Less Than Desirable Results from My Mill

[Julohan]

So I used my barley crusher the first time crank and drill. Both could not rotate it that way. So I tried rotating the other way with ease. Then realized it was not going in between the pins. The o-ring is still on. so I am trying to put through the right way by hand cranking. the screw the hold the crank on broke. I can not get the pins to budge the right way. The pins are non adjustable.

 

[Glibbidy]

Hint: remove the o-ring.
I'm guessing you are trying to run the mill empty first. Have you made any adjustments to the rollers yet?

 

[Julohan]

o-ring didn't do anything. I tried when emptied, and it works fine. Now the hank crank is stuck on there. Also I bought the non adjustable one.

 

[flyangler18]

Are you sure that you have a Barley Crusher?

I'm certainly not aware of a non-adjusting model.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

Post a link to the brand/type you have, maybe we can offer more input

 

[Julohan]

This is it MaltMill, grain mill

 

[conpewter]

Sounds like you got a defective model, I'd return it. Maybe look into a "Barley Crusher" type mill, a lot of people rave about those.

 

[Julohan]

First time attempting all grain, looks like its not happening today. Of course no one is picking up the phone at the company.

 

[Julohan]

Maybe I will just use a bottle with them in a plastic bag.

 

[Lil' Sparky]

Sorry for your disappointing attempt at AG. Equipment that doesn't work is very frustrating! Don't try to crush your grain in a plastic bag. Send that mill back and get a correctly functioning one, and do your first AG right. You'll be happy you waited.

 

[Pappers_]

I use one of these and haven't had any difficulty, so it's not that the machine is poorly designed (although you may have a defective one).

So, what I understand is that you can turn the handle and rollers when the mill is empty, but that you can't when the mill has grain in it. Is that correct?

In my experience, it does turn hard when you first start to turn the handle and then when the grain starts to flow through it turns more easily.

Best wishes!

 

[Julohan]

I was turning it so hard that the crank arm would just spin. So I would keep tightening the bolt. It would still move. So I tightened the bolt more and it broke.

 

[The Pol]

Return it, get a Barley Crusher...

For the price, the Barley Crusher gives you a lot more mill for the price. Fully adjustable, large hopper and you can get in on the AHS group buy that they are getting together (search for it here) and you can get it for $110

 

[Julohan]

Well, I finally got a hold of them on the phone. It was a hassle. He said he was going to email me with the account to ship it back. Who knows how long that will take. So it sounds like the Barley crusher is the way to go.

 

[Julohan]

Just bought the barley crusher from Midwest. Still waiting for the account number from malt mill. I have a feeling I will have to call them again.

 

[BierMuncher]

Title has been changed to avoid confusing this product with the renown "Barley Crusher".

 

[Homercidal]

Dude that sucks, but believe me, you do NOT want to crush a whole batch of base malt with a bottle!! By the time you would be done, your new crusher would have arrived!

 

[Pappers_]

Sorry to hear about it. Sounds very frustrating.

I was turning it so hard that the crank arm would just spin. So I would keep tightening the bolt. It would still move. So I tightened the bolt more and it broke.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Title has been changed to avoid confusing this product with the renown "Barley Crusher".

Yes Biermuncher...while I agree the original title was perhaps misleading, I feel that "horrible grain mill". is a bit harsh on the "Malt Mill".

For all we know, it could have been misuse or user error, rather than a "horrible" grain mill.

 

[Pappers_]

Yes, the Malt Mill is definitely not a horrible a grain mill - in fact, mine is fantastic. Sorry to hear about the OP's horrible experience, though.

 

[BierMuncher]

Yes Biermuncher...while I agree the original title was perhaps misleading, I feel that "horrible grain mill". is a bit harsh on the "Malt Mill".

For all we know, it could have been misuse or user error, rather than a "horrible" grain mill.

There...how's that?

 

[Pappers_]

There...how's that?

Its . . . . poetic.

 

[Julohan]

Has a nice ring to it.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Curious.

I assume you were using the 3lb hopper that came with the mill. But, did you dumpt the grain in before you started the rollers?

If yes, then I suspect that is why it siezed. I too have the non-adjustable maltmill and I wouldn't dare dump the grain in before the rollers were spinning.

The BC is however a "better" mill in that, if nothing else, it gives the opportunity to adjust the mill gap. That is usefull for more than you'd think i.e. wheat, rye, etc.....

 

[The Pol]

Why cant you dump in the grain, then start the mill? I do that all the time with the BC, why would the Malt Mill be any different?

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Why cant you dump in the grain, then start the mill? I do that all the time with the BC, why would the Malt Mill be any different?

It always siezes up on me that way. No matter what.

 

[The Pol]

It always siezes up on me that way. No matter what.

Odd, what is that gap on that thing? It would be impossible for me to mill grain without 2 people if I had to start the mill, then dump in the grain...

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Odd, what is that gap on that thing? It would be impossible for me to mill grain without 2 people if I had to start the mill, then dump in the grain...

.045" IIRC. Big enough for a bus to drive through and not scratch the paint.

And yes, it was ALWAYS a PITA prior to motorizing it. I had at one point resorted to using velcro to hold the drill trigger, and a wedge to hold the drill so I could free my hands to feed the mill.

 

[The Pol]

.045" IIRC. Big enough for a bus to drive through and not scratch the paint.

And yes, it was ALWAYS a PITA prior to motorizing it. I had at one point resorted to using velcro to hold the drill trigger, and a wedge to hold the drill so I could free my hands to feed the mill.

Odd mine is at .036" and it starts easy with a full hopper... never knew this before about that mill.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Odd mine is at .036" and it starts easy with a full hopper... never knew this before about that mill.

Perhaps I am an isolated case. My mill was second hand but pristine. and every attempt I made at starting that mill with grain in the hopper got no-where.