Grain Mill

[Bushman]

Here is a picture of my new Grain Mill. It's a monster mill II, I made a temporary set-up to see how it would work. I got the mill as a Christmas gift and had the motor and pulleys I took from an old compressor. I had to add some sleeves to the pulley to fit the mill so I am into the whole project at about $7.00.

My plan is to go to the Re-Store and buy a used cabinet now that I know it works and build it in. Tested it on some corn and found my belt was too loose so made an adjustment and it worked great. I also adjusted the rollers from the factory setting of .045 to .037 as I believe that is what I've read as the proper gap.

[Jimbo]

Most excellent I did the same thing Beats the hell out of holding it, pouring grain and working a drill. God didnt give us enough arms for all that.

Here's mine. http://homedistiller.org/forum/download ... p?id=23809

[heartcut]

Nice. I still use a drill, but think about a dedicated motor every now and then.

[Prairiepiss]

Nice setup. I use to be able to find some good stuff at the Re-store here. Until it got so popular. Now you only get the good deals if you happen to be there when they get it in. It's gone from one or two cars in the lot. To you can't find a spot. And they line the road. Making it hard to drive down the road.

I built my cabinet out of scrap dunage. Works great. I still need to mount a motor to it. Still using a drill for now.

Can't wait to see what you come up with for yours.

[Bushman]

PP, I saw yours as I did a lot a research before deciding on the mill and how I was going to assemble it. I also thought about using a cut off leg from a pair of pants as a shoot similar to what Harry did as well, but on one of the brew sites I saw how they set the bucket right up at the top of the cabinet so the grain and (dust if you will) doesn't have a chance to fly around so will probably do that.

[Jimbo]

I saw how they set the bucket right up at the top of the cabinet so the grain and (dust if you will) doesn't have a chance to fly around so will probably do that.

Thats how I did mine. Should have taken a pic of the other side. the vertical support board under the top is cut away to allow the bucket to slide in with little gap. Just enough gap to see how full its getting.

[Horsecreek shine]

Is that a gear driven or friction I'd like to motorize mine as well???
Horsecreek

[bellybuster]

Nice setup,
I run a drill as well but have the motor and pulley to motorize it. That damned motor still hasn't installed itself.

Mine is in a cabinet and the bucket sits about 6" below the mill opening. Dust is kept in check by having a door on my cabinet. I vacuum it out after milling after smelling the result of leaving the dust in there.

[Bushman]

Jimbo's got the right idea, if you put some wood slots at the top of the cabinet and slide the bucket on it will keep the dust down.
PP, I went to the Re-Store and priced used cabinets as I was expecting around $10.00 I was suprised that used cabinets not even in that great of shape were priced between $40-$65.00. I can buy wood and build a new one for that price or less. I think I will look in the free section of Craigslist.

Horsecreek it is not gear driven but what I read on the brewing forum is using a drill motor runs it at too high an rpm and you can wear out your drill. Thus I wanted to reduce the gear ratio with the pulleys.

[Horsecreek shine]

Bushman great thanks that's what I've been wondering how a friction mill would work under say electric motor , do you find any amount to grain is suitable ie half hopper FULl hopper walk away and wait for the sound to change no what I mean??
Horsecreek

[Jimbo]

yup, flip the switch, pour the grain in and do other stuff while it chews through it. My hopper fits about 10 lbs. Bucket fits 20. Sound changes when hopper is empty.

[Bushman]

yup, flip the switch, pour the grain in and do other stuff while it chews through it. My hopper fits about 10 lbs. Bucket fits 20. Sound changes when hopper is empty.

+1, I have only been sampling different grains and corn to see how it runs as I am still building permanent housing for it.

[Coyote]

Just an idea for you all, whenever I
can I install a hinge on the wood plate
your motor rests on, then allow the weight
of the motor to set your tension. Have done
this on lots of high torque applications, like
jointer's and planers It works well and you don't
have near the worry about belt stretch.

Looks good !

Coyote

[Badlands86]

How easy is it to switch from corn to grain settings? I'm assuming I couldn't mix if I'm using both due to grain size difference

[DFitz]

yup, flip the switch, pour the grain in and do other stuff while it chews through it. My hopper fits about 10 lbs. Bucket fits 20. Sound changes when hopper is empty.

