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

[Blazinlow86]

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[Blazinlow86]

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?

No need to rehash this debate once again as it's pointless at this point. I borrowed my friends beverage factory/ kegco version when my barley crusher rollers stopped grabbing and had the same issue. I bought a monster mill and so far it's great. Maybe the bushings will wear out but that's no big deal imho. As with anything people have different experiences. Maybe yours was made before or after my buddies and its better for whatever reason. Maybe they all aren't exactly the same. And who knows maybe the rollers will wear out on the monster mill to. Cheers

 

[Dland]

Malt muncher 3 is $150, but when I went to order it is back ordered "until early January".

I inquired about delay for fancy new ss brewtec mill & was told "sometime January" turns out it is made in china too. I do like the look of the rollers though, looks like they crush better than knurled rollers. I guess they can do that 'cause it is belt driven.

I should be able to get a few more batches out of barley crusher. Going to wait to order whatever new mill when it is in stock.

I'm sure I could make one if had too,... if ships from china stopped or something...{;

 

[Dave Sarber]

I cancelled the kegco 3 roller from Amazon, and reordered from BF. Saved $50. With all the discounts and free shipping BF is offering right now, $160 out the door.

 

[smata67]

I got the Malt Muncher 3 from MoreBeer earlier this year. It is selling for $150 right now, but on back order until January. I've only put about 100 lbs through it thus far, but am very pleased with the purchase. It holds its settings just fine and has basically given me no hassle at all. I figured if I had issues MB would stand behind it. I do like the 3 roller concept, particularly because I intend on running primarily European malts through it. The fixed .060 in the first pass takes care of these plumper grains no problem. I read about people having issues with the Viking Malts (though I have found that other European malts have these larger grain sizes also), but have had no problems at all with them. Highly recommended at this point.

 

[sikkingj]

I use the JSP Maly Mill - it is great, but I just checked out their page today and it seems they have suffered a fire that destroyed their facilities and are no longer in business. I have a Malt Mill adjustable mill and it is great. I've had it for 5+ years and it still works great.

All of that to say, if you can get your hands on a Maly Mill buy it - it is a lifetime piece of equipment.

 

[passedpawn]

I use the JSP Maly Mill - it is great, but I just checked out their page today and it seems they have suffered a fire that destroyed their facilities and are no longer in business. I have a Malt Mill adjustable mill and it is great. I've had it for 5+ years and it still works great.

All of that to say, if you can get your hands on a Maly Mill buy it - it is a lifetime piece of equipment.

Well I'll be darned... I just verified.

Jack Schmidling has been making those for a loooong time. I have one that I believe was case-hardened (I bought it from a commercial enterprise that was upgrading).

 

[Robert65]

Well I'll be darned... I just verified.

Jack Schmidling has been making those for a loooong time. I have one that I believe was case-hardened (I bought it from a commercial enterprise that was upgrading).

Jack had gone out of business years ago, long before the fire. He retired, had no one to take over the business, and so stopped manufacturing or selling new equipment (or any of the other supplies he sold, like cheese making stuff,) but LHBS could still occasionally get replacement parts he had lying around. The fire wiped that out too.

The JSP Malt Mill was indeed the best available in its time. It was fun in its way, as you pretty much had to build out as you liked from the bare bones mill he produced, unless you actually found the janky little hopper and crank appealing. But the mill itself was superb.

When mine finally needed replacement, I got the Monster MM2 Pro, with the 2 inch rollers. I was impressed with how far homebrew mill technology has come since the introduction of the JSP. I'd highly recommend this one. Sadly, some of the mills available don't seem to rise even to the level of the old JSP Malt Mill, taking a step backward.

 

[passedpawn]

Jack had gone out of business years ago, long before the fire. He retired, had no one to take over the business, and so stopped manufacturing or selling new equipment (or any of the other supplies he sold, like cheese making stuff,) but LHBS could still occasionally get replacement parts he had lying around. The fire wiped that out too.

