Motorized Grain Mills: Time to show them off!

[biertourist]

I just realized I posted initial photos of my build on here and promised to update it once I built it; that was over a year ago now and I completely forgot about it; Oops!

American Ale Works Power Grinder, MM2 2.0 Mill with extended hopper, 3 way drum switch, ikea stenstorp kitchen cart, and gamma seal lid and homer buckets to prevent dust.


Video:https://www.facebook.com/adamindublin/videos/10154148839526929/?l=3068610855969354772


I ended up plugging it into a 1990's "Clapper" with the thought that I could just clap to begin crushing, but that let the smoke out of the Clapper very quickly... WAAY too many amps for the Clapper.



Adam

 

[steveoatley]

+ 1 for kiblerjd

My brewing bud had a similar set up to yours millsbrew, and sheared the mill shaft cleanly.

Those motors are pretty tough, and have a jerky start up torque.

He solved the problem by having a correct spacer under the mill to raise it to the correct height and using a lovejoy coupler for the shaft.

I think there are other builds here that show a similar config.

Marquez,

What Love joy adapter did you use ?

I have the same problem as millsbrew, and can not shim my mill

Thanks

Steve

 

[steveoatley]

Or maybe a better question....

How do you "properly" size a Love Joy adapter ?

I have that same "Old Blue" Harbor Freight slow speed drill - that everyone seemed to use
and a Monster Mill 2

thanks in advance guys & gals

Steve

 

[Hang Glider]

Or maybe a better question....

How do you "properly" size a Love Joy adapter ?

I have that same "Old Blue" Harbor Freight slow speed drill - that everyone seemed to use
and a Monster Mill 2

thanks in advance guys & gals

Steve

This place has the information you need - everyone may have different needs, so you can check your motor and grain mill shaft diameters, and buy the appropriate pieces...the drawing shows how it assembles.

McMaster-Carr

 

[Dcpcooks]

To those that cut rectangles in stainless steel. What's your best option? Angle grinder, plasma cutter or the local guy that can get it perfect?

 

[steveoatley]

This place has the information you need - everyone may have different needs, so you can check your motor and grain mill shaft diameters, and buy the appropriate pieces...the drawing shows how it assembles.

McMaster-Carr

Hang Glider

I have the 1/2 inch Chicago Drill
I have the 1/2 inch shaft on my Monster Mill 2

those i can find....

The two of them are not aligned by "about" 1/4 inch offset - parallel alignment

Where can i figure that out on the McMaster page ?
How Long does the whole love joy unit need to be?
and what do i use in my Drill - as a shaft ? is that a different part ?

Sorry, i'm a visual guy... that McMaster page is just a bunch of numbers

Thanks

Steve

 

[srice]

To those that cut rectangles in stainless steel. What's your best option? Angle grinder, plasma cutter or the local guy that can get it perfect?

The best option I have found is a water jet. I am fortunate enough to have this near me and to be signed off on using the water jet - https://firstbuild.com/

 

[srice]

Hang Glider

I have the 1/2 inch Chicago Drill
I have the 1/2 inch shaft on my Monster Mill 2

those i can find....

The two of them are not aligned by "about" 1/4 inch offset - parallel alignment

Where can i figure that out on the McMaster page ?
How Long does the whole love joy unit need to be?
and what do i use in my Drill - as a shaft ? is that a different part ?

Sorry, i'm a visual guy... that McMaster page is just a bunch of numbers

Thanks

Steve

You would need a shaft to put int the chuck of the Harbor Freight drill. You will then need to pick the appropriate family of Lovejoy couplers based on the torque requirements. Take a look at the Lovejoy website - they have an online configuration tool that will make selection a lot easier. http://www.lovejoy-inc.com/
You will want the L-Line.

 

[steveoatley]

You would need a shaft to put int the chuck of the Harbor Freight drill. You will then need to pick the appropriate family of Lovejoy couplers based on the torque requirements. Take a look at the Lovejoy website - they have an online configuration tool that will make selection a lot easier. http://www.lovejoy-inc.com/
You will want the L-Line.

Thanks srice....

but i am NOT an engineer.
I have no idea how to convert my 6 amp drill to horse power
at less than 200 rpm
the love joy site is just a bunch of gobbley **** to me....

I can find the 1/2 inch ones on McMaster site

the information i have is
1/2 inch shaft on my MM2
1/2 inch chuck on my 6 amp Chicago Electric Harbor Freight drill

the offset is 'about' 1/4 of an inch from the chuck to the shaft

Anyone already buy a LoveJoy adapter for their MM2 & Chicago Electric drill ?

none of the info i can find has an offset of 1/4 inch - so i might be screwed.

???????????????????????????

 

[srice]

Thanks srice....

but i am NOT an engineer.
I have no idea how to convert my 6 amp drill to horse power
at less than 200 rpm
the love joy site is just a bunch of gobbley **** to me....

I can find the 1/2 inch ones on McMaster site

the information i have is
1/2 inch shaft on my MM2
1/2 inch chuck on my 6 amp Chicago Electric Harbor Freight drill

the offset is 'about' 1/4 of an inch from the chuck to the shaft

Anyone already buy a LoveJoy adapter for their MM2 & Chicago Electric drill ?

none of the info i can find has an offset of 1/4 inch - so i might be screwed.

???????????????????????????

