Milling lesson learned

[S-Cackalacky]

Thought about putting this in the "What not to use" forum, but don't want anyone to be discourage about using a grain mill under normal conditions.

I have some fairly coarse ground corn that I wanted to take to a little finer grind. I brought out the Barley Crusher two roller mill, put in a half pound or so, and pressed the trigger on the power drill. Damn near took my hand off and the bucket and mill went in different directions. So, after bracing myself, I gave it another try and eventually got that little bit through the mill, cleaned it up, put it all away, and will never again attempt to grind corn in a roller mill.

Anyway, now a corona style grinder has found its way to the top of my must have list.

[MichiganCornhusker]

That must have been quite an event. Yep, those power drills can be wrist-breakers for sure.
The trick is to open up the mill, and adjust it down in increments to a point where you're not putting too much strain on the mill or drill.
I love my Corona and it has held up very well after many hundreds of pounds of whole corn and other grains. Whole rye can be a bear, too.

[S-Cackalacky]

Yep, I'm sure everyone here would have had a good laugh. I was laughing (on the inside) myself as I wrote that.

[bearriver]

I got a Milwaukee Hole Hog that can even send a grown man for a ride. That thing is fearsome. I was going to use it for a mill but now I'm reconsidering it.

[bellybuster]

the key to milling corn is to have the mill turning when the corn goes in. Your Barley Crusher shouldn't have any problem at all.

[bluefish_dist]

Also a 2 roller mill works better than the 3 roller. Feed at a controlled rate and it will work better. If you feed it all at once it will jam.

[Danespirit]

Pour yourself a drink S-C...glad you were unharmed..

[S-Cackalacky]

Belly, I tried that, but found that I couldn't pour with one hand and control the torque with the other - felt like a monkey f**kin' a football (another laughable situation). And yes, I had it open as wide as possible. Nope, done with it. Also afraid of damaging the mill. Coronas (or similar) aren't that expensive.

Posted while others posted.

[srs787]

Damn near did the same thing S-C , I am happy your wrists still work alright. My Barley Crusher has ground over 2000 lbs, 90% for beer, it is getting smooth mouth like me. I got a Corona to help out. but my arm is wearing out too. A hammer mill like rockchucker22 has, is a good idea for corn.

[S-Cackalacky]

I had the thought of building a hammer mill, but don't know if I want to go to the trouble. I can get a Corona style mill for $30, or so, and hook the drill up to it.

[yakattack]

I built mine all out of scrap, the box is plywood, the hammer is just aluminum l metal. I had a couple of pumps that I salvaged the motors out of to power them. The whole cost was around $10
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/ ... pbzbhf.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/ ... ruwid4.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/ ... vkdgsq.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow


This was whole corn

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/ ... g7oeiv.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Do you have a build/explained thread on this? I'm in the process of buying/ building a mill for corn wheat and oats.

[yakattack]

Yak, I didn't take very many pictures while building so I never did a thread. Stainless Dude made one out of steel and I just copied his, but with wood.

To be honest from the pics not sure what's actually happening. Never used a mill so kinda clueless at this point.

[Stainless dude]

Hammer mills are bad ass, corn doesn't stand a chance!!

[S-Cackalacky]

Nice build Rock. I like to repurpose things, so had thought about trying to find an old lawn edger - electric with a blade instead of line. Then, simply build some kind of housing around it to make a hammer mill. Probably a lot more difficult than it sounds. I also have an old paper shredder that I tried to turn into a grinder (mill). It worked pretty good on the corn, but I gave up on working some of the bugs out of it. Now it sits in bits and pieces. I was thinking of maybe trying to mimic a roller mill and build a new 3/4" plywood enclosure for it and set it up to use a drill to turn it. Those knarlly shredding teeth really ate up the corn. The biggest problem I had with it was that the grind was very inconsistent.

I might do some deeper research here and look at some of the builds other members have done and maybe make a go at it when I finish projects I'm already working on. I did some general internet searches a while back and found an interesting roller mill built using homemade concrete rollers. The builder used cardboard carpet spools to pour the concrete. Amazing, some of the things people come up with.

[hellbilly007]

I just got my corona mill a couple weeks ago. It works great. The hopper holds 2 lbs of cracked corn, only takes 30 seconds to turn it to damn near flour (if I was so inclined). The only downside is it's loud as hell, echoes out of the bucket it's mounted in, and makes a cloud of dust if preventative steps aren't taken

[Brutal]

I just got my corona mill a couple weeks ago. It works great. The hopper holds 2 lbs of cracked corn, only takes 30 seconds to turn it to damn near flour (if I was so inclined). The only downside is it's loud as hell, echoes out of the bucket it's mounted in, and makes a cloud of dust if preventative steps aren't taken

This is pretty much my story too. I went through a 50 pound bag of cracked corn a lot faster then I thought I would have with it. If I had larger hopper and mount it could have been twice as fast. If you go with a Corona don't let it run dry. Grinds metal out of itself.. Also I used an old shirt with the neck stuck over the output to control the dust and direct it. I'm going to get some kind of small plastic bucket and carve it up so it will pop on there upside down. Or I might build it into a bucket like I saw in a write up on here one time. Pretty impressed with it so far though.

[S-Cackalacky]

A few links of interest:

Usge did a build to contain his Corona mill in a bucket to cut down on dust -
Usge's “The Usge model1 Drill Powered Bucket Corona"
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=16514

This was my inspiration for modifying a paper shredder for grinding corn -
corncooker69's “homemade shredder mill”
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=19399

This is the thread Rockchucker based his hammermill build on -
Stainless dude's "Hammer mill project/grain grinder"
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=51781

[likker liker]

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 6#p7316633
this is the link to my mill, I sold my glatt mill to a distiller that's close to me, he needed it more than I did at the time but when the time came crap I sold my mill I could have kicked my own ass ,I would have. So that's what I really just throw together

[Usge]

I use a barley crusher powered by drill on cracked corn all the time and it works a treat. Now...it doesn't work worth beans on whole corn though. The corona is better for that.
The problem/issue with most corona's is that they are cast and the parts aren't really that clean (manf wise). The mechanism in it is often uneven...it can wobble and spit out corn with different levels of crush (from powder to half kernels that slip through). They say some brands are better than others. There's plenty of articles online about how to set one up so it's more consistent grind (beer guys use them too and need a more even/accurate crush for their malt). The bucket mount worked great for me. After grinding...I just pick it up and empty it out.
But, yes..you do ahve to be be careful for drill torquing your wrist/hand.

[moosemilk]

S-Cackalacky, does this scene look familiar? Think a few of us have had it. I use my monster mill two roller to put cracked corn through. Never a problem. But caught me off guard once and.....

[S-Cackalacky]

Moose, that's exactly how the floor looked after my fiasco.

Usge, I should explain - it's not only the inherent difficulty of milling corn and the torque of the drill. I also have severe neuropathy in my hands. I have to sneak up on things from a different direction. Brute strength usually isn't an option.

[rager]

moose that's what my spare bedroom/ grain silo/ work area looks like.

thankfully no gf or kids , though I had to clean it because there is a bed in there and my father came to spend the night. I "might be a shiner"?

cheers

[moosemilk]

All I can say is i love my shop vac. Damn hopper was full...and it holds about eleven pounds. I am currently making a table everything clamps to and a chute to a bucket. I only get burned once before I learn lol. With most things at least.