Fake a grain mill?

[captianoats]

So I drank some beer (surprise) and ordered a few kits from Ausinhomebrew. Anyways, I accidentally clicked the unmilled grain option on one of my brews. Anybody know how I could "mill" 12 lbs of grain without buying a grain mill? So far my ideas include:

1. rolling pin
2. food processor
3. hit with a big hammer (sounds fun)

Any ideas?

 

[HexKrak]

Big hammer/rolling pin are you better options. You want to fracture and crush not chop. I've seen starter kits that require taking a rolling pin to the grain, so there's probably some good info out there on that one.

 

[Gregscsu]

Find some one near by with a mill. Crushing 12lbs with a rolling pin sounds like two hours of hell.

 

[Revvy]

None of those would be optimal. Another option is the modded 20 dollar pasta machine from Michael's Arts and Crafts, plenty of folks are getting great efficiencies with them as well. There is a great thread about that here as well. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/using-pasta-maker-mill-grain-75784/

You may not have the ability to do serious knurling on the rollers, but you might be able to do a good enough job roughing them up with a drill to get you through the 12 pounds.

That is a lot of grain to do by any of those other methods, it's one thing to do a pound or two for a partial mash, where you are still getting the bulk of your fermentables and your efficiency from extract. But all grain? You will probably end up with half the og you were shooting for with either of those 3 methods.

 

[Legin]

Find some one near by with a mill. Crushing 12lbs with a rolling pin sounds like two hours of hell.

Agreed. It took me about 10 minutes to properly (or rather, not properly) crush just 1lb. This was using a rubber mallet. Also, your crush may end up too fine or you may end up with a fair amount of grain that was not cracked at all.

 

[sudbuster]

So I drank some beer (surprise) and ordered a few kits from Ausinhomebrew. Anyways, I accidentally clicked the unmilled grain option on one of my brews. Anybody know how I could "mill" 12 lbs of grain without buying a grain mill? So far my ideas include:

1. rolling pin
2. food processor
3. hit with a big hammer (sounds fun)

Any ideas?

There is an old thread and my experiment with this HERE post 23.

 

[DrinksWellWithOthers]

If you just placed the order I'd call them and explain to them the situation. Perhaps the order hasn't been picked, packed, shipped, etc and they'll be able to help you out.

 

[blizzard]

+1 to check with AHS and see if they can add milling to your order.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I'd look at the blender or food processor, or perhaps one of those stick blender things, I know not ideal, but 12 lbs w/ a hammer or rolling pin...not for me thanks.

I have heard people say a blender / food processor gives decent real world results....have also heard people who have never tried it say that it cuts the grain rather than crushing and terrible things will result....this is an emergency situation here people.

 

[rico567]

Before I'd crush 12 lbs. with a rolling pin or mallet (??!?!??), I'd ship it back to 'em, pay the return freight, and ask to have it crushed.

 

[AviatorTroy]

Before I'd crush 12 lbs. with a rolling pin or mallet (??!?!??), I'd ship it back to 'em, pay the return freight, and ask to have it crushed.

^^^ +1 and DONE!

 

[TheCarnie]

Do you not have any locals who can help you out with their mill?

 

[samc]

#2 would be my emergency choice and then place the grains/powder into a fine mesh nylon or Voile bag. If you pulse the processor you should be able to get a usable crush.

Of course call them would be the best bet if they can catch the order. An on the ball order filler person would probably contact you with a question about it.

 

[captianoats]

Yeah, I didn't notice it until I opened the box, so it's too late to ask them to fix it before they ship.

I think I'll toss a handfull in the food processor and see what happens. If it looks good I'll go with it. If not, I've only got a small amount chopped up. If it doesn't work, I guess it's hammer time!

 

[HossTheGreat]

I'm suprised Revvy didn't mention this since he started the thread, but check this out.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-ugly-junk-corona-mill-station-90849/

A corona style mill can be had on ebay for $25 shipped. I bought mine from discount tommy. It does a great job and so far I've milled 100+ lbs of grain through it without any problems. I'm getting about 75% effeciency with mine...I know others who get even better.

 

[Revvy]

I'm suprised Revvy didn't mention this since he started the thread, but check this out.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-ugly-junk-corona-mill-station-90849/

A corona style mill can be had on ebay for $25 shipped. I bought mine from discount tommy. It does a great job and so far I've milled 100+ lbs of grain through it without any problems. I'm getting about 75% effeciency with mine...I know others who get even better.

I didn't mention it because it wasn't a "quick solution." Going to michaels to get a pasta machine and roughing up the rollers with a drill is one thing, that can be done in an hour or so, but tracking down a corona is a little different. Unless there's a place like discount tommys around, you can't get a corn mill too easily.