Grain Mills..... Best one, Why?

[bracconiere]

I just picked up the drill. It smoked on first firing it up (literally firing it up, I guess) but then went away after letting it run for a minute.

I don’t think I would ever put a dimmer switch on it, as that seems like a sure way to kill it even quicker. Rather, I think I will ziptie the trigger to where it produces the correct RPM then kill the power with a surge strip for turning it on/off.

What’s the consensus on starting the motor with the hopper full of grain versus empty? My assumption is to start the motor with the hopper empty, then pour in the grains. That’s how we did it at the LHBS.

i got the one with the varible speed lock trigger.....

 

[Smellyglove]

I would in any case at the very least refrain from milling wheat malt with it.
Personally, I've come to the conclusion (the hard way) that these motors are at best a stop-gap measure...

I'm gonna load it up with a hefe-grist as soon as I get the chance to do so, and the next batch, and probably the third batch too. If it breaks down I want to know it as fast as possible if this is rubbish so I can upgrade.

Heck. Even if I know I''ll not be brewing for a while I'll get some wheatmalt from a friend of mine and just test it.

 

[Vale71]

You into SM much?

 

[Smellyglove]

You into SM much?

I'm into Hefeweizen much.

 

[Smellyglove]

Better to test it while not brewing, than to have it fail while trying to brew.

 

[jrgtr42]

I'm sort of looking into getting a mill.
Not looking to spend a ton for the 4 - 6 batches a year I do.
I got an email from Austin Homebrew with one called the Crop Duster.
Anyone have any experience with this one or any opinions?
Sale for $80, normally $90. Is it worth the extra 20 or so bucks for the Cereal Killer? I don't think I can swing the Malt Muncher past SWMBO.

 

[Nate R]

I'm sort of looking into getting a mill.
Not looking to spend a ton for the 4 - 6 batches a year I do.
I got an email from Austin Homebrew with one called the Crop Duster.
Anyone have any experience with this one or any opinions?
Sale for $80, normally $90. Is it worth the extra 20 or so bucks for the Cereal Killer? I don't think I can swing the Malt Muncher past SWMBO.

Crop Duster? I think it is worth it just for the name!
I do not have any experience with either, sorry.
Keep an eye on Northern Brewer and their occasional 20% off... I also like it 'cause there's no sales tax for me.

 

[day_trippr]

First I've read of that model mill. Interestingly it's engraved with "Malt Master" - and is being sold as such elsewhere.

The mill doesn't look bad at all. The side plates are considerably thicker than many of the consumer grade mills out there, the knobs for the adjustment lock-downs are an upgrade from winged screws, and the adjusters have engraved references that may be handy once the marks are correlated against a feeler gauge.

No mention of bearings vs bushings. Or if the drive shaft is suitable for motorization. And is type 304 stainless steel harder than cold rolled carbon steel?

Cheers!

 

[NGD]

Crop Duster? I think it is worth it just for the name!
I do not have any experience with either, sorry.
Keep an eye on Northern Brewer and their occasional 20% off... I also like it 'cause there's no sales tax for me.

I wanna know that hat trick.

Crop Duster is almost as bad a name as the Soylent food company. Keep expecting to see www.theonion.com at the top of the page

 

[augiedoggy]

the stainless rollers are great if your going to condition your grain first.. otherwise its softer and will wear faster but with only beng used 6-8 times a year you dont have to worry about wear. otherwise it looks pretty nice.. and the price is cheaper than the ones being sold under the original malt master name like here from affordable distilling.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Malt-Master-Grain-Mill-Brewing-and-Distilling-7lb-Capacity-/273788437839

 

[Dland]

Anyone using a Malt Muncher 3? I see they are inexpensive but have roller bearings instead of bushings. Monster mill 3 is back ordered where I shop & I don't want to go back to my corona at this point. Need something soonish.

My barely crusher gave me a lot of grief today. I reversed the rollers to get more use out of it, but still stops working, drill needs to be reversed to re engage etc. About 1,000# grain though it, rollers visibly worn.

If they were available to ship today, I'd consider buying one of those slick SS Brewtec rigs for big bucks, the failing mill got my brew day off to a bad start and it only got worse. Made me want a quality rig..(I did end up with good wort in fermentor in end, but jeesh, long day).

