Home Distiller

I recently purchased a corona mill for grinding corn for my all grains. I followed a vid from you tube for a few mods and a build I thought would keep things neat. See the post here: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 9#p7413219

I knew there were probably better mods out there ( and in here of course) so I went looking. Usge had a great post a while back but all the pics are gone so I took his info and went hunting. All the credit here goes to someone else... specifically to many of the folks over at homebrewtalk.com with reference to this specific post: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread. ... 9&page=121" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow . It's huge but if you have a corona mill its a great read with a great picture show!

I have since changed my mill and will give you the most common recommended mods form here and from homebrewtalk as well... there are only a few but they are gold.

My original mill had the grinder above the rim of the bucket with a half bucket covering the top: This didn't control all the mess and I still had dust all over. From reviewing the homebrewtalk stuff I sank the grinder into the bucket: This allows the top of the bin to be just about flush with the rim of the bucket. Now I can put a easy remove top on it with a hole cut for the hopper. Then I took a second bucket with a lid on it. I traced the bottom of my grinder bucket onto the lid of the bottom bucket and cut the lid enough to allow the top bucket to snugly fit into the lid. Now the whole thing is enclosed! As far as the actual mill; the knockoff corona I have is some kind of craftsmanship... what kind exactly I don't know... From the recommendations there are a few big changes that are quite simple and make a big difference.

The first is the grinder disk cover (the guard over the two grinders) is poorly fashioned with a few wing nuts and tiny washers. Buy a few washers (2 to 4 has been the most common range of numbers I reviewed) and place them on both sides of the cover. I chose 3 #8 washers: The second is the cotter pin used to mount the feed auger to the revolving grinder. It's crap. The revolving grinder was wobbling all over the auger making even grind near impossible.... I got a very mixed bag of grind this way. There were a lot of fixes here and many mentioned in the homebrewtalk. I chose the replacement screw. I pulled out the pin and replaced it with a 8/32" machine screw and a few washers and a nut. Be sure to align the adjusting collar correctly. It has two settings. One was just as wobbly as the pin and one was just right! (sorry... no pic since I put it together and forgot beforehand... check homebrewtalk).

The final big mod would be for replacing the handle with a motor of some sort. Unscrew the crank screw and the handle comes right off. Then place a 1/2" bolt in the auger to turn the screw. Some people use the whole length of screw, some just a small part... pick your poison. Just thought putting all this info in one easy place could be useful. Please add what you think is valuable.
PS: http://www.coronamill.com/corona-parts.shtm.." onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow. nice map of the corona construction.

This thread would be best suited for the Still Related Hardware or Construction forums. I would recommend a moderator move it, if possible. Certainly would help others looking (and searching) there.

But it is a good "how to" thread...definitely a keeper.
ss

still_stirrin wrote:This thread would be best suited for the Still Related Hardware or Construction forums. I would recommend a moderator move it, if possible. Certainly would help others looking (and searching) there.

But it is a good "how to" thread...definitely a keeper.
ss

Thanks SS! I threw it in here because the title said "Malting, smoking, grinding and other preparations." but I would be glad to have it put wherever. I also could throw a little more info in and I want to add a 5 gallon water jug to my mod as well. I'm also considering a different lid for the bottom bucket...but that's just me constantly tinkering.

Thats this is perfect. I use my corona mill for all my mashes! Would definitely decrease the mess if I did the bucket setup! Only thing I would change is the hopper size I think I want something that would hold like 25 lbs..

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bitter wrote:Thats this is perfect. I use my corona mill for all my mashes! Would definitely decrease the mess if I did the bucket setup! Only thing I would change is the hopper size I think I want something that would hold like 25 lbs..

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bitter... As you see my hopper now ( a piece of duct 6x5 reducer) it holds near 5#. I'm planning on using a 5 gallon water jug to mod mine furthe. Thats gotta be up there!
I will get to this later this week most likely.

I also wanted something to decrease the dust because inhaling that dust over time is not healthy.

If anyone makes mods please throw them in here... I think the corona is a good starter solution for all grainers who need to grind grain but aren't ready to go whole hog! These mods cost me about $10 (the wood was scrap so I don't count that cost but even still... a 2x3 doesn't cost very much)

put a nut on the bolt then when it brakes chances are it will brake at the nut. then remove nutand stub of bolt. just makes it easier

+ to what jedneck is saying!

Mine is Broken but still works as a socket is stuck almost perma-welded/siezed in place. But still works great

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