The easiest way to convert a 6 amp motor to hp is to google it. A good estimate is somewhere between 1/4 and 1/3 hp. Use 1/3 for the LoveJoy configuration tool to be safer. A fair estimate of speed is 150 rpm. Service factor - leave it alone at 1

This then spits out that you want a L090 coupling with a SOX rubber elastomer. The exact pieces of L090 coupling will depend on the shaft sizes of your mill and whatever you decide to use as a shaft in the drill chuck. You could simply grab a piece of 1/2" diameter steel rod and use it as your shaft in the drill. If both the mill and the drill shaft are 1/2" then the proper L090 coupling is #10769.

1/4" is a huge misalignment to attempt to fix with a lovejoy coupler. I personally would find a way to shim either the drill or the mill before I tried to use a coupler to connect the 2.

I do have to ask why you are trying to use a coupler to attach a drill to the mill. Just insert the mill shaft into the chuck of the drill and go to town. No need to worry about a coupler, extra shaft in the drill chuck or misalignment between the drill and the mill.

 

[steveoatley]

can't shim drill or mill

trying to hang them under a shelf

maybe less than 1/4 inch

 

[srice]

Looks like more than 1/4" offset to me - if that is a 1/2" shaft on the mill, the bottom of the shaft would be even with the center of the chuck if you were off 1/4". That is way too much to "fix" with a lovejoy coupler.

 

[Hang Glider]

@steveoatley

Looking at that photo, I'd remove the mill, measure and cut a 3/8" piece of scrap plywood (?) with a jigsaw - make a shim. Then re-attach, and attach the drill directly to the mill shaft.

my 2 cents...
best of luck!
(also, cheaper than lovejoys)

 

[steveoatley]

thats what i was afraid of....

s

 

[Stealthcruiser]

thats what i was afraid of....

s

You said you was a "visual" kinda' guy.

"Visualize" them lined up, and make it happen!

 

[heckels]

To those that cut rectangles in stainless steel. What's your best option? Angle grinder, plasma cutter or the local guy that can get it perfect?

I just used my 4" angle grinder and $2 cutoff disc from menards.

 

[steveoatley]

You said you was a "visual" kinda' guy.

"Visualize" them lined up, and make it happen!

Be the ball Billy.....................

Visualize the ball in the cup

- works great

S

 

[Marquez]

Marquez,

What Love joy adapter did you use ?

I have the same problem as millsbrew, and can not shim my mill

Thanks

Steve

Hi Steve,

So sorry I missed your question until now.

I am not sure exactly what adapter my pal used. I no longer work with him, so I can not check either. I hope you found something that works for you.

 

[Weezy]

I really got tired of holding the drill.

I wanted a compact package for easier storage, but it's heavy enough that it doesn't wobble about either.

I found that a 3" fernco rubber pipe adapter fits perfectly over the Victoria mill opening. I used a 3" to 4" adapter and just slide in a 2' piece of 4" PVC as the hopper. It holds about 8 lbs or so which is plenty for my 3 gallon batches.

 

[Dcpcooks]

I just used my 4" angle grinder and $2 cutoff disc from menards.

Thanks I was kinda leery of taking a grinder to a new stainless table. I called a local machine shop asked them to make me an aluminum shim for the crankandstein to raise it to the motor shaft height and to cut the stainless, they shot me a quote for $140.

So ordered two 1/2" x 1" x 6" alum blanks that I cut and drilled today. I'll be borrowing my neighbors grinder when the motor arrives!

I used the mill this weekend. Crankandstein 320d it's such an upgrade

 

[Dcpcooks]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1488242375.619230.jpg

I didn't know how easy aluminum was to cut and drill. I used a multi tool and a 1/2 cordless drill to cut the spacer.

 

[Dcpcooks]

I also drilled and tapped into the mill for a face plate. Went with plexiglass for 10 bucks. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1488242704.729414.jpg

 

[Dcpcooks]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1488242758.081233.jpg

This is a good find! A5 gallon bucket fits perfectly in the hopper from crankandstein. Fill a five gallon bucket with 17-18 lbs of grain and it will fill a 5 gallon bucket to the top with milled grain.

I'm thinking I can fill the hopper, flip the switch and use that time for something else.

 

[Anticlimaddox]

Anyone that went with the Aleworks 1/2hp motor and gear reducer, how is it holding up over time? Any issues? Thx!

 

[RTL]

Still a work in progress. I got a 3250 rpm 1.5hp motor for $10 so it was worth the extra work to gear it down to 200rpm. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1489099526.224121.jpg

 

[day_trippr]

Awesome.
Is there a bearing block on the final drive shaft as well?

Cheers!

 

[Harry482]

Anyone that went with the Aleworks 1/2hp motor and gear reducer, how is it holding up over time? Any issues? Thx!

Mine has been great. Highly recommend one to anyone looking to motorize with no old motors laying around.

 

[Dcpcooks]

Finally finished the build. Crankandstein with an American ale works 180 rpm motor.

It's a beast! View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1489338784.674510.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1489338805.532132.jpg

 

[RTL]

Awesome.
Is there a bearing block on the final drive shaft as well?

Cheers!

Yes I have one right in front of the pulley then a shaft coupler to the mill's drive shaft. I got them on eBay for about $20 for a pair. Just search 1/2" pillow block and you won't be let down. Eventually I will finish the cabinet around it but right now my basement takes precedence. I like the plexiglass on the sides I might switch to that before I finalize everything.

 

[Anticlimaddox]

Dcpcooks - that looks fantastic man. No issues with the motor weight on the stainless table, and is that 2x2 top? Also you pretty happy with the power grinder motor so far? Leaning towards that over the separate motor and reducer.

Cheers.
// brian

Finally finished the build. Crankandstein with an American ale works 180 rpm motor.

It's a beast! View attachment 392395View attachment 392396