My Ugly Junk- Corona Mill Station...

[wilserbrewer]

I saw an Instructable page containing mods for corona mills, and the poster had removed the plate and cotter pin and cut threads on the shaft with a 1/2" die, and replaced the plate and pin with a nut and rubber o-ring. Just curious if anyone has tried this?

The castings on my mill are so bad, they form pivot points for the moving plate. It would continue to wobble even if I cut threads and bolted it tightly. I have filed and Dremeled the surfaces to reduce the rocking but I have not eliminated it.

I have seen the instructable page whereby the mill shaft is threaded, while a noble effort, I think the return is questionable for the work involved.

There was a time where I thought the best solution was to fix the burr plate to the shaft and make it true without wobble, but lately I am of the opinion that it is easier and very effective to just make the burr plate free to woble by either grinding excess material, installing a smaller cotter pin....etc.

If the burr plate is "free" and not binding on the shaft, it will true itself due to the pressure of the grain and produce a nice crush...

 

[Sbarnard80]

This is the one I use, and it's pretty solid. No quality issues that I can see. It doesn't have a cover, so I had to rig a large Folgers can over it, but it works great!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000U5NZ4I/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Just ordered one of these yesterday as an Xmas present to myself. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks to all for helping me decide to go corona vs a much more expensive roller.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Discount Tommy strikes again via Amazon. Several here are happy with that deal...cheers!

 

[Dynachrome]

Used it last night. We ground 32-1/2 lbs in about 15 minutes.

 

[tennesseean_87]

I've been having some efficiency trouble, and I think it's related to my trying to use a cheap CL craftsman drill. It seems like the quic vibrations loosened the wing nuts that hold the shield/crush adjustment mechanism to the main body (the ones some people have to stack washers in).

I've tightened them up and am readjusting my crush to try to get back to my efficiency before this happened. I'll just stick to hand-milling for now. I don't have to pay for a gym membership!

 

[wilserbrewer]

vibrations loosened the wing nuts that hold the shield/crush adjustment mechanism

I find it helps to tighten the wing nuts with a pair of pliers, hand tight will tend to wander IMH.

 

[DanVSTL]

Found an old 1/2 heavy duty drill to use. Does not have a speed control and lists at 500rpm. Anyone have any troubles at that speed?

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[wilserbrewer]

Found an old 1/2 heavy duty drill to use. Does not have a speed control and lists at 500rpm. Anyone have any troubles at that speed?

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500 RPM might be a little quick, but that should / will slow a bit due to the load of the mill, I would think that drill will work well!

cheers!

 

[Chefboubou]

Mill a few lbs, then uncouple the mill and let it rotate without load to cool down. I do that every couple lbs and it has been fine so far

 

[horseinmay]

After clumsily using a corona mill for over 10 years, I've created a permanent solution and want to show it off. I've seen a lot of ways to mount a mill on a bucket, but too many involve cutting into the bucket which has two disadvantages - 1.makes the bucket useless for other purposes, and 2.creates a big bucket/mill contraption that is hard to store.

I think I've got a solution - the Corona Mill Bucket Topper.

It has a lid to cover the bucket and mount the mill, a hole through the middle to allow the grain to fall through, and legs to both hold it fast when mounted on the bucket, or hold it upright on any flat surface when not in use.

 

[Fast35]

Does that wobble around when you're cranking? Do the legs provide enough stability that it doesn't?

Do you use something to keep the grain channeled into the hole in the bucket?

 

[horseinmay]

Does that wobble around when you're cranking? Do the legs provide enough stability that it doesn't?

Do you use something to keep the grain channeled into the hole in the bucket?

The legs are spaced so that they fit snugly inside the bucket. Once I set it inside, I can lift the mill, and the bucket will come with it. It's pretty secure. I use a garbage bag tied around the mill plates to channel the grains into the hole.

 

[geoffm33]

The legs are spaced so that they fit snugly inside the bucket. Once I set it inside, I can lift the mill, and the bucket will come with it. It's pretty secure. I use a garbage bag tied around the mill plates to channel the grains into the hole.