+1, I have only been sampling different grains and corn to see how it runs as I am still building permanent housing for it.

Just a suggestion. If I were to motorized my mill I would mount the pulley on a pillow block. Take the bind off the bearings on the mill. This will give you direct power to the mill rather than tensioning the belt against the shaft putting a strain on the bearing.

[Bushman]

DFitz that's a great idea and I was also a bit worried about it. I have both 1/2 and 3/4" pillow blocks but my shaft is 3/8" so will look for some today when I go into town.

[Prairiepiss]

I planned to use a pillow block setup for mine. For just the reason you stated. And to move the pully to the outside of my cabinet. So I could use a larger one. And not have to cut into the top for clearance.

[Jimbo]

I like the pillow block idea. P, not sure you need to go too big on teh pulley. See my pulleys in link, with a 1725 RPM motor it runs at a real nice speed, not too fast or too slow. http://homedistiller.org/forum/download ... p?id=23809

[DFitz]

Love joy couplings make your motor's duty interchangeable as well.
http://www.zorotools.com/g/00025751/k-G ... Mwod9BMA_g" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Bushman]

Just checked and with the pulley and the knob next to the shaft that controls one side of the gap setting there is no room to put a pillow block without extending the shaft.

[plaztikjezuz]

PP, I saw yours as I did a lot a research before deciding on the mill and how I was going to assemble it. I also thought about using a cut off leg from a pair of pants as a shoot similar to what Harry did as well, but on one of the brew sites I saw how they set the bucket right up at the top of the cabinet so the grain and (dust if you will) doesn't have a chance to fly around so will probably do that.

You could add a shop-vac with a hepa bag on it. This would suck the dust out of the cabinet.
Cut a hole the same size as of the hose attachments then use it to hold the hose in the cabinet.
You can also set up a light on/off switch on to a standard plug and plug the shop-vac and the motor in to it. That way they both come on together.

[happydaze]

Here's one that I made for my beer making buddy. I would have made two if I knew I was going to embark on this little hobby.

A 5 gallon bucket fits snugly against a semicircular stop under the mill. I'll have to ask him if he's having any dust problems.

[DFitz]

FYI: Special! 1/2" shaft upgrades only $5
1/2" drive rollers for the MM-2 and MM-3 mills that need to move. Until further notice, all 1/2" drive shaft upgrades on the MM-2 and MM-3 mills are only $5. You must have a 1/2" drill to accomodate the larger shaft. This may be a good excuse to upgrade your power equipment!

Not a real life sponsor, but I do play one on TV.

[Badlands86]

I was having troubled with my rollers getting jammed on corn, think I might need to adjust my belt as well. I'm assuming that gap is for cracked?

[Jimbo]

Roller mills aren't the best for corn. Shit is too damn hard and big. Need a plate grinder. Beat the hell out of your expensive mill on corn

[DFitz]

I went to Wally World and bought the biggest food processor I could find. My wife uses them for making laundry detergent. I use them for bustin up whole corn to, well, not so whole corn. For an extra $20 I get a no questions asked 2 year warranty. If they don't have the exact model and size I get another comparable model.
Takes about 1/2 hour to break up 25 lbs of corn small enough to pass through the mill. Dampening it a bit before milling helps.

[acfixer69]

I went to Wally World and bought the biggest food processor I could find. My wife uses them for making laundry detergent. I use them for bustin up whole corn to, well, not so whole corn. For an extra $20 I get a no questions asked 2 year warranty. If they don't have the exact model and size I get another comparable model.
Takes about 1/2 hour to break up 25 lbs of corn small enough to pass through the mill. Dampening it a bit before milling helps.

JeeSus
Laundry detergent and corn in the same processor

AC

[DFitz]

You use soap & water to wash out your utensils yeah? It comes pretty clean when she's done.

[Badlands86]

Roller mills aren't the best for corn. Shit is too damn hard and big. Need a plate grinder. Beat the hell out of your expensive mill on corn

That's what guy at monster said too, bought a cheap corona and with some minor tweaks I think it should do fine. I'll save the mill for my other grains