I use a lot of rye malt and some wheat, I think it is harder than barely malt and has dulled the rollers.

 

[augiedoggy]

Anyone using a Malt Muncher 3? I see they are inexpensive but have roller bearings instead of bushings. Monster mill 3 is back ordered where I shop & I don't want to go back to my corona at this point. Need something soonish.

My barely crusher gave me a lot of grief today. I reversed the rollers to get more use out of it, but still stops working, drill needs to be reversed to re engage etc. About 1,000# grain though it, rollers visibly worn.

If they were available to ship today, I'd consider buying one of those slick SS Brewtec rigs for big bucks, the failing mill got my brew day off to a bad start and it only got worse. Made me want a quality rig..(I did end up with good wort in fermentor in end, but jeesh, long day).

I use a lot of rye malt and some wheat, I think it is harder than barely malt and has dulled the rollers.

yes anyone using the kegco 3 roller like myself also has the same mill as the ones branded as malt munchier 3 mills.. they are the exact same product only branded and distributed with likely a different warranty under a different price (to pay for said warranty and advertising.) They are also sold under another brand name I cant think of at the moment for more $$

We have put over 4 thousand pounds of malt through our kegco 3 roller at my brewpub where I have it setup with a motor on a cart.. it has been maintenance free thus far and works like new. It gets used every week for 3bbl brews. Best $150 Mill I ever bought.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

A question from a potential MoreBeer purchaser "Can anyone confirm if this model has ball bearings or if it has bronze bushings?"

 

[imasickboy]

Anyone using a Malt Muncher 3? I see they are inexpensive but have roller bearings instead of bushings. Monster mill 3 is back ordered where I shop & I don't want to go back to my corona at this point. Need something soonish.

My barely crusher gave me a lot of grief today. I reversed the rollers to get more use out of it, but still stops working, drill needs to be reversed to re engage etc. About 1,000# grain though it, rollers visibly worn.

If they were available to ship today, I'd consider buying one of those slick SS Brewtec rigs for big bucks, the failing mill got my brew day off to a bad start and it only got worse. Made me want a quality rig..(I did end up with good wort in fermentor in end, but jeesh, long day).

I use a lot of rye malt and some wheat, I think it is harder than barely malt and has dulled the rollers.

It's not often that I recommend NB, but right now you can score a MM2 for $160. Use the code BREWYEAR at checkout. I replaced my corona with one a year or two ago during the same 20% off sale, and I'm very happy.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Any mill, follow the directions and properly set the roller gap.

 

[Dave Sarber]

The kegco 3 roller mill has stainless ball bearings. $198 on Amazon right now, but with no base!

 

[augiedoggy]

A question from a potential MoreBeer purchaser "Can anyone confirm if this model has ball bearings or if it has bronze bushings?"

I have researched this topic extensively and am 100% sure the the malt munchier 3 is the kegco three roller, made in the same chinese factory as the cereal killer aka maltmunchier 2 roller and kegco 2 roller mill. IT IS the 3 roller version of the bullet proof cereal killer. I own both mills along with a MM3 we have in case we ever need a backup for the kegco 3 roller at the brewpub, (CK is my mill at home)
The MM2 is economically made by comparison with bronze bushings which will wear out long before the sealed ball bearing would. this is why the ball bearings are an expensive option through MM on their pro pulley driven option mills.

I'm going to repeat myself here and point out I paid $150 shipped for my kegco 3 roller and have brewed with it for just about a year now milling an average of $200lbs of grain a week and the knurling on the rollers still looks new. The rollers are hardened steel unlike some others (Barley crusher).

 

[augiedoggy]

The kegco 3 roller mill has stainless ball bearings. $198 on Amazon right now, but with no base!

well its $183 right now with a bucket fitting base and free shipping from the retailer which had them branded as thier own kegco brand.
https://www.beveragefactory.com/homebrew/pre-fermentation-equipment/kegco-km11gm-3r-grain-mill.html

BTW the mm3 extended hopper and base bolt right up to this mill.

