My Ugly Junk- Corona Mill Station...

[Stuntman]

My Dewalt 24v can almost get 21 lbs on one charged battery, seems like I switch it for last two or so pounds. I have an old electric (small) it about goes up in flames after just 40 secs of grinding. It is really old, and small though.

 

[rico567]

I thought about using my Hitachi battery powered drill, but there wasn't any good reason. I'm using the pictured antique Craftsman 1/2" 110V drill, which is geared so that it has plenty of power to run the Corona mill. Gets pretty warm by the time I go through 15 pounds of grist, though:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attach...-my-ugly-junk-corona-mill-station-corona5.jpg

 

[RichBenn]

My Dewalt 24v can almost get 21 lbs on one charged battery, seems like I switch it for last two or so pounds. I have an old electric (small) it about goes up in flames after just 40 secs of grinding. It is really old, and small though.

Yeah, my Mikita is very old, wearing out a newer but old technology battery, which is probably alot of the problem. Enough torque with the right RPM is the story. Most small electrics have a high RPM and/or a cheap speed controller with not much torque - not the best combo for this application, IMHO. I was kinda lucky on my HF right angle drill - it's geared down for lower rpm applications and has alot of torque, as it's the same as what is used on their grinders. One of those cheap, throwaway buys for a single problem and it turns out to actually hold up for other applications...

 

[RichBenn]

I thought about using my Hitachi battery powered drill, but there wasn't any good reason. I'm using the pictured antique Craftsman 1/2" 110V drill, which is geared so that it has plenty of power to run the Corona mill. Gets pretty warm by the time I go through 15 pounds of grist, though:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attach...-my-ugly-junk-corona-mill-station-corona5.jpg

LOL, your stand looks like mine!

 

[like2brew]

subscribed

 

[Stuntman]

Yeah, my Mikita is very old, wearing out a newer but old technology battery, which is probably alot of the problem. Enough torque with the right RPM is the story. Most small electrics have a high RPM and/or a cheap speed controller with not much torque - not the best combo for this application, IMHO. I was kinda lucky on my HF right angle drill - it's geared down for lower rpm applications and has alot of torque, as it's the same as what is used on their grinders. One of those cheap, throwaway buys for a single problem and it turns out to actually hold up for other applications...

Yeah, the lower gear, wide open in one hand. A cold HB in the other! My Dewalt is pretty new at this point, but I guess that it needs to be put in the budget for making beer. I plan on using it a WHOLE lot!

 

[reptileszz]

Hi guys, thanks for all the help and your patience with my odd request of a couple of weeks ago... dog food, grinders and roaches oh my! My husband found a grinder similar to y'all's at a car swap meet last week for THREE BUCKS. I wasnt sure it would work but the "bread crumber" attachment works just fine. Its a workout grinding it up but it sure beats the tiny electric coffee grinder I was using!

Thanks again!
Carole (and the roaches)

 

[Revvy]

Hi guys, thanks for all the help and your patience with my odd request of a couple of weeks ago... dog food, grinders and roaches oh my! My husband found a grinder similar to y'all's at a car swap meet last week for THREE BUCKS. I wasnt sure it would work but the "bread crumber" attachment works just fine. Its a workout grinding it up but it sure beats the tiny electric coffee grinder I was using!

Thanks again!
Carole (and the roaches)

Good job Carole!!! Glad we could help you and your little friends.

 

[Joe C]

Here is the sexiest Corona mill ever:

That's right. 45 degree cut on the end of it, and it's long enough that I can put my leg on one side and my arm on the other to stabilize. the 45 degree cut is where I rest my foot.

Tin foil covers the area where the grain drops, and i bend it so that the grain doesn't go everywhere.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Try a longer board for more leverage while grinding...nice floor btw.

A corona mill that actually says "Corona", oh my!

 

[Joe C]

the board is about 6' long

 

[DanPoch]

I doubt I'll win any prize for th ugliest as that's already well earned.
But here's my rig.

 

[Revvy]

Sorry DanPoch, your contribution is way to clean and well put together to be a contender for ugly junk...but it is still nifty though.

 

[rico567]

I doubt I'll win any prize for th ugliest as that's already well earned.
But here's my rig.

I agree...nice rig, but way too much craftsmanship for the likes of my in-bucket monster (see pic links at https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-ugly-junk-corona-mill-station-90849/index21.html#post1408147). And mine is still not ugly enough to win or place.....

 

[Saint Aardvark]

I doubt I'll win any prize for th ugliest as that's already well earned.
But here's my rig.

Ditto, nice rig! I particularly like the ziplock bag.

 

[DanPoch]

Thanks Guys

I whipped this up in an evening after seeing all the rigs here. I love all the ideas this community has to share.

I've got some metal flashing lying around that I'm hoping to get around to making a chute to replace the bag with. Time will tell...the SWMBO is starting to think I'm spending too much time on my 'hobby'.

 

[Myrdhyn]

I got the OK from SWMBO to buy a grain mill (up to BC price) for Christmas. Was leaning towards the Crankandstein w/Hopper+Base kit on BMWH until I remembered this thread, tweaking this thing has the DIYer in me interested. Other than an excuse to tinker in the garage and the obvious one of "It's 20% the cost," what other reasons would there be to pickup one of these instead of the crankandstein.

In otherwords, talk me into this thing, so I can save money for more beer, I'm halfway convinced already.

edit: If I make one of these uglified and post pics with my ugly immersion chiller next to it, can I get bonus ugly-points?

