Should I buy this grain Mill?

[beerlover77]

So I have a chance at getting a used
Miller’s Mill B3 barley Mill
Is is described as ‘older but very functional.

Is this a Mill worth owning? If so how much would it be worth?

Right now I have a corona Mill in a bucket

 

[JohnSand]

There is a thread about Millar's Mills, with some B3 reviews.
I just bought a Millar's Pilot. I have only used it once, but it is a huge upgrade over my Corona.
I hand mill, the corona was fine for five gallon batches, insufficient for ten gallons. So far I have only made a five gallon batch with the Millar, 12.4# grain went through pretty quickly and easily.

 

[beerlover77]

Thanks

Kinda mixed reviews but definitely would be a big upgrade to the corona. For the right price I think it's worth it to me

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

A video shows it as a 2 roller mill. Looks like any other mill with a bigger hopper. How much can you get it for? It also has 2 bar instead of a wood base. The wood base is made to sit on any 5 gallon bucket and keeps a TON of dust in the bucket..I would choose that base over a rails anyday

Many including myself use a cereal killer mill. Mines like new after 4 years and hundreds of pounds of grain. $100 shipped NEW...just an option

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi_876_7vjYAhWFmeAKHcfGC1gQFgg2MAA&url=https://www.homebrewing.org/Cereal-Killer-Grain-Mill_p_2310.html&usg=AOvVaw1F1ZG04gUJ0IRS2XQr1u-5

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I cant even find one for sale? Out of business?

I would offer $40 no shipping. Otherwise might as well just buy a new one for $100...who knows how used it is..

 

[beerlover77]

Thanks for the replies

So just to be clear: I found a local add for a full 1 tap keg system and responded that I wanted only wanted the ball lock keg... he replied that he had not only these items but a bunch more including the Mill but didn't want to part out. As I have a Corona Mill that works I wasn't actively seeking another mill but this came up.
So I wasn't really wanting to spend over $50
I ended up buying all of what he had for super cheap.

The Mill ended up being like new condition.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/a-big-score-of-equipment.644359/

 

[beerlover77]

Used for the first time today. Nice upgrade over the corona as it is very adjustable and doesn't shred the husks. Got around 80% Eff

Even more importantly; no stuck sparge

 

[JohnSand]

Thanks for the update. My efficiency wasn't great on the first batch, but my strike water was too hot, initial mash temp was over 170. I quickly cooled it and had conversion, but I may have been low on enzymes.

 

[beerlover77]

Yes mash temp is super important,
How was your grind consistency? I noticed I had a few (not many) whole grains make it through mine so I tightened the gap and ran 2/3 through again... no whole kernels after this.

I like small chunks and some flour when I grind for max efficiency

 

[beerlover77]

 

[JohnSand]

I think the grind was pretty good, not as fine as I had with my corona though. I plan to brew again soon, I'll see how it goes.

 

[beerlover77]

So after using this mill a few times I noticed some grain slipping through it and into the bucket below. This is because there is a big gap on the outside of the rollers letting them through. There are metal deflectors designed to prevent this but they don't go to the edges.
If I don't mill twice my efficiency goes down noticably.

Does anyone have experience with this and have any suggestions?




This is an underneath view showing te gap on the outside:

This is a top view looking down showing the gaps in the deflector:

 

[JohnSand]

I have a similar problem, but only at the very beginning and end of grinding. My deflectors go to the sides, but not quite to the rollers. I bent them down slightly and just accept a couple of tablespoons of un-cracked grain. In your case I might use aluminum tape to close that gap. Or cut up a thin flexible roll up type of cutting board and gorilla tape it in. Not beautiful, but effective