Then you should attach the garbage bag and reshoot the photos so it will qualify as an "Ugly Junk" Corona mill

Love the setup!

 

[loucurr]

here is my porkers grain mill

 

[Sbarnard80]

Discount Tommy strikes again via Amazon. Several here are happy with that deal...cheers!

Only used it on 1 batch so far but hooked up to my half inch drill I used to use to mix thinset and worked like a charm. Perfect milling.

 

[Sbarnard80]

Just used my new corona with my new grinding bucket setup and word to the wise if you have not used one of these before, the ground grains shoot all over the place. I even have a shroud over the grinding plates but with just a few small gaps and I thought it would be ok. Good thing it was in the garage because it made a mess. Time to cut up some little wood pieces to cover those up.

 

[Dynachrome]

Only used it on 1 batch so far but hooked up to my half inch drill I used to use to mix thinset and worked like a charm. Perfect milling.

Yeah, man! ...half inch power drill - the only way to fly.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Just used my new corona with my new grinding bucket setup and word to the wise if you have not used one of these before, the ground grains shoot all over the place. I even have a shroud over the grinding plates but with just a few small gaps and I thought it would be ok. Good thing it was in the garage because it made a mess. Time to cut up some little wood pieces to cover those up.

Hey good for you! Word to the truly wise, put the mill entirely in the bucket, no mess at all, you could grind your grain in grandmas living room that spotless.

Yes, a big 1/2" drill will work wonders and can run all day into the night on a corona mill.
Cheers
Wilser

 

[DonH]

hell yeah! love this idea! already purchased a corona mill on amazon about 10 minutes ago! i have all the rest laying around! thanks alot wilserbrewer! Also i purchased a BIAB bag ultra kit from you earlier today

 

[geoffm33]

Just your typical bucket-in-a-bucket Corona Mill.

 

[yewtah-brewha]

Just your typical bucket-in-a-bucket Corona Mill.

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So is the idea here to have the grain fall to the bottom, then raise the top bucket leaving a easily dump-able milled grain?

 

[geoffm33]

So is the idea here to have the grain fall to the bottom, then raise the top bucket leaving a easily dump-able milled grain?

Exactly. Running my first grain bill through it tonight, so I hope the plan works

 

[exc503]

This is what we came up with. Just bench mounted with a chute.

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[Chefboubou]

Lol, I hope you didn't use your wife's jeans for that!


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[exc503]

No worse. Went to the local thrift shop and bought little boy jeans. That was an awkward purchase.

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[geoffm33]

Just did my first grind on the new bucket system and drill. Had hand cranked up until now. Small grain bill for a 2.5g batch of Centennial Blonde. Tore through it in a couple of minutes.

Thanks Ugly Junk!

 

[Northbanu]

I've been reading thru this thread with great interest and have seen a few burned out drills. I just thought I should mention that running a drill (especially for extended periods) on long small gauge extension cords (20' and up on say 14 gauge or 50 footer w/ 12 gauge) can starve a motor of amps and shorten it's life. I just thought I'd throw that out there. I know it's common to have a 50' cord on a reel in the garage and just plug into it even though your right next to the outlet that the reel/cord is plugged into. It wont be a problem for running a quick screw or drilling a few holes, but it would be for 5 minutes (or more) of continual use.

 

[troy2000]

Just your typical bucket-in-a-bucket Corona Mill.

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OMG!!! You're using Homer buckets, instead of food grade buckets?

Yer gonna die, yer gonna die, yer gonna die....

 

[lumpy5oh]

Here is my mill. I do BIAB so I line the bottom bucket with the bag. Works great for me.

 

[iluvmysh]

so i read somewhere in this thread where it was advised that if you think you've tightened down the mill to where the grain is fine enough, tighten down some more. which is what i did this past weekend on my first go at it. i had to loosen it up because my grounds came out like powder. and this is the first time i've ever had a stuck sparge.