Successes and failures with grain mills, what mill has worked best for you?
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I kept a note of the size. It is an 8 mm thread with a recessed hex in the head. It was a little too long, so used a few washers to seat it.
I use a Ridgid 18 volt drill.
Maybe you have the mill too tight. Mine is set just at the point where I can't turn it by hand without the handle. Basically just snug.
I was just about to say the same thing! Looks like the best of both worlds in regards to price and type (3 roller). Here is the link to the Kegco Mill thread.
1977Brewer
Free Dan Hess.
Caught it on sale in Amazon. May have been $25. Used my church's Prime account, free 2 day shipping FTW.
Another +1 on the el-cheapo corona mill. I have over 50 batches on mine, without a single adjustment needed after getting the crush where I wanted.
I modified mine to to add an electric drill to power it for $0. I removed the handle, and then grinded down the bolt head that attached the handle to the mill. I then just attach the drill to the grinded down bolt head. Works great. I also spent about $5 on a tupperware container to catch the grain and used some scrap wood to put together a base for it. I had some sheet metal lying around that I formed into a cone and put into the hopper, which gives my grinder a roughly 15 pound capacity, which is enough to hold my entire grain bill in probably 95% of my brews.
Here's a picture of her (without the larger hopper attached). She's ugly and cheap, but she's mine, and paid for!
I'm about $30 all in. I'll probably eventually replace this with a nice mill... But that won't be for a LONG time, since it's about dead last on my list of things to upgrade in my brewery.
I modified mine to to add an electric drill to power it for $0. I removed the handle, and then grinded down the bolt head that attached the handle to the mill. I then just attach the drill to the grinded down bolt head. Works great. I also spent about $5 on a tupperware container to catch the grain and used some scrap wood to put together a base for it. I had some sheet metal lying around that I formed into a cone and put into the hopper, which gives my grinder a roughly 15 pound capacity, which is enough to hold my entire grain bill in probably 95% of my brews.
Here's a picture of her (without the larger hopper attached). She's ugly and cheap, but she's mine, and paid for!
I'm about $30 all in. I'll probably eventually replace this with a nice mill... But that won't be for a LONG time, since it's about dead last on my list of things to upgrade in my brewery.
1977Brewer
Free Dan Hess.
And I did mod it, I expanded the hopper with a protein powder tub I rescued from the trash.
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iijakii
Well-Known Member
do you even grind bro?
JosephN
Well-Known Member
Who is this question directed to? I'm looking at getting something very soon and wanted to see what people had to say about their mills.
iijakii
Well-Known Member
From the mills I've used and the ones I only read about I gather they are all useable! I would even say they all can make a great beer if you do a little reading on how to best utilize them. What ever you buy you'll have to learn the machine. The question is what best fits you. Some of us have unlimited space and others must work from a closet. Some of us have unlimited funds and others have to save our change all month just to buy ingredients. Whatever you buy take the time to learn it, set it up, clean it, adjust it. Different speeds give different results. Different crush thickness gives different results. Learn the machine! I have a $40 corona mill and my local homebrew shop has a $200 roller mill. Both have made great beer for me, but both were set and used properly. Equipment is great but if you can't use it properly you may as well not even have it! Whatever you do, don't buy a $250 mill and then brew twice a year. Nothing sadder than a sports car that never gets driven!
Not sure if this would tip the balance for a few of you on the fence. From a few conversations I had with those who know, the Crankandsteins beat the Monster Mills in many regards. As a matter of fact they used to be the same company and split up. Crankandstein is owned by the machinist, Monster Mill by the salesman. Who would you rather buy from?
I came to this knowledge after I had already owned the MM2 for a few years. I then inadvertently bent the 3/8" drive shaft when the HF Low Speed Heavy Duty drill turned unexpectedly, wedging itself between the shaft and the crappy MDF base board. Reason this happened, the non-driven roller had locked itself up after 2 months of non-use. Fortunately I was able to straighten the shaft adequately, then re-designed and built a new baseboard that now secures the drill properly. It won't ever move again. Lesson learned: make sure the slave roller spins freely before milling!
The Barley Crushers are made in China and sold by a company that doesn't honor its advertised "lifetime warranty." They won't even answer your email or pick up the phone. There are numerous reports on that.
For comparison, when I contacted Monster Mill for replacement options after I had bent the shaft, the owner answered my email within hours, and I could buy a new shaft/roller assembly and upgrade to the 1/2" shaft with new bushings at the same time. Some day I may spring for that, but it ain't free.
From what I understand the Crankandstein's shaft is detachable from the drive roller. That's better engineering too!
I came to this knowledge after I had already owned the MM2 for a few years. I then inadvertently bent the 3/8" drive shaft when the HF Low Speed Heavy Duty drill turned unexpectedly, wedging itself between the shaft and the crappy MDF base board. Reason this happened, the non-driven roller had locked itself up after 2 months of non-use. Fortunately I was able to straighten the shaft adequately, then re-designed and built a new baseboard that now secures the drill properly. It won't ever move again. Lesson learned: make sure the slave roller spins freely before milling!
The Barley Crushers are made in China and sold by a company that doesn't honor its advertised "lifetime warranty." They won't even answer your email or pick up the phone. There are numerous reports on that.
For comparison, when I contacted Monster Mill for replacement options after I had bent the shaft, the owner answered my email within hours, and I could buy a new shaft/roller assembly and upgrade to the 1/2" shaft with new bushings at the same time. Some day I may spring for that, but it ain't free.
From what I understand the Crankandstein's shaft is detachable from the drive roller. That's better engineering too!