The JSP Malt Mill was indeed the best available in its time. It was fun in its way, as you pretty much had to build out as you liked from the bare bones mill he produced, unless you actually found the janky little hopper and crank appealing. But the mill itself was superb.

When mine finally needed replacement, I got the Monster MM2 Pro, with the 2 inch rollers. I was impressed with how far homebrew mill technology has come since the introduction of the JSP. I'd highly recommend this one. Sadly, some of the mills available don't seem to rise even to the level of the old JSP Malt Mill, taking a step backward.

The rollers on mine are still as good as the day I bought it, and it was old and quite used at that time. I don't know why these rollers have lasted so long and others (barley crusher) seem to have issues shortly after being put into service. The rest of the mill though is quite poor - the masonite/pressboard body and hopper. I was considering building a full new assy around the metal roller box, and then motor/coupling etc. Instead, I think I'm just going to buy a full motorized mill and pass this one on to the next guy.

Regarding his cheese press, it would work but I'd never recommend that style. The dutch style, which is a large lever arm upon which one can hang weights, is superior in that it allows controlled force on the cheese. For the casual cheesemaker, any improvised weights will work as a cheese press. Cheese enthusiasts will ultimately end up with the dutch style, so it's the correct one to buy first.

Jack Schmidling seems to have been around and active in the community for a long time. I've always gotten a kick out of this early post from John Palmer on the legendary Homebrewing Digest. But you'll see, just a few posts below, active participation by our boy Jack. From the look of Jack's blogs and online stuff, he is quite the Renaissance man. I'd love to live next door to a guy like that.

http://hbd.org/hbd/archive/1192.html#1192-6

 

[Robert65]

From the look of Jack's blogs and online stuff, he is quite the Renaissance man. I'd love to live next door to a guy like that.

http://hbd.org/hbd/archive/1192.html#1192-6

Yep, he seems to have led a charmed life. Never had to work -- just found that people would pay him to pursue his hobbies and tinker around! Every neighborhood would be enriched by having a guy like him around.

 

[Spartan1979]

I've had a Schmidling Malt Mill for over 20 years. It still works fine, but it's probably time to think about replacing it. There's some slop in the bushings and you can hear it when it moves. But I'm still making good beer with it!

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I had a JSP Malt Mill. Purchased in the late 90's. About a year ago I noticed I wasn't getting a very good crush. Yes, checked the gap. That's when I purchased the MM3. Believe I posted this info in another thread.

 

[augiedoggy]

I had a JSP Malt Mill. Purchased in the late 90's. About a year ago I noticed I wasn't getting a very good crush. Yes, checked the gap. That's when I purchased the MM3. Believe I posted this info in another thread.

When you say you werent getting a good crush do you mean the grain wasnt going through the rollers well? because if the gap is consistent and tight enough and the rollers have the grip to pull the grain through I fail to understand the physics behind the grain not getting crushed correctly at that point.

I can also say having both a 2 and 3 roller mill that I do not see any measurable difference in performance as far as how the grain is crushed.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

When you say you werent getting a good crush do you mean the grain wasnt going through the rollers well? because if the gap is consistent and tight enough and the rollers have the grip to pull the grain through I fail to understand the physics behind the grain not getting crushed correctly at that point.

I can also say having both a 2 and 3 roller mill that I do not see any measurable difference in performance as far as how the grain is crushed.

No, I wasn't getting the type of crush I had gotten in the past. Checked and verified the gap setting. Still not getting type of crush I had gotten in the past. Was either getting almost no crush or too fine of a crush. Yes, the gap set screw with tight. Something was slipping. MoreBeer had a special on the MM3 and I decided it was time for a new mill.

 

[Dave Sarber]

No, I wasn't getting the type of crush I had gotten in the past. Checked and verified the gap setting. Still not getting type of crush I had gotten in the past. Was either getting almost no crush or too fine of a crush. Yes, the gap set screw with tight. Something was slipping. MoreBeer had a special on the MM3 and I decided it was time for a new mill.

