Grinder for corn

[patmi5]

Has anyone used a garbage disposal to grind corn? I have a used one that I thought about converting over to a corn crusher. I don't know if the discharge holes are too big or if it would even expel the corn after grinding.

[Bushman]

No, I have seen them used for grinding apples. I would not think they would work well as I used to have rentals and from time to time I would have to go over and reset or unplug and fix the garbage disposal because the renter tried to run popcorn seed through it.

[still_stirrin]

The attachment AF6AB90E-30B3-4260-A738-98017A4CFC73.jpeg is no longer available

This is a corn mill I purchased ($185USD) for grinding whole corn. (Buy once....Cry once)

Open Millhead

It has adjustable plates to adjust the grind from flour to coarse ground meal. It works with wheat berries as well. This could also be adjusted for malted barley too, although a roller mill would be preferrable for grains with husk.

It is more robust than the Corona mill and has an integrated prime mover (motor). The hopper is only about 1 gallon but can easily be extended with a bucket. Beats the heck out of hand cranking.
ss

hint - shop eBay.

[8Ball]

Show off! That is a beast.

[jog666]

AF6AB90E-30B3-4260-A738-98017A4CFC73.jpegThis is a corn mill I purchased ($185USD) for grinding whole corn. (Buy once....Cry once)

50815772-29EF-47E7-A50B-A6B3EBC0D942.jpegIt has adjustable plates to adjust the grind from flour to coarse ground meal. It works with wheat berries as well. This could also be adjusted for malted barley too, although a roller mill would be preferrable for grains with husk.

It is more robust than the Corona mill and has an integrated prime mover (motor). The hopper is only about 1 gallon but can easily be extended with a bucket. Beats the heck out of hand cranking.
ss

hint - shop eBay.

$185 !!! Got to add that to me christmas wish list.

[Getsmokin]

I can speak for the feed grinder above. Money Well Spent!
10lb Whole corn to flour in a couple min. that's not even crowding the feed.

[Twisted Brick]

.
I was lookin' at the beast still_stirrin and getsmokin have, but lucked into this ancient cast brass hammermill on Craigslist for $100. So far, works great on whole corn, wheat, rye and oats.
.

[still_stirrin]

Nice TB. Very retro!

[6 Row Joe]

A CS Bell #2 works good! I think they have made the same model for a hundred years.

[DetroitDIY]

I thought a lot about that very grinder last year SS, but was worried as I read some complaints about rusting easy. How long have you had yours, how's it holding up, and are you having to do anything special to maintain it?

I ended up buying a Crankandstein 220C. It works, but slower than you describe (running it off a Harbor Freight drill and have to be a little patient feeding it), and yours just looks damn nice.

[ydoih8u]

I don't think corn needs an app to hook up.

[SwollenGoat23]

Hey SS & Smokin,
I was hoping I wasn't the only one to get that grinder!
Trust me guys, this thing is an absolute beast. I ran approx 50lbs in maybe 10mins!
Just wish I could figure out how to post pics!

[pope]

I'm just coming up with crazy ideas for the hell of it, but has anyone ever tried one of those commercial-scale stick blenders to blend hydrated corn while its cooking?

[SwollenGoat23]

I must admit I definitely like that Bell grinder too Joe!

[Hillbilly Popstar]

While we are showing off grinders, guess I'll show off my magic mill.
Works through about 25lbs of corn in 15-20 minutes.

[SwollenGoat23]

Nice!
Looks like it could chew a 10d nail in half!

Hey SS,
did yours come with an On/Off switch? They seemed to have forgotten mine.....

[Getsmokin]

got tired of babysitting the tiny hopper that comes with this grinder

[still_stirrin]

...Hey SS, did yours come with an On/Off switch? They seemed to have forgotten mine....

Well, that is the ONLY shortfall of this Asian-made mill....no power switch.

I plug the power cord into a power strip with an ON-OFF switch, so I don’t need one on the motor. I know, this is a little inconvenient, but an easy solution. You could also wire in a (15A) light switch in the cord and mount it to the mill base if desired...a little cost addition for ease of use.

It has starting capacitors for the motor, which helps with the inductive (reactive) load when starting and running. Still, I always run the hopper empty before shutting the motor down and I always start the motor without grain in the millhead. There is an included slide gate to close the hopper from the grinding head also, so you can use that when running the grain out of the millhead.

A question has been asked about maintenance/lubrication of the mill (in a pm), so I’ll add that the motor has sealed bearings and does not need additional lubrication. There is a ball and socket that adjusts the pressure on the mill plates to which I put a small dab of grease on. It does get dirty, so cleaning it and re-greasing periodically will help longevity. You could use Vaseline (petroleum jelly) or even lithium grease (what I use). It doesn’t take much...just a dab.

I have not yet disassembled the head from the prime mover to see what the mill’s input shaft uses for bearing surface (journal or sealed ball bearings), so I don’t know what maintenance needs it requires (the owner’s manual doesn’t address maintenance requirements at all).

Also, I use my air hose and jet nozzle to blow grain dust off of the grinder and the mill plates. Indeed, when grinding grains, there is quite a bit of fine dust produced and it will tend to stick to the millhead. Keeping the mill clean will help longevity as well.

