My Ugly Junk- Corona Mill Station...

[BlakeL]

here is cheap...not sure if it is cheapest, $25 free ship
http://www.discounttommy.com/p-189-premium-cast-iron-corn-grinder-for-wheat-grains-or-use-as-a-nut-mill.aspx

Does this look like the same one everyone uses?

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=330797119941&index=23&nav=SEARCH&nid=07956176982

 

[philber]

Does this look like the same one everyone uses?

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=330797119941&index=23&nav=SEARCH&nid=07956176982

That is the one I bought a few months back. I have done 4 batches with it so far and no complaints.

 

[tre9er]

The way the buckets I used are formed, I can't use the included hand crank.

I had to cut off a good portion of the lower bucket's flare to get the crank to still work. Which was a good thing because I had a drill issue one day and strike was heating, some grain already crushed, etc.

 

[tre9er]

You guys who have lids on the top, just a word of caution that may or may not apply to everyone...I have had to adjust the gap settings on the fly at times depending on kernel size, speed, etc. Especially if you grind multiple different grains at once. I constantly check the crush and tweak if needed. Reason being is twice now I've had grain that was uncrushed, maybe 5% of the bill, and either had to run it back through or get crappy efficiency.

 

[BlakeL]

Has anyone ordered this exact one? Since I have prime, it might be a better option even though it's a bit more expensive.

http://www.amazon.com/Weston-Cereal-and-Multi-Grain-Mill/dp/B000T3ML4G/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=6MRFB3FU3OTH&coliid=I1346OQJANT2X9

This is the cheapest that I have found.

http://www.discounttommy.com/p-189-premium-cast-iron-corn-grinder-for-wheat-grains-or-use-as-a-nut-mill.aspx

 

[BBBF]

I've been using one that I bought from discount tommy for 3 years.

 

[Stauffbier]

You guys are getting way to technical to still fall under "ugly junk"! I aint got no lid or containment bucket! I still tie a trash bag around the grinding plates of my Corona. It's a fun little dance trying to keep the grinding plates from grabbing the bag, but that's what makes it ugly junk! Then I just pick up the bag and dump'er in to the MLT!

Cheers friends!

 

[borden]

It's a fun little dance trying to keep the grinding plates from grabbing the bag

I do have a bucket, but use a garbage bag over the top of the whole shebang to keep the dust and flying barley in. My latest brewday involved some extra work when my bag got wrapped around the outer grinding plate's tightening rod thing (very technical description I know). Had to pick shreds of plastic out of the grist after cutting the tightly-wound plastic off. All part of the adventure, I suppose.

 

[Stauffbier]

Had to pick shreds of plastic out of the grist after cutting the tightly-wound plastic off. All part of the adventure, I suppose.

Don't bother picking them out. Just consider them as Lautering Medium!

 

[tre9er]

You guys are getting way to technical to still fall under "ugly junk"! I aint got no lid or containment bucket! I still tie a trash bag around the grinding plates of my Corona. It's a fun little dance trying to keep the grinding plates from grabbing the bag, but that's what makes it ugly junk! Then I just pick up the bag and dump'er in to the MLT!

Cheers friends!

No lid here, either. I have a modified milk jug over the plates to keep it all channeled downward. And even though it's mostly a hands-free operation, the use of a milk-crate, 2x4's, two bungee cords, 5gal buckets and a water jug makes it plenty ugly-junk, me thinks.

 

[MMJfan]

Has anyone ordered this exact one? Since I have prime, it might be a better option even though it's a bit more expensive.

http://www.amazon.com/Weston-Cereal-and-Multi-Grain-Mill/dp/B000T3ML4G/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=6MRFB3FU3OTH&coliid=I1346OQJANT2X9

This is the cheapest that I have found.

http://www.discounttommy.com/p-189-premium-cast-iron-corn-grinder-for-wheat-grains-or-use-as-a-nut-mill.aspx

I just ordered this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Hopper-Cast-Grinder-Wheat-Grain/dp/B0038NPJVG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1349460169&sr=8-6&keywords=corona+grain+mill

It was only $3.95 but the shipping was $22.50...

 

[Tinga]

Has anyone ordered this exact one? Since I have prime, it might be a better option even though it's a bit more expensive.

http://www.amazon.com/Weston-Cereal-and-Multi-Grain-Mill/dp/B000T3ML4G/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=6MRFB3FU3OTH&coliid=I1346OQJANT2X9

This is the cheapest that I have found.

http://www.discounttommy.com/p-189-premium-cast-iron-corn-grinder-for-wheat-grains-or-use-as-a-nut-mill.aspx

I got the one from discount tommy but I think I got free shipping on it.

 

[shoggoth]

I just built this bucket-topper for my corona mill. It doesn't keep 100% of the grain in the bucket but does a reasonable job. Fun to build!

