Monster mill or barley crusher?

[Wreck99]

The MM2 (standard 1.5" dia. steel rollers) is $160 + shipping at Farmhouse Brewing. This price includes the base and standard hopper, and is currently in stock (according to their website). I bought mine from them a couple months back and the price with shipping was $172.

http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=319

I used a BC at my LHBS before purchasing my MM2 and it was a total POS. Flimsy hopper, rollers constantly losing traction, and the gap setting would not stay put. Really soured me on the BC. Of course, the thing probably had a gazillion pounds of grain run through it over the years, but I wasn't all too impressed, which is why I opted for the Monster. I couldn't be happier. It's a beast!!!

Doesn't look like the base and hopper are included in that price according to the description. So what are we talkin, ~$130 for the BC or ~$250 for the MM? Pretty big price difference. Sounds like the quality is superior though from feedback on this thread.

 

[HomebrewMTB]

Doesn't look like the base and hopper are included in that price according to the description. So what are we talkin, ~$130 for the BC or ~$250 for the MM? Pretty big price difference. Sounds like the quality is superior though from feedback on this thread.

Yes it does come with the hopper and base. They could do a better job making that more clear though.

Monster Mill 2-Roller Mill
Monster Mill 2-roller mill. This mill comes with a 3/8" shaft and includes the base and hopper!

Our Price : $159.99 ea

http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=76

 

[Wreck99]

Yes it does come with the hopper and base. They could do a better job making that more clear though.


http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=76

Ok cool. I didn't catch that in the last link. So, whats the big difference between MM2 and MM3 to those who use them. Does that 3rd roller make a huge difference? Just curious. I'm sure both are great. Sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure whatever I get will last. I'd hate to buy something and realize there was better to only replace it after a few uses.

 

[Piratwolf]

Ok cool. I didn't catch that in the last link. So, whats the big difference between MM2 and MM3 to those who use them. Does that 3rd roller make a huge difference? Just curious. I'm sure both are great. Sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure whatever I get will last. I'd hate to buy something and realize there was better to only replace it after a few uses.

I bought the MM2 a few months ago and from the feel of it my grandchildren will be using it long after I'm gone. I love a well-made machine.

 

[Bradinator]

I have a barley crusher, been using it for about one year now, no problems so far. Mind you I mill by hand so its gently used.

I mill by hand not because I don't own a power drill, but because I like the extra exercise.

 

[wubears71]

I have a barley crusher, been using it for about one year now, no problems so far. Mind you I mill by hand so its gently used.

I mill by hand not because I don't own a power drill, but because I like the extra exercise.

Haha. I believe the barley crusher routine is on the P90X DVD number 3.

 

[Golddiggie]

My brew day 'exercise' is limited to one arm curls... When you routinely mill 14-30 pounds of grain hand cranking isn't much of an option. Well, unless you actually want to extend out your brew day that much.

 

[FredTheNuke]

I have a BC and have no issues at all with it - great BrewHouse Efficiency every time. I have put roughly 200lbs of grain through it - so it is still relatively new but not a single issue. I looked at the decked out MM3-2.0 and the cost was $460.00 including shipping, SS rollers, hopper/base and hopper extension. I figured I'd try the 15lb BC for $150 first... I can wear out THREE of them before I pay for one MM3.

 

[Bradinator]

I have milled up 15lbs one time for a IIPA. Only took about 20 minutes, which I was also bring the mash water up to temp. I mill with fury.

10lbs is pretty common for most of my grain bills, and that usually takes about 10 minutes depending on how much energy I have.

 

[Golddiggie]

I have milled up 15lbs one time for a IIPA. Only took about 20 minutes, which I was also bring the mash water up to temp. I mill with fury.

10lbs is pretty common for most of my grain bills, and that usually takes about 10 minutes depending on how much energy I have.

I can go through 15# in maybe 3 minutes...

I brew to relax, so using power tools to make it easier just makes sense.

 

[Bubba]

I use a BC and although its not the almost industrial strength mill that the Monster mill is I can still spin through 16 lbs of grain with a makita 1/2 inch drill on full speed with no problems what so ever gap set at 32mm only takes a few minutes.

 

[Bradinator]

I can go through 15# in maybe 3 minutes...

I brew to relax, so using power tools to make it easier just makes sense.

Nothing wrong with that way too . I brew for fun and for some sick reason I find hand milling grain rewarding.

 

[erockomania]

http://www.millarsmills.com/

Got this one and it's doing a fine job for me.

 

[Golddiggie]

Nothing wrong with that way too . I brew for fun and for some sick reason I find hand milling grain rewarding.

Dude, that IS sick...

erockomania, virtually zero information (of value) about the mill you linked to... No roller diameter or length just for starters.

