Grain mill

[Bus1012]

Who has a great and easy DIY grain mill setup?

 

[IslandLizard]

Do a search, there are plenty of them. From simple to elaborate to beautiful.

 

[grampamark]

Mill, bucket, cordless drill. Doesn't get much easier than that.

 

[day_trippr]

Epic motorized mill thread here

Cheers!

 

[Bus1012]

But, what is a good grain crusher to get or build your own?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Corona mill, see link in my signature. $25 - $30 bucks can’t be beat “for the money”.

Lots of more expensive options that perform similarly jmo

I also have a kegco 3 roller aka MM3 clone, both work well, honestly not much difference in crush.

Search eBay for “corn grinder”
$18 shipped

 

[kh54s10]

I used the Corona Style (or corn mill) for 7 1/2 years. I recently got the Cereal Killer from Adventures in Homebrewing. It is $99 on sale now.

I don't think many try to DIY a mill. It is beyond the average persons ability to machine something like that. Lack of equipment. And buying the parts in low quantities probably make the cost way higher than just buying one.

 

[bfbrewer]

I made a concrete, single roller mill. Works well. One of those prototype projects.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I made a concrete, single roller mill. Works well. One of those prototype projects.View attachment 606594View attachment 606595

That’s impressive!
Did you cast it true to form or grind it true?

 

[bfbrewer]

That’s impressive!
Did you cast it true to form or grind it true?

I ground it down to true it up when it was still a bit green. Been meaning to cast a nice round one but never got around to it.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Ah smart truing while green....didn’t think that way good on you

 

[Edward's Beer Cellar]

My homemade mill constructed of various pieces of castoff junk that has found it's way into my shop. It's still a work-in-progress but has milled grain for my last 20+ brews. The roller that you can see is a piece of 1 7/8" tailpipe with steel ends welded in. The other is a 3" diameter 35 pound solid steel roller. The disparate roller sizes and speeds seem to pull the grains into the crusher quite well. Motor, pulleys, etc from a discarded washing machine. Definitely not OSHA approved.

 

[mongoose33]

Lots of different price points depending on your needs and budget.

Cheapest? Probably the corona mill. Lots of people use that.

Next is something like the Cereal Killer. About $99, same deal as @grampamark showed above in post #3.

Or you can go higher yet with something like the Monster Mills, which come in 2- and 3-roller versions. Roughly $139-$250 depending on options and how bare-bones it is. Various ways to motorize them.

Here's my monster mill setup; I made the cart as my DIY project, coupled the MM to an All American Aleworks motor.

 

[Stand]

I'm wondering if this might work for a grain mill: https://www.amazon.com/ELECTRIC-SCO...cooter+motor&qid=1556216313&s=gateway&sr=8-12

I was thinking about trying to buy a used electric scooter off craigs list (I see them all the time) and cannibalizing it to motorize my mill.

 

[IslandLizard]

I'm wondering if this might work for a grain mill: https://www.amazon.com/ELECTRIC-SCO...cooter+motor&qid=1556216313&s=gateway&sr=8-12

I was thinking about trying to buy a used electric scooter off craigs list (I see them all the time) and cannibalizing it to motorize my mill.

What kind of mill? Do you know the rpm of those motors?
You'd still need a gearbox or sheaves + belt, a plug-in power source or a battery (that needs to be charged).

A Heavy Duty Low Speed drill at Harbor Freight runs for less than $50, with the right coupons and sale discounts. Works great with my MM2.

 

[kh54s10]

What kind of mill? Do you know the rpm of those motors?
You'd still need a gearbox or sheaves + belt, a plug-in power source or a battery (that needs to be charged).

A Heavy Duty Low Speed drill at Harbor Freight runs for less than $50, with the right coupons and sale discounts. Works great with my MM2.

Yes, a lot of extra components to make that work. Probably would, but a lot of work figuring out belts and pulleys, and or gears to get the right speed.... That said I have a Harbor Freight Drill and would love to go with a motor set up.

 

[IslandLizard]

That said I have a Harbor Freight Drill and would love to go with a motor set up.

Understandable, sure!

Here's the 'motor' I use:

 

[Stand]

What kind of mill? Do you know the rpm of those motors?
You'd still need a gearbox or sheaves + belt, a plug-in power source or a battery (that needs to be charged).

A Heavy Duty Low Speed drill at Harbor Freight runs for less than $50, with the right coupons and sale discounts. Works great with my MM2.

Makes sense. I have a 2 roller Barley Crusher mill. I was hoping to make something that would be integrated and would be more than just an upgrade to my drill. The drill I use now has worked well except that it spins too fast.

It also seems like a fun problem to solve, and if I can find a decent motor for free I will likely go that route.

Cheers!