Grain Mill adjustments (CnS vs. MM)

[roycroft]

Hi, folks.

I'm about ready to replace my old Corona mill, which has served me well but is becoming a bit too worn to mill accurately any more. I've been researching mills for quite a while, and I'm down to deciding between a 3 roller Crankandstein and a 3 roller Monster Mill.

First, I've read some negative reviews of the machining on the Monster Mill, but they weren't recent. Have the quality improved on those? (Or, was it ever a real problem?)

Second, my main concern is about ease of adjustment. I use different size grains all the time (wheat + barley in the same brew being extremely common), and would like a mill that I can quickly and easily reset to known gaps without having to use feeler gauges. The C&S mills have detents every0.005", and that seems like a good setup, if they work properly.

So what I'm asking is for folks who have either mill to give some feedback on how well the respective gap setting mechanisms work. I'm a machinist, and if neither works all that well I'm sure I can come up with something, but I prefer to spend my time brewing and not reinventing the wheel.

Thanks!

 

[Hugh_Jass]

Hi, folks.

I'm about ready to replace my old Corona mill, which has served me well but is becoming a bit too worn to mill accurately any more. I've been researching mills for quite a while, and I'm down to deciding between a 3 roller Crankandstein and a 3 roller Monster Mill.

First, I've read some negative reviews of the machining on the Monster Mill, but they weren't recent. Have the quality improved on those? (Or, was it ever a real problem?)

Second, my main concern is about ease of adjustment. I use different size grains all the time (wheat + barley in the same brew being extremely common), and would like a mill that I can quickly and easily reset to known gaps without having to use feeler gauges. The C&S mills have detents every0.005", and that seems like a good setup, if they work properly.

So what I'm asking is for folks who have either mill to give some feedback on how well the respective gap setting mechanisms work. I'm a machinist, and if neither works all that well I'm sure I can come up with something, but I prefer to spend my time brewing and not reinventing the wheel.

Thanks!

I've the c/s 320d. Turn two thumb screws, rotate the adjustment mechanism, tighten the thumb screws. Easy, peezy, Japaneezy.

Can't speak for the mm

 

[roycroft]

Thanks for the response. Do you find the detents work well for repeatably indexing the roller gap? The Crankandstein is the only mill I've seen that has them, and if they do work well it's a deal clincher. I would wonder, though, why other mills don't have them.

 

[Hugh_Jass]

Thanks for the response. Do you find the detents work well for repeatably indexing the roller gap? The Crankandstein is the only mill I've seen that has them, and if they do work well it's a deal clincher. I would wonder, though, why other mills don't have them.

I have only owned the mil a short time, but have noticed no problem with the adjustments. I've probably adjusted the gap ~10 times

 

[jammin]

I went with a MM3 2.0 due to the feeling I got from talking with them over the phone. MM seemed a lot more friendly. CnS came across very smug. I had a hard time setting my mill up and MM stayed on the phone with me and walked me through the entire process. They also told me (after I bought it) that I could send it back at any time if I was not happy. Can't beat that.

cheers

 

[hammertoed]

Have C/S, Its a great mill, researched and tried others my friends have. Contacted C/S answered all my questions, was a very good experience overall and made my choice, easy to adjust, easy to put together. Have no complaints

 

[Zen_Brew]

I have the monster MM2. There are no global quality issues I am aware of. Any product made will have an out flyer here and there, and that is where customer service comes in. I have read pretty good things about both companies. I have never used a CnS so can not speak to the repeatability or accuracy of the detent adjustment. The monster mill does not have a detent adjustment, however you can get feeler gauges on line or at car shops pretty cheap. I wouldn't let that be such a deciding factor as you are looking at a couple bucks most. It gives you the piece of mind of being able to double check, or of setting custom gaps for different size grains like wheat. So feeler gauges are useful for either mill I would think. I think you will likely be happy with either one.