 

[Revvy]

I got the OK from SWMBO to buy a grain mill (up to BC price) for Christmas. Was leaning towards the Crankandstein w/Hopper+Base kit on BMWH until I remembered this thread, tweaking this thing has the DIYer in me interested. Other than an excuse to tinker in the garage and the obvious one of "It's 20% the cost," what other reasons would there be to pickup one of these instead of the crankandstein.

In otherwords, talk me into this thing, so I can save money for more beer, I'm halfway convinced already.

edit: If I make one of these uglified and post pics with my ugly immersion chiller next to it, can I get bonus ugly-points?

No, you're a grownup, you can make your own decision.

My only answer is that it is good enough for Charlie Papazian to get 87% efficiency with, and that's good enough for me.

That and the 4-5 batches of allgrain beer I can make with the $100.000 + bucks I've saved.

 

[Myrdhyn]

Hahah, yeah I'm pretty sure I'm going with this as I'm sure you can tell by my previous post. The money savings and more importantly opportunity to tinker are just too tempting.

I agree, I'm considering using the 100+ I'm going to save and picking up a sack of MO and/or a sack of 2-Row.

 

[Chosenwon]

Definitely ugly. I like it!

 

[ihatehoward]

if you want to cut down on flying bits, you can just grind your grain at my house. hell, you can even brew your beer at my house..i will take more pictures next time..
mike

 

[Revvy]

if you want to cut down on flying bits, you can just grind your grain at my house. hell, you can even brew your beer at my house..i will take more pictures next time..
mike

Yeah buddy, but sometimes I just gotta go solo.

 

[Myrdhyn]

Well, my corona knockoff arrived today (thanks to Revvy's kick in the pants), and WOW you guys weren't kidding when you said the manufacturers had no idea what the word "tolerances" means. Can't wait for my next trip to LowesDepot to pick up stuff to uglify this thing!

Did anyone else's smell strongly of petroleum (oil/gas) when it came out of the box?

 

[defenestrate]

well reading this thread made me forget about getting a $$$ mill and trying the corona. i hope this is worthy of ugly rig status, i'm completely copying off of the water jug-in-the-lid design... i will be getting a 3 gal water jug in the next couple days to finish the deal.

i replaced the cotter pin with the 8/32 bolt, but left it loose for some play. i also added the 2 washers. i threw this together with two 5 gal buckets in about 30 min, its completely uneven, totally ghetto and on the whim with what i had laying around... and i made sure i didnt measure anything. i wanted to make sure i was paying more attention to my pints than the beauty of this piece. i have the 2 hunks of 2x4 on the sides almost at the bottom of the top bucket, allowing the entire bottom bucket to be filled. when finished crushing i will just take off the top bucket and the lower will be full and ready for the mash. the longer, vertical piece of 2x4 is there to stabilize the entire thing... the weight of the mill wanted to tip it all backwards.

i'm going to be picking up a sack of pale ale malt either tomorrow or friday and i plan on doing a few smash recipes to dial in some effeciency. i'll post up the finished product when i get the hopper set up. cheers.

 

[Revvy]

That's so ugly it's purdy, Defenestrate!!!

Since I'm off between Christmas and New Years I am going to re-do mine and go with the 2 buckets + water jug design with mine. Good by ugly choo choo, hello double bucket design.

 

[defenestrate]

That's so ugly it's purdy, Defenestrate!!!

Since I'm off between Christmas and New Years I am going to re-do mine and go with the 2 buckets + water jug design with mine. Good by ugly choo choo, hello double bucket design.

i am anticipating a little uneasiness with a loaded hopper added to it, so i might add a hunk of 2x4 perpendicular to the bottom of the lower bucket to give it a kick stand effect. i think that will really top of the ugliness. next is as many stickers as i can find.

 

[BBBF]

Well, my corona knockoff arrived today (thanks to Revvy's kick in the pants), and WOW you guys weren't kidding when you said the manufacturers had no idea what the word "tolerances" means. Can't wait for my next trip to LowesDepot to pick up stuff to uglify this thing!

Did anyone else's smell strongly of petroleum (oil/gas) when it came out of the box?

They need to cover it in oil so that it doesn't rust while sitting in a warehouse. I couldn't get the bolts in because none of the holes where lined up. However. I could get the plate the straighten up by jamming the pin in further and turning it 180 degrees.

 

[starrfish]

DAAAAAAAMN! THAT's horrific! WAY beyond UGLY... BUT! great idea! I sometimes grind in livingroom (hell recently single if i make a mess WHO CARES) looking to ways to expand my texas flag hopper to take all grain & any suggestions on motorizing. not looking to hand crank any more than a mild since i'm making the jump to all grain...

may have a line on a spent cordless drill which only holds a charge for 1 hour... $10
will do da job! help me rig it!

 

[Saint Aardvark]

Hey everyone -- here's a video of my kids helping me grind barley with my Value Village $15 score:

[ame="http://vimeo.com/8424072"]http://vimeo.com/8424072[/ame]

Why am I adding it here? Well, it's hard to see in the video, but I don't need no stinkin' washers to keep the spacing right...I've used pennies instead. I figure that's gotta qualify for the thread, right?

 

[brewmonk]

Here is the sexiest Corona mill ever:

That's right. 45 degree cut on the end of it, and it's long enough that I can put my leg on one side and my arm on the other to stabilize. the 45 degree cut is where I rest my foot.

Tin foil covers the area where the grain drops, and i bend it so that the grain doesn't go everywhere.

Ya know, I always thought that it was just a *RUMOR* that you could strap a board across somethings ass so it wouldn't fall in. Damn, it's TRUE!