Hello folsk!!! I'm planning on building grain mill, later I will post some pick of how I think it should like . Anyway I've got a question about steel rolls in that kind of mills. Originally I was planning on using stainless but it's pretty hard to find so thick rods for that. I can make whole thing from common steel but is there a way to protect rolls from rust? I've heard about people using veg oil for that. I also want to use that mill for brewing so I would like to avoid any oils. Any ideas how to kill to birds with one roll?
Last edited by kaziel on Fri Jan 01, 2016 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
Like all tools, frequent use will knock the rust off before it builds up. Otherwise keep it in a dry place and card debris off the rollers when you are done (if needed).
Last edited by bearriver on Thu Dec 31, 2015 10:32 am, edited 2 times in total.
Maybe you could keep a supply of used grain husks around,and if theres any rust on the mill just run that through it a few times to.... sand... it down before you actually run your new grain...?
bearriver wrote:What type of steel alloy are the rollers made of?
I didn't decide yet - maybe you could give me some suggestions. Generally I was thinking about visiting scrapyard and whatever they got that's bigger then 50mm in diameter.
cob wrote:make your rollers out of stainless steel pipe.
I've also thought of that but I want rolls to be knurled (wall thickens) and I already have some bearings and I think I will have to use solid cylinders work on lathe to fit.
I have steel rollers in the mill I made, I can post a pic tonight when I get home. I used bronze bushings for my roller bearings, and my rollers are diamond knurled. it does a swell job.
Moonshine.... American as apple pie & it's part of our heritage, history & culture.
You need to be careful as I was thinking at one point to use my MM2 (made for grains) and convert or make it so I could use it as an apple grinder. I was smart enough to email the company and they said no that it would damage the rollers so I went a different route.
firewater69 wrote:I have steel rollers in the mill I made, I can post a pic tonight when I get home. I used bronze bushings for my roller bearings, and my rollers are diamond knurled. it does a swell job.
Thanks man I appreciate this.
Bushman wrote:You need to be careful as I was thinking at one point to use my MM2 (made for grains) and convert or make it so I could use it as an apple grinder. I was smart enough to email the company and they said no that it would damage the rollers so I went a different route.
You mean with plain steel right ? I was also planing on using that mill for apples but I will maki it from stainless ant tries if it works ok if not will make something else from wood or stainless.
the mill I made was a prototype, the rollers will be made from stainless and the mill will be larger. it's one of those "when I get around to it" projects. I use it almost every weekend, so who knows when I'll get the new one done.
Moonshine.... American as apple pie & it's part of our heritage, history & culture.
firewater69 wrote:I have steel rollers in the mill I made, I can post a pic tonight when I get home. I used bronze bushings for my roller bearings, and my rollers are diamond knurled. it does a swell job.
Thanks man I appreciate this.
Bushman wrote:You need to be careful as I was thinking at one point to use my MM2 (made for grains) and convert or make it so I could use it as an apple grinder. I was smart enough to email the company and they said no that it would damage the rollers so I went a different route.
You mean with plain steel right ? I was also planing on using that mill for apples but I will maki it from stainless ant tries if it works ok if not will make something else from wood or stainless.
No I think my rollers are stainless, I think it had to do with the size of the rollers and other materials like the hopper that is aluminum.
My hopper is HDPE. About size of rollers there are 46mm diameter. Think that will work I'm not planning on using whole apples but quarters or 1/8. If that fails i will increase diameter to 80mm with wood rollers just for that.
Made second roller today it doesn't fit bearing perfectly so I will have to redo that tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow I will make knurling as well. Then I will get some stainless plates and make "ramp" for grains. Everything is starting to look like mill now.
I really like the use in pillow blocks with the rollers. I have several different size sets that I picked up cheap at a garage sale and looking for a project to use them on.
I've got them cheap over internet 4 for about 10$. Steel cylinder for rollers was 2$ over my local scrapyard so I'm pretty happy with parts price . Hopefully I will give it a go next weekend with pale ale barley malt. For final product I will go for stainless rollers a 3.4kW motor and inverter for control maybe with fixed gear ratio as well .
FYI Stainless is good for rust protection however like other have said if you are using them regularly that shouldn't be a problem. You will get some natural oil from the grain although that will probably be soaked up by the chaff. Stainless is more brittle than other mild steels. Have you noticed the don't make boat trailers out of it? As they would crack from the vibration. Also another example are knives they hold a nice sharp edge but will crack if you try to use them as a lever. The milder steel may be the better choice for the job.
Sorry not really qualified much beyond a few simple things I have learned from other people and experience in making and dealing with other projects. In fact I am only saying this as food for thought not a Stainless is no good sort of thing. However I do know that steel stock in Aus does come in another grade called Brite which would I think would be better than black I do not think any case type hardening would be necessary.
Moonlighter wrote:Anyone have a DIY idea for both grain and corn? Something with adj rollers...
my mill has an adjustable roller but won't open up enough for corn, I do have some plans drawn for a bigger mill, with geared rollers that should get the job done.
Moonshine.... American as apple pie & it's part of our heritage, history & culture.
Moonlighter wrote:Anyone have a DIY idea for both grain and corn? Something with adj rollers...
The one I'm building can be adjusted virtually from touching one another to be like 15mm apart. I've also plan to use it to crack corn. I will give you more information when I will finish.
I'm hoping on making knurling tomorrow. Any of you guys know how deep it should be done? I've read somewhere that 0,3mm is not enough. How deep should I go?
. Anyway I've got a question about steel rolls in that kind of mills. Originally I was planning on using stainless but it's pretty hard to find so thick rods for that. I can make whole thing from common steel but is there a way to protect rolls from rust? I've heard about people using veg oil for that. I also want to use that mill for brewing so I would like to avoid any oils. Any ideas how to kill to birds with one roll? 
. Hopefully I will give it a go next weekend with pale ale barley malt. For final product I will go for stainless rollers a 3.4kW motor and inverter for control maybe with fixed gear ratio as well 
