Proud New Owner of a Barley Crusher!

[AnonyBrew]

BC check completed today. Oring removed, gap checked to be factory 0.39 with feeler gauge, and 1 lb. 2 row crushed to remove any debris. Also blew out good with air compressor. Ready for Wed. lager.

 

[ontap@home]

Got mine today, will use tomorrow!

 

[jfish63]

Did a test run on mine and adjusted the gap to .035 for a better crush. Using it in 30 minutes.

 

[enderwig]

Brewing my second beer with my barley crusher today, hopefully I get 80+ efficiency again!

 

[ontap@home]

Used it yesterday, did a 10 gallon Phat Trye Amber Ale. Adjusted to .037, great crush, hit my numbers dead on. Used on 20# of grain. I love it!

 

[AnonyBrew]

I used my crusher for 1st time today. For some reason, the factory default of 0.39" was too close & would not grab any of the kernels. I had to adjust it to 0.43" before it would work. After crushing it looked ok with no whole kernels remaining.

I used a feeler gauge to adjust it.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

I'm right there with ya, man. I got mine a few weeks ago and still haven't had time to use it. I'm brewing this weekend though so I'll get to break it in properly. :rockin:

 

[wildwest450]

Word to the wise, don't hook up a cordless drill and leave unattended. I used mine for the first time last week and when I went to get my grains I heard a loud crash!
The sound of my new barley crusher flipping out of the bucket and onto the cement floor. No damage done, but it will not hold up a drill without the hopper being full first. Learn from my stupidity.

 

[BlindLemonLars]

Word to the wise, don't hook up a cordless drill and leave unattended. I used mine for the first time last week and when I went to get my grains I heard a loud crash!

I went old school for my first brew with my barley crusher...hand crank!! Milling 11 pounds of grain required a lot more effort than I thought, and it was a little tricky to keep the mill steady while I cranked. But what the heck, exercise is a good thing, and I figured I burned enough calories to enjoy another pint while I brewed.

 

[enderwig]

I went old school for my first brew with my barley crusher...hand crank!! Milling 11 pounds of grain required a lot more effort than I thought,

You're a better man than me. I had the same thought, gave it about 10 cranks, then went and got the corded drill. I am entirely to lazy for that hand crank!

 

[brewt00l]

I went old school for my first brew with my barley crusher...hand crank!! Milling 11 pounds of grain required a lot more effort than I thought, and it was a little tricky to keep the mill steady while I cranked. But what the heck, exercise is a good thing, and I figured I burned enough calories to enjoy another pint while I brewed.

I have used it on 4 batches so far and I won't be motorizing it. I just put my knee or foot on the left front side of the base and that keeps it steady as she goes.

 

[MussBrew]

What size of hopper did you end up getting?

 

[enderwig]

What size of hopper did you end up getting?

I got the 7 lb hopper and added onto it myself, it's working out pretty good

 

[enderwig]

So, for the last two weeks I have had horrible brewing luck, I must have angered the beer gods in some way. 3 weeks ago, I had a nearly stuck sparge (slow), 2 weeks ago I had a very stuck sparge (resulted in the use of a pot and strainer, and 2 hours of time). So I took last week off. I am pretty sure that I needed it. So this week, I decided to set my barley crusher at .045 instead of .037 and went with a very simple blonde ale recipe. (2 row and crystal 10) And had a wonderfully refreshing brew day, albeit with poor efficiency(71%), but that's OK. So, things are looking up in my brewing world , I guess that I forgot to keep it simple and was pushing the efficiency envelope. Oh well, lesson learned!