 

[augiedoggy]

They are also sold as the "mega mill" here,
https://www.nybrewsupply.com/collec...cts/3-roller-mega-mill?variant=14544667934764
and the "Ibrew" mill here
https://www.ibrew.com.au/products/3-roller-grain-mill-1

Or this store brand, (notice the same incorrectly assembled hopper pics sused by the beverage factory and williams brerwing a while back.
https://www.triplejhomebrew.com.au/3-roller-mill-for-barley-grain-home-brew.html

I could go on all day to prove this point,
http://www.zeppy.io/discover/us/barley-mill-3-roller

some of the sellers assembled it upside down to throw people off who are looking it seems,
https://qatar.desertcart.com/produc...ll-barley-crusher-malt-grain-for-home-brewing

This brand name is used a lot on aliexpress, I own some generic taps that use this brand.
https://www.slideshare.net/sfdsvear...inder3-rollers-wheat-crusher-sturdy-pine-wood
Which while we are at it lets share all the different suppliers on aliexpress that sell these,
https://www.aliexpress.com/af/3-rol...+mill&catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20191229180404


In fact you too can buy a pallet of these mills on alibaba and repackage them as any brand mill you would like... The factory will even lazer etch your own name brand and logo in them if you pay enough as 2 brands now including kegco and the new 2 roller "hull wrecker" version is now sold with. (There was a third brand that I cant find that was being sold with hullwrecker stickers over the etching for a while I think this branding failed before it got off the ground )

Heres a wooden base cheap,
http://www.dsia.co.uk/mills-cds-40_...w-acessories-3030-cm-alwyazmjwa-pds-4066.html

and heres an example of what looks to bethe 2 roller version for $45 shipped! (I havent verified if its a legit seller or if this is tha same mill as the CK)
https://www.kumarkets.com/stainless...brew-crusher-grinder-mill-grain-malt-ferroday

 

[Dave Sarber]

Well, looks like NYbrewsupply has the best price, depending on shipping? That second one is from Australia, and I don't even want to contemplate shipping and time.

 

[Blazinlow86]

Delete pls

 

[augiedoggy]

I and alot of others had bad luck with chinese mills and the rollers wearing out quickly. I'd go with a monster mill personally if money's not a huge concern. Some will make a big deal that the bushings in the monster mill will wear out faster than the bearings in the Chinese mill and therefore the kego etc mills are better but i would rather replace the 5$ bushings many years down the road instead of having to buy another mill when the rollers wear out once again. To each there own though. I'm a buy once cry once kinda guy at this point. Cheers

The rollers on these ball bearing mills have only one report by anyone wearing out that Ive ever seen and that was your second hand report of your brewing friend having the issue not you unless something changed? What mill was it you had exactly? because I dont think you knew which one your friend had last time which makes me think it was actually a BC.
I remember you comment pretty well because it sounded biased against chinese made stuff in general you then stated the mm3 was only a few dollars more than kegco... The kegco mill has only gone up in price since its release and the mm3 has come down to $189 for just the incomplete main body or $265+ shipping for the complete mill as sold by others
I'm not trying to be argumentative here but you have made the vague claim about the rollers before when I mentioned I actually use my mill for commercial use and the rollers are holding up perfectly.
Where are the "lot of others" with this issue? Maybe you can point me to the reports or threads on this? All I seem to find are complaints about the "american made" Barley crusher? (like @Dland experience above BTW) The cereal killer mill is one of the most widely used mills here and I have yet to see reports of the rollers wearing out. I seen one report someone made of damaged bearings.. one, and that person replaced them and kept the mill.
Most complaints were resolved with the owners learning how to properly adjust the gap without binding. just go to any of the kegco mill threads or even the cereal killer mill threads and you will find positive experiences reported

The american made rollers on the barley crusher are the only rollers I know of with a common reported problem of being too soft. all anyone has to do is a search here on grain mills and you will see most of the other mills sold are fairly bullet proof

Since I have a brand new mm3 as well as the kegco Ive already put 4,000lbs though maybe I should swap them out and see how well the mm3 actually holds up in heavy use?

 

[Dave Sarber]

I just ordered the kegco 3 roller from amazon. $198 with free shipping. I have a 2 roller barley crusher now, but I'm ready for an upgrade. Ill take bearings over bushings any day. Regarding the rollers, they are carbon steel or stainless steel. The stainless looks pretty and won't rust, but is much softer than carbon steel. Pay attention to the product description, personally, I wouldn't buy any mill, bushing/bearing, 2/3 roller, that had stainless rollers. I'd like someone to show me a carbon steel roller that wore out from grinding grain. If someone damages a carbon steel roller, they probably have gravel in their grain.