 

[rico567]

That is far too well constructed and purty to win in any "ugly junk" category.

 

[WesleyS]

Here's my ugly junk.

 

[Revvy]

I just built this bucket-topper for my corona mill. It doesn't keep 100% of the grain in the bucket but does a reasonable job. Fun to build!

Rico's right, it fails the ugly junk test. It's too pretty. BUT it wins whatever award I could bestow for sheer coolness!!!!!!! Dude, I bet you could sell those, and have corona owners lining up to order it.

Here's my ugly junk.

THIS on the other hand wins the Ugly Junk category for the month of October!:rockin:

 

[WesleyS]

THIS on the other hand wins the Ugly Junk category for the month of October!:rockin:

Awesome. I knew I'd win. That milling station is a result of an AHS shipping box and an unwillingness to buy buckets.

 

[shoggoth]

Thanks Revvy. Not just for the compliments on the corona stand, but for all the help you have unknowingly given this long time lurker over the years!

 

[amandabab]

I just built this bucket-topper for my corona mill. It doesn't keep 100% of the grain in the bucket but does a reasonable job. Fun to build!

wow, thats pretty

 

[philber]

Here's my ugly junk.

Now that is some ugly junk!

+1

 

[pvtschultz]

Do you guys think that this thing has a chance to operate the mill. I'm cheaping out a bit on the HF low speed drill even though it is on sale right now...

http://www.sciplus.com/search.cfm?u...234567894=&term=40588&btnHand.x=0&btnHand.y=0

 

[camiller]

Do you guys think that this thing has a chance to operate the mill. I'm cheaping out a bit on the HF low speed drill even though it is on sale right now...

http://www.sciplus.com/search.cfm?u...234567894=&term=40588&btnHand.x=0&btnHand.y=0

I've looked at that moter a couple times but always shied off from " Shaft thread is non-standard, so treat it as a smooth shaft and mount pulley or gear with a setscrew" since I didn't want to spend more hacking up a coupler than on the motor itself. If you do end up using it let us know if it works. If motors like than can move a car seat with my weight in it I would think it has enough torque.

 

[rico567]

Awesome. I knew I'd win. That milling station is a result of an AHS shipping box and an unwillingness to buy buckets.

On the whole, I'd agree with Revvy's assessment, and give this one the October prize. But the high level of craftsmanship fitting the 2x4 and the mill into the box could have cost you the award, although a crumpled plastic bag is always endearing. Be careful next time!

 

[WesleyS]

On the whole, I'd agree with Revvy's assessment, and give this one the October prize. But the high level of craftsmanship fitting the 2x4 and the mill into the box could have cost you the award, although a crumpled plastic bag is always endearing. Be careful next time!

You're right, maybe too much craftsmanship went into cutting the holes just right for the 2x4 and the handle. Glad you like the trash bag though.

 

[MMJfan]

Question. I just assembled a corona mill bucket system I plan on using for BIAB. I was just wondering how fine I should crush the grains? And how exactly do you adjust the grinder? My mill didn't come with any instructions?!

 

[wilserbrewer]

Question. I just assembled a corona mill bucket system I plan on using for BIAB. I was just wondering how fine I should crush the grains? And how exactly do you adjust the grinder? My mill didn't come with any instructions?!

Crush some grain and closely examine the crush. Tighten the mill until very nearly all the grains are broken and in pieces. NO WHOLE GRAINS REMAINING! Thats about it....cheers

 

[shoggoth]

I'm hardly the Corona mill settings master, but I got 75% efficiency on a BIAB Octoberfesty ale I brewed yesterday by doing the following: 1) tighten mill until you hear a grinding sound when it's running, 2) back off this setting just a bit - at this point you hear more of a light "clacking" sound, 3) run some grain through - the clacking sound will disappear as the grains between the plates prevent the wobbly-clacky noise.

Looking at the result, this left me with very little uncrushed grain. If your mill doesn't wobble as much as mine does you can presumably do something more sophisticated lol.

 

[tre9er]

I've found on my mill that one side of the plates deliver more flour and the other side delivers more larger particles. It balances out in the end as I have plenty of husks for lautering. I constantly place my hand under each side during milling (drill setup, see earlier posts in this thread) and check the crush. I've had to dial it down during the milling at times due to grain size variances, especially with multiple grains in the bill.

 

[MMJfan]

Here are pics of my creation over the weekend:

Not too bad for about a half hours work after partaking in a few beverages while watching Michigan beat Illinois' a$$ Saturday afternoon!

Also, here are pics of some grains I crushed in a test run.

Does this look like ok?

 

[tre9er]

Yeah, kinda hard to tell from pics. Don't be afraid of flour. You want to ensure ZERO uncrushed grains. As long as you have SOME husks present, that's enough to form the lauter bed. I crush pretty fine, personally.