 

[FirstStateBrewer]

http://www.millarsmills.com/

Got this one and it's doing a fine job for me.

That looks nice. How long have you had it?

 

[matt2778]

Nothing wrong with that way too . I brew for fun and for some sick reason I find hand milling grain rewarding.

Funny I was contractor for years and have more drills than the Duggars have children but for some reason I love crushing my grains with crank too. It kind of makes me feel more involved as well being a bit of a workout. Probably burns off half a pale ale worth of calories. I also suspect that spinning a mill to quickly with say an oversized ac hammerdrill will prematurely wear the bushings, but this is just speculation.

 

[erockomania]

That looks nice. How long have you had it?

I've used it for two batches now. Pretty nice mill for the cash and my efficiency went up by 8 pts

 

[Wreck99]

http://www.millarsmills.com/

Got this one and it's doing a fine job for me.

Very cool. How does this one size up against a BC or MM I wonder. I like the price

 

[erockomania]

Very cool. How does this one size up against a BC or MM I wonder. I like the price

I'm not sure. I've never used either of those but this one is doing the job just fine.

 

[Golddiggie]

I'm not sure. I've never used either of those but this one is doing the job just fine.

How long are the rollers and what diameter are they??

Monster Mill offers two roller diameters (all are 6" long)... The 'standard' mill has 1.5" diameter rollers, where the -2.0 version has 2" rollers. IME, the larger diameter rollers produce a better quality of crush. Longer rollers means more grain can be crushed at the same time.

 

[Wreck99]

Yes it does come with the hopper and base. They could do a better job making that more clear though.


http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=76

Can't buy until at least Friday but looking at this again. This is probably the best deal I've found (thank you HomebrewMTB!), so I'll probably grab a MM2.

For comparisions sake, here's a couple places selling the MM2...

NorthernBrewer - $191.97 = $146.99 (mill), $32.99 (hopper), $11.99 (base)
MidwestSupplies - $170.98 = $117.99 (mill), $42.99 (hopper), $10.00 (base)
Farmhouse - $159.99 = mill, hopper, and base

MM3 is ~ $50 more. It's a shame my LHBS doesn't carry these Monster Mills. They do carry a BC though (I think).

Choices, choices...

 

[allthingsgiant]

I had a MM2, and I had some issues after about 5 crushes with keeping the locking pins in place. Ended up stripping out the threads and the second roller coupldn't be set. With the help of MM (excellent response times and HUMAN), they hooked me up with the replacement / upgrade to make my MM2 to a MM3, I kindly paid the surcharge in hopes I would see the difference. Just crushed with my MM3, holy bejeebus. Strap on your boots tight 'cause this thing rips. And increased my efficiency almost 10%.

Enough said.

 

[Wreck99]

Nice to hear that. Definately makes it easier to swallow the $200 mill lol. I got just over 77% efficiency on my last brew, and that was LHBS crushed. I never thought to ask them what mill they use or its setting. Maybe I can get better efficiency too with the MM3. That would be cool. Anyone know if there's a deal out there for the MM3, like the one posted in this thread for the MM2?

 

[FredTheNuke]

Heck - the MM3-2.0 with stainless steel rollers and hopper/base plus hopper extension is the one I am looking at. With shipping it's going to be $460.85... Anyone want to buy a lightly used BC with 15lb hopper??? I have no issues with my BC but the MM3-2.0 looks sweet!

 

[allthingsgiant]

Stainless is overkill unless you are going to crush moistened grain. Otherwise the regular one will be perfectly fine. Save yourself $200.

 

[joety]

Stainless is overkill unless you are going to crush moistened grain. Otherwise the regular one will be perfectly fine. Save yourself $200.

A little surface rust on the rollers would only improve performance.

 

[Golddiggie]

I went with the hardened rollers instead of stainless. It's only an option with the 2" rollers but well worth it IMO.

 

[FredTheNuke]

The hardened is a $90 option and the Stainless is a $120 option. From what I understood the Stainless is equal in hardness to the normal rollers. Maybe I am better off with the hardened regular steel option. Is this the understanding others have of those 2 options?

 

[corax]

MM3 here. I haven't compared it with anything else. I bought it mainly because I wanted to start buying grain in bulk, and it was highly recommended here.

When I ground at the store I was getting 70-75% efficiency with a single-batch sparge. With the MM3 set at 0.039", that jumped to 85-90%. So good that I went to no-sparge (but full-volume mash out), and I still get >70%.

I am also an unrepentant hand-grinder, for what it's worth.

 

[Golddiggie]

I had added the hopper, hopper extension as well as the base with my order. I don't recall the hardened steel option adding $90 at that time. I went with the hardened for absolite maximum life of the rollers. I suspect this mill will be used for generations to come.