Crush it yourself = +15% efficiency

[Rentachik]

I know it has been hammered out on here before, but... I just scored a corona type mill from the web. Crushed my grain my self. I saw a 15% increase in efficiency without any other changes. Just changeing the way my grain was crushed got me to almost 80%. I brewed 4 batches yesterday and had consistant results.

Best way to spend $30 bucks. Should pay for itself after a few more brews. I have been having my LHBS mill my grain and had been consistently getting 60-65% efficiency. I couldn't really figure out why? Tried all different things. So I figured I'd break down and buy a mill. That did the trick.

Linky to mill:
http://www.amazon.com/Weston-Cereal-and-Multi-Grain-Mill/dp/B000T3ML4G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305489473&sr=8-1

 

[blkandrust]

Nice.I believe they do this intentionally so you will purchase more grain.How fine did you crush? The reason I ask is because I tried crushing mine a little finer than usual today in hopes of raising efficiency.I wound up getting my first stuck sparge.Ooooppps,a little to fine perhaps.

 

[Rentachik]

We had the LHBS crush one of the batches so we had a "reference" point so to speak. Then we just dialed the mill in untill we visually started crushing a little finer. We ran everything throught the mill, 2 row, oatmeal, wheat... You name it. We were able to get a 1.082 batch out of a 5 gallon igloo mash tun. That is the highest we have ever got without adding sugar. Even after milling the oatmeal, we did not get a stuck sparge.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

According to at least one vendor here, the coarse crush is not a marketing trick. The intent is to prevent stuck sparges. Not all systems can handle a fine crush.

 

[blkandrust]

According to at least one vendor here, the coarse crush is not a marketing trick. The intent is to prevent stuck sparges. Not all systems can handle a fine crush.

Makes sense.I could have used a more course crush myself,this morning.lol.

 

[skyebrewing]

Using corona mill and water adjustments I jumped from 73 to 89% I grind pretty fine but use a 36" braid wrapped around the bottom of my cooler. Sometimes it drains slow, but no stuck sparge since moving up from a 12" braid