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Cereal Killer here: http://www.homebrewing.org/Cereal-Killer-Grain-Mill_p_2310.html
Does a great job
Does a great job
logdrum
Well-Known Member
I bought the Monster Mill & have had mostly trouble free use (occasionally the free roller needs a little coaxing..) plus I like the hopper design a lot. However, if I were to do it again (I hope not) I'd probably get the Crankandstein owing to the gear driven second roller.
logdrum
Well-Known Member
JosephN
Well-Known Member
JosephN
Well-Known Member
I think you sold me on the crankandatein mill. I'm looking at the 3D with hopper and base. I like the added gears in the end of each wheel helping it get started easier. The only thing is that I see that they are in the middle of moving and if I order one it might take who knows how long to get it. I messaged them to see how long it would be before they reopened and hope to get a reply before too long.
Thanks for the info and suggestion.
wilserbrewer
BIAB Expert Tailor
Good choice, hope they open back up soon.
From their site "Please note: We are closed now and in the middle of moving the shop. It will be a while longer before things are back in order"
http://www.crankandstein.net/
Well, I didn't mean to be that persuasive, but they're great mills.
I was looking at the 2D and 3D too at the time. Not sure what made me buy the MM2 instead. Maybe it was availability too at the time and the good reviews on the MM2.
I ordered the MM2 with 3/8" shaft, but after the 3/8" drill I had in mind using couldn't even touch the job, I bought the 1/2" HF, then regretting not getting the 1/2" shaft from the get go.
A motor well-aligned to the shaft should work flawlessly, regardless of the 1/8" spindle difference, but dangling that heavy drill from the shaft is not an appealing thought.
They may have a few in stock, ready to ship, who knows. I see they sell the 1/2" adapter, but that doesn't change the shaft at the bearing, which is where it counts the most.
This weekend I was at a small new startup brewery (1.5 barrel boils for now) and they are using an MM2. Now that's a good testing arena for its durability, I'd say. I'll keep checking it.
JosephN
Well-Known Member
Well, I didn't mean to be that persuasive, but they're great mills.
I was looking at the 2D and 3D too at the time. Not sure what made me buy the MM2 instead. Maybe it was availability too at the time and the good reviews on the MM2.
I ordered the MM2 with 3/8" shaft, but after the 3/8" drill I had in mind using couldn't even touch the job, I bought the 1/2" HF, then regretting not getting the 1/2" shaft from the get go.
A motor well-aligned to the shaft should work flawlessly, regardless of the 1/8" spindle difference, but dangling that heavy drill from the shaft is not an appealing thought.
They may have a few in stock, ready to ship, who knows. I see they sell the 1/2" adapter, but that doesn't change the shaft at the bearing, which is where it counts the most.
This weekend I was at a small new startup brewery (1.5 barrel boils for now) and they are using an MM2. Now that's a good testing arena for its durability, I'd say. I'll keep checking it.
I was trying to check with crabkandstein before I ordered because I just wanted to make sure they could ship one or if I would have to wait 2-4 months. I'm sure they probably have a few already made but if my card is charged and it takes them 2-4 months to get my mill that's not gonna work. I need one at least in the next month.
Let me know how the mill works at the brewery, and I would have thought they would use something larger than the MM2.
+100. I have run over 400lbs of grain through it and its still working like a champ.
MM-3 for me. I bought the stainless rolls and 1/2" drive. It was way before they offered 2.0 and hardened rolls. I will say it has been love and hate. I've had difficulty with it always wanting to feed. I've milled 70 sacks I guess with it. I mounted and old 1/2" drill to it and run it through a HFreight router speed control to slow it down. I think I have it finally worked out. I would buy the 2 roll 2.0 mill. Less to mess with. Not sure there is any gain in the 3 roll mill. My crush does look awesome. I do not condition. I couldn't see the extra work worth it. Since I fly sparge, I think speed control is important. If I batch sprarges I'd crank it down and run it through at full speed. I bought my mill when Fred had just started Monster. The mills have improved greatly and wouldn't even consider another mill. I know many that love other brands. I burnt up a Barley Crusher in no time. This MM-3 is heavy built and will be left to my kid when I'm gone. If there is one thing I've learned, buying the best saves in the long run.
I will say I bought the MM-3 because I brew often. If I were brewing 4-5 times a year that Cereal Killer is darn reasonable. I'd have no problem with that mill. I'm running another 30# through mine tomorrow.
I am another satisfied Corona style owner. I have done over 75 brews in about 4 years. I spent about 1 hour adjusting it 4 years ago and have not adjusted anything since....
I get consistent results. It also only cost me a dollar or so. A couple of washers and some tape..... It was a Christmas present.
I get consistent results. It also only cost me a dollar or so. A couple of washers and some tape..... It was a Christmas present.
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I have my mm2 mounted to a table love joy coupled to a motor and 90 degree gear reducer. Absolutely love it!
gotraut
Active Member
Exact same here. The way to go IMHO.
MollyHatchet
Well-Known Member
I fall into the Barley Crusher group. I am About 100 batches or so In to it and it is beginning to loose its grip on the grain. I took it apart and cleaned it real well, and oiled the rollers. It's working, but several times while trying to crush a batch it looses its grip on the grain and just spins. I've given up on the drill because it would never bite on the grain. I put the handle on and it works, but as, I said it looses it grip. I found if I turn the handle backwards a rotation or two, it will then bite onto the grain again. I have ten kegs (full) standing by waiting to be tapped, so I have a little time to wait on the crankandstein folks to get back up and running.
I do like the look of the 3D with the geared rollers, something I was surprised all mills didn't have.
PS: I usually brew four to six times per month, five gallon batches.
I do like the look of the 3D with the geared rollers, something I was surprised all mills didn't have.
PS: I usually brew four to six times per month, five gallon batches.
