Too cool, Too cool!!!
Using a pasta maker to mill grain.
- Thread starter Nostrildamus
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Dr_Deathweed
Well-Known Member
dammit! where were you ingenious bastages last year when I was looking for a grain mill!!!! 
Oh well, I guess I will just live with my 6" wide 2" diameter triple roller monster mill....
Oh well, I guess I will just live with my 6" wide 2" diameter triple roller monster mill....
MOSFET
Well-Known Member
Great job! I didn't expect knurling to work. Those are very hard rollers and yet hollow. I thought they'd need too much pressure on a lathe. My guy was hesitant to knurl.
By the way I think you meant 0.050".
NomNom
Active Member
This is great, I have an old pasta machine somewhere around the house I will have to dig out. Might try some different methods to see what kind of traction I can get on the rollers.
FWIW, Hobby Lobby usually has a 40% off coupon every other week. Just go to hobbylobby.com and click on "Weekly Specials". I picked up some rare earth magnets while I was there too for a stir plate.
FWIW, Hobby Lobby usually has a 40% off coupon every other week. Just go to hobbylobby.com and click on "Weekly Specials". I picked up some rare earth magnets while I was there too for a stir plate.
You are right. Too many zeros.
I am not going to complain for $26.50 invested so far and some scrap wood for a hopper.
NomNom
Active Member
Can anyone tell me how to get the rollers off of the machine? I got one of the sides off but can't for the life of me figure out how to pull the rollers off. Thanks
so this is what i want?
Amazon.com: Pasta Maker: Toys & Games
what do i need to make it automatic instead of hand crank?
Amazon.com: Pasta Maker: Toys & Games
what do i need to make it automatic instead of hand crank?
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brown_dog_us
Well-Known Member
Mine had a couple long bolts that ran side to side that kept the sides together and some screws holding the side to the base. You might want to try and rough up the rollers with a drill bit before you take the sides off.
brown_dog_us
Well-Known Member
That looks like it would work. I have this one: Amazon.com: V177 AL DENTE Pasta Machine: VillaWare: Home & Garden
Most people have used a drill to automate their mill. You can modify the crank arm that comes with it or use a 3/8 inch paddle bit like this: http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/jhtml/detail.jhtml?prodId=IrwinProd100186
The paddle bit fits right into the slot the crank arm goes in.
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conpewter
Well-Known Member
I found the same thing when I was working on mine. Unfortunately since it is a drill bit there was no way for me to drill a small hole through it to pin it. I'm not using a drill to automate so needed a way to put a couple pins through to attach it to the motor I am using.
Stick a screwdriver in the adjuster knob and tap it in there a few times with a hammer. The Plug will fall out, revealing a nut and a spring. Take them off, but mark the position of the dial on the adjuster knob i.e. setting 5 or 3 or 6. Then continue to remove parts until the rollers are free. You will need to remove some Retainer clips but they are very soft metal, be gentle.
Revvy also posted a link in this thread somewhere and in there is a link to disassembly. My pictures sucked so I didn't post them.
Use a section on the motor side and pin it, then use a coupler to join it and the drill bit together. I know it would need to be balanced pretty well but you'd get it figured out.
conpewter
Well-Known Member
Use a section on the motor side and pin it, then use a coupler to join it and the drill bit together. I know it would need to be balanced pretty well but you'd get it figured out.
True, I thought about that but I'm doing super-cheap
So far I have $18 into the whole build. If I had a coupler around I would have done what you mentioned. Instead I just cut and straightened the handle that came with the pasta roller.
True, I thought about that but I'm doing super-cheap
Thats what I did too. Its nearly straight, the slightest wobble but thats ok, the machine vibrates enough simply by crushing the grains that it negates the slight wobble introduced by the input shaft.
brown_dog_us
Well-Known Member
I know you guys are using motors, but I thought I would post 2 pics of the slot that the crank goes in and one showing the drill bit in there:
NomNom
Active Member
I picked this Rotary Rasp Set from Harbor Freight today for 3.99. I used them with my high speed corded drill and it roughed up the rollers really well. I'm sure its not as ideal as precision angled knurling, but they seem like they will get the job done. I will post pics later
mattmichielsen
New Member
You guys are awesome. Thanks for the idea.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbQl0bco04Q]YouTube - Grain Mill[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbQl0bco04Q]YouTube - Grain Mill[/ame]
conpewter
Well-Known Member
Hey all, my attempt to motorize this with a hand mixer failed. I had to use a screw-gun to run the mill. What are you all looking in to for motorizing?
For now, a drill, but I was looking at maybe a fan motor out of an old ceiling fan attached to a dimmer switch for speed control. I swear I had one I removed from my bedroom when I moved into the new house... where did I put that....
brown_dog_us
Well-Known Member
Mine is done and I used it last weekend (very first all-grain brew). My crush looked identical to what I received from Midwest so I considered it "working fine". I might tighten it a bit more next time to get it a little finer.
Sorry, no pictures, but everything worked fine. I'm using a 1 gallon juice bottle as my hopper and the crushed grain drops into a 5 gallon bucket. One of the machinists from work agreed to knurl the rollers for a 6 pack of homebrew (how horrible )
I used an old electric meat grinder from Harbor Freight (they no longer sell the one I used) to power it. A drill bit quick release was all I needed to connect the grinder to the 3/8 spade bit (very lucky coincidence there). The meat grinder is cheaply made and probably won't survive for long. I have a low speed high torque drill I'll try next. I just need to make something to hold it all together.
I also need to enlarge the hole through the bucket lid, the crushed grain really doesn't fall straight down.
