I f'ing love my barley crusher

[rianrt]

i have to say. i love mine. i got it from: http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/
i paid for the 7lb and since they didn't have the 7. they shipped the 15lb. for the same price. and being a member of their newsletter. got 10% off on top

 

[Frodo]

I got a BC for xmas. I loved the look of the crush. Then I got a stuck sparge. Then another stuck sparge, and a third as well... I think the factory setting is a pretty fine crush compared to what I'm used to. Maybe will be adding a couple handfulls of rice hulls for each batch...???

 

[rianrt]

i use no rice hulls at .35. as fine as i need it at 82%. are you batch or fly?

 

[Frodo]

Fly. The grain set really well, almost like concrete... it really put a damper on my day. Twice. EDIT: or thrice? I couldn't keep track. It was really annoying. But I confess it could just be me trying to figure out my new system.

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

Frodo, if it set up like concrete and you are using the factory setting, I would try slowing down your runoff speed. When I batch sparge, my valve is never more than halfway open....no rice hulls, just a few more minutes

 

[Mustangj]

One of my fav brewing tools!

Did you guys cut the thick black ruber band off?

 

[wilserbrewer]

Fly. The grain set really well, almost like concrete... it really put a damper on my day. Twice. EDIT: or thrice? I couldn't keep track. It was really annoying. But I confess it could just be me trying to figure out my new system.

Sounds like a MT issue...a pic of your set up?

 

[Frodo]

Sounds like a MT issue...a pic of your set up?

It's a 10 gal round cooler w/false bottom. Like Riv mentioned I was probably running off too fast. I might actually try conditioning the malt next time; have wanted to do that anyways.

 

[Frodo]

One of my fav brewing tools!

Did you guys cut the thick black ruber band off?

Mine came off after crushing about 3 to 4 lbs maybe. I think it's supposed to just come off itself rather than needing to be cut off.

 

[deezy]

For those who use BC's and don't condition your malt, how bad is the mess? Any issues?

 

[Snowhere]

Brown delivers!

Mine showed up today! It was just 5 days late including the weekend, so that was not too bad. I will give it a whirl this weekend when I brew my next batch.

 

[Nuggethead]

I got mine last week with the 15 pound hopper. Used it yesterday with factory setting and gained 10 points in efficiency with a double batch sparge.

 

[DrMaltyVonHopenstein]

I too love my BC. A note on the black rubber ring/band that is fitted around the second (non-cranked) roller. Mine broke off too after a couple of brews and my efficiency went up a few points (same water, same grain sacks). AND it got easier to crank - by hand and drill ... weird.

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

For those who use BC's and don't condition your malt, how bad is the mess? Any issues?

Just grain dust that is easy enough to brush off with a paint brush, I brew outdoors, so it isn'tan issue, if you are an inddor brewer, and choose to crush your grain, dry, inside, the fine dust/powder might become an issue.

But to say mess is incorrect, slight inconvenience maybe. Like I said brush it off with a paint brush after every milling, and you'll be straight.

I too love my BC. A note on the black rubber ring/band that is fitted around the second (non-cranked) roller. Mine broke off too after a couple of brews and my efficiency went up a few points (same water, same grain sacks). AND it got easier to crank - by hand and drill ... weird.

What is this black rubber band you all speak of, I ordered my BC in 2009, and mine has no black rubber deal around any of the rollers, and never did...

...just curious...mine has worked superbly since I have had it, I used to grind a friends grain (before he bought his own), plus mine, probably over 30 brews on it now....never had any rubber band on it....

 

[Frodo]

I didn't see the rubber band, until it was suddenly in the grain I was crushing. That was only after 3 to 4 lbs crushed. I think it would've been real easy to miss it. Only about 1 inch in diameter, looked like an o-ring. I bet you never saw it but yours came off.

 

[stevea1210]

I used my BC for the first time today. I got it from NB, and was able to avoid the long delays. I got a 10 point jump in efficiency....I love it.

AS for cleaning, 5 seconds with the air compressor and she is all good.

The amount of money I'll save on grain will pay for the mill in the first year.