Milling grains - corded vs. cordless drill

[ILMSTMF]

Hi,

I use a cordless drill on my grain mill. I love it but have recently inherited a corded drill. Was thinking about using the corded in a more permanent build (with a wood base). The corded drill, though, is probably very old. There are no settings to adjust. It's one speed when pulling the trigger - FAST. Throttling the trigger does not spin the drill any slower, like what I can do with the cordless.

So what? So, from what I recall, the recommendation was to not run the drill at full speed when milling. If that's the case, project canceled. Thanks in advance!

 

[grampska]

Not full answers but here's what I've been trying:

I went with a AC Motor Speed Controller: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T9BLJ7L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I believe the Portly Gentlemen talks about it in one of his videos. However, I don't know if I have the right corded drill for it because I have to have it on max anyway for the mill to engage.

 

[hotbeer]

If you like to fiddle, then there are all sorts of ways to reduce the speed. With either a belt/pulley system or gears you could RubeGoldberg something.

Drill motor ought to have it's RPM listed on the data plate. Then you'll know how much reduction you need to get for it to be below 200 RPM or whatever you deem necessary.

Not all electric motors can be used with a speed controller. Some will burn up or just not work depending on how they are designed.

 

[ILMSTMF]

If you like to fiddle

I don't. LOL

Not all electric motors can be used with a speed controller. Some will burn up or just not work depending on how they are designed.

I'll have a look at the gear and see if there's any useful info to share back here. Thanks!

 

[hottpeper13]

I don't know if this means anything, the old single speed drills were AC motors and the variable speed ones are DC motors. With the torque needed to mill, if you slowed it down the heat created would fry that drill.

 

[whoaru99]

I don't. LOL

Reads like you already have a working setup.

Considering your comment I quoted, why reinvent the wheel from something that sounds not well suited for the task anyway?

 

[FloppyKnockers]

All you need is a rheostat. It's commonly used as a speed controller for power tools (eg router table). Here's an example of one LINK. You may need a timing light to know your exact speed though.

(Before anyone else starts nerding out and splitting hairs, I know it's not technically a 'rheostat', but it's the same darn thing. Me and the rest of the power tool using industry is going to continue to call them rheostats)

 

[Bobby_M]

Cordless drills are generally speed adjusted with a 2 or 3 speed gear box which provides the benefit of increased torque output at slower speeds. Most corded drills (all that I have seen and used) do not have selectable gearing. The only corded drill motors that seem suited for milling operation are the paddle mixers that are made for high torque, low speed.

 

[ILMSTMF]

I owe a good response to this thread.

For a reason I can't recall, I had in my head that using a corded drill with a fixed base grain mill build was the right way to go. Echoing my OP, the corded rotates too fast for my liking. Likely, too fast for the torque a grain mill would "want".

Some folks chimed in on the potential to add an in-between to lower that corded drill speed. But I'm seeing some conflict on if that'll work the way we want it to.

But this stuck out at me:

Reads like you already have a working setup.

Considering your comment I quoted, why reinvent the wheel from something that sounds not well suited for the task anyway?

Correct, I have a working setup with my cordless drill. The sole motivating factor to my inquiry was the thought that maybe I can build a permanent base for the mill (I do not have one) now that I inherited a corded drill.

All signs pointing to "if it aint broke". ;-)

 

[Brian66]

I've been using a corded drill with a corona style mill. The drill sometimes overheats and I get a burning smell. Does anyone know if this drill would be good for a corona mill?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-O...-Ah-Battery-and-Charger-PCL201K1SB1/329965376

 

[redrocker652002]

I will say I am on the other end of this. I use my good old arm to do it. I tried a cordless drill but did not like it cause I was having trouble controlling the speeds and the grain would get stuck in the wheel and buck the drill. To me, it is just easier to do it by hand. Now, with that said, I do find that something more permanent would be helpful, but for now I am storing everything in a closet so space is always a concern.

 

[PCABrewing]

I've been using a corded drill with a corona style mill. The drill sometimes overheats and I get a burning smell. Does anyone know if this drill would be good for a corona mill?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-O...-Ah-Battery-and-Charger-PCL201K1SB1/329965376

I use a Rigid 1/2" corded drill. It has variable speed and does a good job maintaining forward progress, no stalling.
I avoid cordless tools unless I really need that flexibility. I reject the option of buying more proprietary battery and charger formats that when they need to be replaced cost as much as the product did new!

 

[Bobby_M]

You want a low speed, high torque drill. USUALLY that's a ubiquitous feature on cordless drills but not on corded. However, you can get a good low speed paddle mixer type drill at Harbor Freight that will do the job.

 

[postalroger]

I've been using a corded drill with a corona style mill. The drill sometimes overheats and I get a burning smell. Does anyone know if this drill would be good for a corona mill?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-O...-Ah-Battery-and-Charger-PCL201K1SB1/329965376

I haven’t used that particular drill but I used a Ryobi drill I had and the motor would start smoking while I was trying to crush the grain. I bought a DeWalt corded drill and haven’t had a problem since.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...riable-Speed-Reversing-Drill-DW235G/100050769

 

[Bobby_M]

I haven’t used that particular drill but I used a Ryobi drill I had and the motor would start smoking while I was trying to crush the grain. I bought a DeWalt corded drill and haven’t had a problem since.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...riable-Speed-Reversing-Drill-DW235G/100050769

I'm sure it probably works fine, but the corded drills specifically meant for mixing buckets of drywall mud and other goopy job site stuff are so much better because they achieve their low speed by gearing down the high speed motor. The ones that are variable speed via how hard you squeeze the trigger are losing a lot of torque at low speeds. The reason it matters is that as it stalls at the lower speed you're likely to run it faster than the ideal 200-300 RPM. Just something for others to keep in mind if they are shopping around.

 

[warx]

I burned my Makita two speed + variable drill out (‘replaced with brushless). But now I use this and it rocks. I had this drill for mixing paints and concrete.