Motorized Grain Mills: Time to show them off!

[drunkenmonk]

That's pretty weird. I have the same gear reducer and didn't have any issues. You should be able to get Lovejoy coupler halves in almost any shaft diameter size from McMaster Carr. Another option would be to drill out the Lovejoy coupler parts you have to fit over the shaft.


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[govner1]

I purchased a Power Grinder motor w / gear reduction attached. See:http://www.allamericanaleworks.com/info.html

Less costly than separate parts plus I got a discount via eBay. I ordered my Lovejoy's from one of their local distributor. I did have to use a Dremel to trim the edges on the key to fit the Lovejoy keyway. Works great. You can see my setup in the post above.


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[the4gottenman]

That's pretty weird. I have the same gear reducer and didn't have any issues. You should be able to get Lovejoy coupler halves in almost any shaft diameter size from McMaster Carr. Another option would be to drill out the Lovejoy coupler parts you have to fit over the shaft.


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Customer service called me first thing this morning and helped me out. My observation skills must've been seriously lacking yesterday because I didn't notice the output shaft had a plastic cover on it.

 

[calebstringer]

Customer service called me first thing this morning and helped me out. My observation skills must've been seriously lacking yesterday because I didn't notice the output shaft had a plastic cover on it.

HAHAHAHAHa! Don't worry, you are one of many who have done that..... my self included!

 

[w0732400]

I did it to, it doesn't really look plastic until you take a pair of pliers to it and try to pull it off. They should really put a sticker on that thing that says "remove before use"

I messages Caleb stinger at like 11 pm like wtf??

 

[the4gottenman]

Now that that pesky output shaft cover is off it works like a charm.

 

[jammin]

^looks great! nice and clean.

can you take a pic of how you matched the gear reducer shaft up with the input on the mill?

I have a very similar setup and am looking to rebuild the stand again.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

^looks great! nice and clean.

can you take a pic of how you matched the gear reducer shaft up with the input on the mill?

It's that orange lookin' thing in the pic there, known as a "Lovejoy coupling".



Edit: find them here, and they can be "mixed and matched" within a certain class of couplings.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#spider-couplings/=syu13j

 

[jammin]

^im familiar - that's how mine is hooked up.

I was referring to how you matched the height of the shafts - I should have clarified.

 

[calebstringer]

^im familiar - that's how mine is hooked up.

I was referring to how you matched the height of the shafts - I should have clarified.

I shimmed my motor with a thick washer at each bolt hole. Its not perfect, but its very close. And with how much actual run time these things get, it should still outlast me

 

[jammin]

^cool - that's what I'm doing right now too but I have to use several washers. I'd like to find a better solution

 

[the4gottenman]

^looks great! nice and clean.

can you take a pic of how you matched the gear reducer shaft up with the input on the mill?

I have a very similar setup and am looking to rebuild the stand again.

The way mine was setup I actually had to shim the mill up about a half inch. If you look in the pic under the mill you can see a piece of plywood that's cut to the same size as the base of the mill.

 

[mbfjr]

heres mine!


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[marcb]

View attachment 213271View attachment 213272heres mine!


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Really clean, well done! Are those malt signs or just remnants cut from grain bags?

 

[FB12]

Three speed pulley, reverse, enclosed. Works awesome so far & has not exploded!!

 

[mbfjr]

Really clean, well done! Are those malt signs or just remnants cut from grain bags?

They are indeed cut from grain bags, 3M77 contact cemented to foam board.

 

[Robg773]

MM3


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[mikescooling]

I'm running a 1/3hp..... 12"/1.5" pulleys and wouldn't go lighter than that. But it's a blower motor with little tork.

 

[Brettomomyces]

View attachment 170649

I used a garage pushcart from HF, a Champion juice motor from flea mrkt for $7, a 12" pulley from grainger, etc but works great. Sorry for the quality, just used pic from phone. I don't have reverse but used a board with door hinges to mount the motor - the weight allowed for rocks that go thru. Mounted the motor w/ bolts & wing nuts to adjust tension as needed.