 

[augiedoggy]

I just ordered the kegco 3 roller from amazon. $198 with free shipping. I have a 2 roller barley crusher now, but I'm ready for an upgrade. Ill take bearings over bushings any day. Regarding the rollers, they are carbon steel or stainless steel. The stainless looks pretty and won't rust, but is much softer than carbon steel. Pay attention to the product description, personally, I wouldn't buy any mill, bushing/bearing, 2/3 roller, that had stainless rollers. I'd like someone to show me a carbon steel roller that wore out from grinding grain.

Normally I would agree with you but I should point out,

The barley crusher was actually advertised as having carbon steel rollers (as well as being american made) and there are literally dozens of threads here talking about people having to send thier mills back for new roller multiple times in some cases.

 

[Dave Sarber]

Normally I would agree with you but I should point out,

The barley crusher was actually advertised as having carbon steel rollers (as well as being american made) and there are literally dozens of threads here talking about people having to send thier mills back for new roller multiple times in some cases.

Well, that's what I have now, with carbon rollers, and other than being a little discolored, they look brand new and sharp. My shaft, OTOH, where I attach my drill motor, is getting scarred up from the crappy Chuck on my drill. The kegco has a "triangular" shaft to stop the Chuck from slipping. The bigger hopper on the kegco is a plus also. I checked out all the specs and pics, and it seems to be very well made.

 

[augiedoggy]

Well, that's what I have now, with carbon rollers, and other than being a little discolored, they look brand new and sharp. My shaft, OTOH, where I attach my drill motor, is getting scarred up from the crappy Chuck on my drill. The kegco has a "triangular" shaft to stop the Chuck from slipping. The bigger hopper on the kegco is a plus also. I checked out all the specs and pics, and it seems to be very well made.

curious here, how much use do you have on your BC and how old is it? every time I here a report like this from a BC owner I wonder if there was a point were BC used better quality rollers or if they changed them due to complaints. Either way its useful info to know.

I do find it odd that the beverage factory would choose to sell them for more $ on amazon without the base than they do on thier own site with the base... maybe you can mention that and get them to throw in the base? its the same base Northern brewer offers on their 2 roll version (hullwrecker).

 

[Dave Sarber]

I should also point out that carbon steel is not a guarantee of hardness, that depends on the heat treatment. A low heat treat is still somewhat soft and ductile, and fairly easy to machine. A higher heat treat makes it much harder, but brittle. (Think about your shaft snapping off). The manufacturer has to make a choice between hardness and ductility. Maybe mine is one of the good ones.

 

[Dave Sarber]

curious here, how much use do you have on your BC and how old is it? every time I here a report like this from a BC owner I wonder if there was a point were BC used better quality rollers or if they changed them due to complaints. Either way its useful info to know.

I do find it odd that the beverage factory would choose to sell them for more $ on amazon without the base than they do on thier own site with the base... maybe you can mention that and get them to throw in the base? its the same base Northern brewer offers on their 2 roll version (hullwrecker).

I do woodworking also, so the base is no problem, in fact, I recently made a new base for the barley crusher. (I hate particleboard for any purpose!) I've had the barley crusher for about 2 years, but I got it secondhand from my brother, and he had it for 6 or 7 years.

 

[passedpawn]

Well, that's what I have now, with carbon rollers, and other than being a little discolored, they look brand new and sharp. My shaft, OTOH, where I attach my drill motor, is getting scarred up from the crappy Chuck on my drill. The kegco has a "triangular" shaft to stop the Chuck from slipping. The bigger hopper on the kegco is a plus also. I checked out all the specs and pics, and it seems to be very well made.

Have you considered grinding a flat onto the shaft? I have loads of circular grooves caused by my drill chuck slipping on the shaft - I've procrastinated grinding a flat on mine, but maybe tomorrow .

 

[Dave Sarber]

Have you considered grinding a flat onto the shaft? I have loads of circular grooves caused by my drill chuck slipping on the shaft - I've procrastinated grinding a flat on mine, but maybe tomorrow .

Yeah, I thought about it, but I'd have to take it apart, not a big deal, but I felt an upgrade was due. I'll probably pass on the BC to some struggling noob.