into the cutout, that dust wouldn't be there. But that was all that escapes after a typical 5 gal grain bill, so I'll probably leave it as is.

The circular base has a rabbet on both sides, one to center onto my MLT, and the other to center on a bucket for inverted storage.

I like the acrylic sides as this allows one to see what's going on (if there is an issue inside).