Cheers,
KY Dan
LAGERS/FOSSILS

I just had somebody give me one of those motors! I have a 12" and a 1.5" pulley, bearing sleeve and belt coming in the mail now. Can you describe how you mounted the motor a little more detailed? I was figuring for a horizontal setup with lines cut for adjusting tension via bolts but that's a clever setup.

 

[Brettomomyces]

Figured it out...here's the new setup!

 

[cyberbackpacker]

Nice use if the Champion juicer!

 

[Airplanedoc]

After only 2 years of planning and scavenging parts

 

[illinoisbrassman]

After only 2 years of planning and scavenging parts

Nice Job, I like the hopper cover too.

 

[JB_Brewing2]

As I return to brewing after an extended absence, I decided to investigate mill stations and, with much thanks to this forum, settled on a Monster Mill MM2-Pro with the stainless rollers. Coupled to the mill via Lovejoy couplings is an American Ale Works Power Grinder. The stand is made from ash lumber salvaged from the emerald ash borer infestation in our area. The majority of the joinery in the stand is done with pocket screws. The difficulty with this build was ensuring the shaft of the motor aligned, center-to-center, with the shaft of the mill. The offset worked out to 2 7/16” the shaft of the mill had to rise. As you may see in the photo, there is a piece of 7/16” plywood sandwiched between two pieces of one-inch ash. I made the stand longer to accommodate my grain scale and to perhaps hold another bucket or two underneath on the shelf. Added locking casters so I roll it to where I need it and then store it. It wasn’t cheap but I think I now have my ultimate mill station. I’m very pleased with the mill/motor combination. Time will test its durability and consistency of crush.

 

[RocketBrewer]

I also went with the Monster 2.0 Pro, I just couldn't justify spending another $300 on the Power Grinder (at least not yet). I blew $11 on the cabinet from the local Hospice thrift store, $50 on a HF drill, $15 or so on the duct pieces, and a few electrical parts I had laying around. Came out pretty good I think, and a quick pound or two through it seemed to go perfectly. Maybe some day I'll give it a coat of paint.

 

[JB_Brewing2]

RocketBrewer,

Really like your set-up; especially the duct work which solves something I was considering. I was concerned about dust and "grain splatter". This looks like a nice solution. Thanks for posting.

 

[RocketBrewer]

Works like a champ so far. VERY Nice setup you've built too!

 

[fosaisu]

I also went with the Monster 2.0 Pro, I just couldn't justify spending another $300 on the Power Grinder (at least not yet). I blew $11 on the cabinet from the local Hospice thrift store, $50 on a HF drill, $15 or so on the duct pieces, and a few electrical parts I had laying around. Came out pretty good I think, and a quick pound or two through it seemed to go perfectly. Maybe some day I'll give it a coat of paint.

Looks awesome! What kind of hardware specifically are you using to secure the drill? I've just been holding mine by hand and it's hell on the wrists trying to fire it up when the hopper's full!

 

[RocketBrewer]

Looks awesome! What kind of hardware specifically are you using to secure the drill? I've just been holding mine by hand and it's hell on the wrists trying to fire it up when the hopper's full!

I used this drill from harbor freight. It has threaded holes on top and both sides for the extra handle. I just cut and drilled some angle iron to hold it in place. I did also have to cut a slot in them where the drill motor vents. You can see one of them in the picture. It's very sturdy.

 

[tempestman]

Here are a few pics of my motorized cereal killer. I wanted it to be simple and compact. The drill speed is a little fast but it doesn't seem to effect the crush very much. All I had to do you mount it up was put a 1/2 spacer under the mill for the right angle drill to align with the shaft and one u bolt holds it plenty secure.

Here is a link to the drill I used. https://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tools/drills/performax-3-8-in-right-angle-drill/p-2046804-c-9072.htm