I can post pictures if people are interested.
Sorry, no pictures, but everything worked fine. I'm using a 1 gallon juice bottle as my hopper and the crushed grain drops into a 5 gallon bucket. One of the machinists from work agreed to knurl the rollers for a 6 pack of homebrew (how horrible
)I used an old electric meat grinder from Harbor Freight (they no longer sell the one I used) to power it. A drill bit quick release was all I needed to connect the grinder to the 3/8 spade bit (very lucky coincidence there). The meat grinder is cheaply made and probably won't survive for long. I have a low speed high torque drill I'll try next. I just need to make something to hold it all together.
I also need to enlarge the hole through the bucket lid, the crushed grain really doesn't fall straight down.
I can post pictures if people are interested.
tipicreeper
Well-Known Member
Oh, you know the rule Misellus.
"No pics, no project"
Glad it's working out for you!
Cheers
"No pics, no project"
Glad it's working out for you!
Cheers
What did you cover it with that you put the juice jug in? Piece of clear plastic screwed in from the looks of it.
That is some much simpler than anything else I've seen.
Exactly.
It's a piece of generic tupperware I cut to the right width then used a heat gun to shape it around the top then screwed on. The hopper is simply press fit through a hole drilled through it. The hole is slightly smaller than the threads so it stays there. I might need to change it eventually but it works for now.
Randy
It's a piece of generic tupperware I cut to the right width then used a heat gun to shape it around the top then screwed on. The hopper is simply press fit through a hole drilled through it. The hole is slightly smaller than the threads so it stays there. I might need to change it eventually but it works for now.
Randy
Pickngrin
Well-Known Member
Is there a verdict on whether the rollers need to be knurled?
I'd like to try this project, but I'm not sure about where I'd get the knurling done.
Thanks
I'd like to try this project, but I'm not sure about where I'd get the knurling done.
Thanks
tipicreeper
Well-Known Member
Dude!
That is awsome. I'm on board. Got my pasta mill in the garage.
A $30 marcato from a garage sale for $4.
Still has the price tag.
Thank for all of you who shared!
That is awsome. I'm on board. Got my pasta mill in the garage.
A $30 marcato from a garage sale for $4.
Still has the price tag.
Thank for all of you who shared!
I did the drill bit trick on mine and it worked great.
I just put a 3/8 drill bit in my cordless drill, set it in reverse and ran the bit across both rollers and advanced it after I made a line. It was very quick and the grain pulls in great.
Running the drill bit backwards keeps the bit from trying to grab the rollers and pull itself in.
I don't even need a grain mill but I wanted to see how well it would work.
I just put a 3/8 drill bit in my cordless drill, set it in reverse and ran the bit across both rollers and advanced it after I made a line. It was very quick and the grain pulls in great.
Running the drill bit backwards keeps the bit from trying to grab the rollers and pull itself in.
I don't even need a grain mill but I wanted to see how well it would work.
ytsejam
Well-Known Member
My friend's lathe is waiting on a part.
Therefore, I am waiting on the knurling for my rollers.
Hopefully this weekend.
Therefore, I am waiting on the knurling for my rollers.
Hopefully this weekend.
brown_dog_us
Well-Known Member
Folks have had equally good results with knurling and using the drill bit. I think the knurled rollers look nicer and the drilled ones are easier because you don't have to take it a part.
Pickngrin
Well-Known Member
Thanks. I am going to try to pick up a pasta mill at a thrift store. I know I recently saw one...
Offer is still open to have your rollers knurled by my buddy, $20 including shipping round trip. Let me know.
EDIT: There does need to be some roughness to the rollers. They are too small in diameter to remain flat. This was tested by yuri_rage.
EDIT: There does need to be some roughness to the rollers. They are too small in diameter to remain flat. This was tested by yuri_rage.
avaserfi
Well-Known Member
I will be sending mine shortly (mid next week) and will be sure to get pictures back to everyone as soon as the rollers return.
chefmike
Well-Known Member
I did this in 10 minutes start to finish after being frustrated with the corona I have been adapting: 1/4" drill bit, running in reverse, start tight gap spinning handle in reverse, then found it easier to set it wide and let the drill pull the rollers around.
It pulled in the lip on the bottom, but seems to be fine:
Here is the crush:
I am sold. I turned it with the 3/8" spade bit on a Ryobi cordless set to low speed. I will build a hopper next.
It pulled in the lip on the bottom, but seems to be fine:
Here is the crush:
I am sold. I turned it with the 3/8" spade bit on a Ryobi cordless set to low speed. I will build a hopper next.
TerapinChef
Well-Known Member
So I think that I need to texture my rollers more...I ran a pound of grain through to finish the bill for my Imperial Brown Ale and I had to apply a bit of pressure to the top of the grain to get it to feed through properly. I'll more than likely be going the drill bit route as well as I've already scratched them up pretty good with the dremmel.
craigd
Well-Known Member
I just bought my pasta maker yesterday. Are there any more people out there with additional pictures of their setup? I'm wondering how much of a mess it is with the ones I have seen on here so far - they look pretty open at the bottom...
NomNom
Active Member
I am working on building a hopper for mine now. Think I am going to use a 5g plastic water jug or something out of wood. Plan on mounting it over a bucket.
chefmike
Well-Known Member
I finally got a chance to build the hopper for my pasta mill:
Total expense: $0.00
:rockin:
Total expense: $0.00
:rockin:
Pickngrin
Well-Known Member
Nice work, Chefmike. I haven't been able to locate a cheap pasta maker since I found this thread.... still looking....
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