Sounds like the bushings were worn.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Sounds like the bushings were worn.

Probably so, I used it for approximately 20 years. Not every day (similar to a brew shop), but maybe just once a month or less in that period of 20 years.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Off topic, but I’m pretty sure Jack Schmidling also designed and marketed the “Whirlygig” rotating sparge arm for fly sparging.

I saw one in use at a group brew at Bobby M’s house years ago and thought it a little silly....what did I know, I was a follower of Denny w/ the fast and cheap batch sparge method

Jack did sell quite a few whirligigs I’d imagine.

 

[Brewdogbrew]

I bought today the MM3 kit including mill, hopper, and base from NB for a total of $212. That is almost $100 less than elsewhere.

I used the code brewyear to get extra discount. Can't wait to use it instead of relying on the homebrew shop to crush the grains.
Cheers!

 

[Blazinlow86]

I bought today the MM3 kit including mill, hopper, and base from NB for a total of $212. That is almost $100 less than elsewhere.

I used the code brewyear to get extra discount. Can't wait to use it instead of relying on the homebrew shop to crush the grains.
Cheers!

Basically the same price as the chinese look alikes. When I bought mine the same thing happened. It was only slightly more expensive than the malt muncher etc and I didn't need to order online so a no brainer. The monster mill grabs the grain alot better at tighter settings. The first time I used it with my M18 I had to change the clutch setting to get it going which i never did with the previous chinese mills. The Chinese mills seem to be hit and miss. Some have great luck and some don't . I couldn't really find anyone with a monster mill that had any issues and didn't want to chance it. Cheers

 

[stevehaun]

I am on my third mill. My first was a nonadjustable schmidling mill which I sold because I wanted an adjustable mill. I used it for 8 years with no problem. My next mill was a monster mill MM-2 which I purchased in early 2008. I brewed 30 gallon batches, split with 3 other guys. I wore the rollers out on that mill in about 5 years but did mill ~800 pounds of grain per year. In 2014, I replaced it with the MM-2Pro with heat-treated 2" rollers. This mill is a beast and I think it will likely outlast me as I am back to 10 gallon batches.

 

[Robert65]

I am on my third mill. My first was a nonadjustable schmidling mill which I sold because I wanted an adjustable mill. I used it for 8 years with no problem. My next mill was a monster mill MM-2 which I purchased in early 2008. I brewed 30 gallon batches, split with 3 other guys. I wore the rollers out on that mill in about 5 years but did mill ~800 pounds of grain per year. In 2014, I replaced it with the MM-2Pro with heat-treated 2" rollers. This mill is a beast and I think it will likely outlast me as I am back to 10 gallon batches.

I got the regular rollers, not heat treated, on my MM2 Pro. Checking the estimated service life on Monster's website, I calculated that, if I keep brewing at my current rate, they should last until I'm something like 94 years old. So now I have a goal.

 

[Blazinlow86]

I am on my third mill. My first was a nonadjustable schmidling mill which I sold because I wanted an adjustable mill. I used it for 8 years with no problem. My next mill was a monster mill MM-2 which I purchased in early 2008. I brewed 30 gallon batches, split with 3 other guys. I wore the rollers out on that mill in about 5 years but did mill ~800 pounds of grain per year. In 2014, I replaced it with the MM-2Pro with heat-treated 2" rollers. This mill is a beast and I think it will likely outlast me as I am back to 10 gallon batches.

I think your the first I've heard that had the rollers wear out on a monster mill. If mine lasts as long as yours did I'll be a happy camper. Cheers

 

[stevehaun]

I bought my first monster mill when they first came out. I wonder if the quality of the early rollers was not as good as they are now. I would have simply bought replacement rollers but they were not available in 2014. I wonder if they had complaints because replacement rollers became available in ~2015. They now claim their regular rollers will last 12-15k pounds. That was not my experience as mine gave up the ghost at ~5k pounds.