But in the end, this mill is still the “best tool for the job” and at a “price too good to pass up”.
ss

[SwollenGoat23]

Mine only came with a big dent on the red cover in the back......no manual, no bolts for the hopper, no set screw for the slide gate......nada.
And I Still Love It.
Thanks for the input SS.

[flht01]

Mine came in today, red cover wasn’t bent but no switch and no hopper screws.
I ran the adjustment nut in until the plates touched (wasn’t plugged in) and backed the adjustment screw out about half a turn.
When I plugged it in there seemed to be a little more vibration than expected. Enough to cause it to dance around on the floor a little. Before opening the cover plate and checking the runout i thought I’d ask if this is common.
Also, about how far out from touching are you setting the plates?
Thanks.

[SwollenGoat23]

Mine may do a little jig at start up but it's not bad. I start out and go in. I drop a little through and tighten up and check and tighten up a little. I started to tight with some cracked corn and she got bound up and had to quickly unplug it.
I think I'll add some sort of foot switch....

[Getsmokin]

Mine came in today, red cover wasn’t bent but no switch and no hopper screws.
I ran the adjustment nut in until the plates touched (wasn’t plugged in) and backed the adjustment screw out about half a turn.
When I plugged it in there seemed to be a little more vibration than expected. Enough to cause it to dance around on the floor a little. Before opening the cover plate and checking the runout i thought I’d ask if this is common.
Also, about how far out from touching are you setting the plates?
Thanks.

The wiggle seems to be normal and it settles down on mine with a full hopper. It actually seems to help feed from the hopper by vibrating it down.

[still_stirrin]

...about how far out from touching are you setting the plates?

Here’s how I do it:
1) loosen the plate adjustment until it doesn’t grind at all with the power off.
2) pour the grain into the hopper with the hopper flow adjustment slide closed.
3) plug it in and slowly open the slide until a small flow of grain flows into the millhead.
4) adjust the plate adjustment screw until the grain is ground to the desired grind; coarse grind, fine meal, or flour.
5) close the hopper slide and let the head clean out, then unplug the motor.
6) dump the contents of the collection bucket back into the hopper to regrind it properly.
7) plug the motor in again and open the hopper slide to the same setting you used when setting the plates.
8 ) finish grinding your grain, refilling the hopper before it completely empties.
9) when done grinding your grains, again close the hopper slide and let the head clean out before unplugging the motor.

When done, you can open the millhead and sweep out he flour dust (I use the blower nozzle and my air compressor to blow it clean).

Keep in mind too, corn will grind different than other grains, so you may need to readjust for different grains. But, the adjustment setting process is the same. Oh, plus a remote power switch will make it easier to use the mill. But it is a great tool.
ss

[flht01]

Thanks for all the replies. I’ll run a few batches thru it and then re-evaluate the vibration. Hopefully it’ll settle down or I’ll just get used to it.
And thanks for the write up on setting the grind. Can’t wait to use it.

[Getsmokin]

Thanks for all the replies. I’ll run a few batches thru it and then re-evaluate the vibration. Hopefully it’ll settle down or I’ll just get used to it.
And thanks for the write up on setting the grind. Can’t wait to use it.

Get yourself a tube of food grade grease/lube for the shaft and adjustment ball.

[flht01]

[Get yourself a tube of food grade grease/lube for the shaft and adjustment ball.

Thanks for the reminder. I have spray for my meat grinder but will pick up some grease.

[jdetechguy]

...about how far out from touching are you setting the plates?

Here’s how I do it:
1) loosen the plate adjustment until it doesn’t grind at all with the power off.
2) pour the grain into the hopper with the hopper flow adjustment slide closed.
3) plug it in and slowly open the slide until a small flow of grain flows into the millhead.
4) adjust the plate adjustment screw until the grain is ground to the desired grind; coarse grind, fine meal, or flour.
5) close the hopper slide and let the head clean out, then unplug the motor.
6) dump the contents of the collection bucket back into the hopper to regrind it properly.
7) plug the motor in again and open the hopper slide to the same setting you used when setting the plates.
8 ) finish grinding your grain, refilling the hopper before it completely empties.
9) when done grinding your grains, again close the hopper slide and let the head clean out before unplugging the motor.

When done, you can open the millhead and sweep out he flour dust (I use the blower nozzle and my air compressor to blow it clean).

Keep in mind too, corn will grind different than other grains, so you may need to readjust for different grains. But, the adjustment setting process is the same. Oh, plus a remote power switch will make it easier to use the mill. But it is a great tool.
ss

I have two of these. I can mill 500 lbs of corn in 2 hours. I bought a second because I busted the front plate on the first and did not think I could get the repair parts. However, I did get the replacement. It came in a bit warped, which causes grain to leak out the back, but a little duct tape solves that.

I built a 50lb hopper out of a bucket about a year ago as was mentioned.

This thing is amazing. I love the control over the grind. I am particular, because if we make corn meal, it's a pain to filter. Too large and we lose too much starch.

It's not good for barley. It grinds it up too hard and jams up the mash tun. No amount of rice hulls helps. We use a roller crusher for that. But, for processing corn, this was the best $200 we have spent.

[Corn Crib]

Ordered this grinder a few months back.

Some modification were made like riveted on a bucket to increase hopper size, bigger power cord and added stability skids.

Just like others report, the grinder came without any instructions, no hopper bolts, the stability crossbar was too short and I may have accidentally threw the sliding feed gate away. Also only received 2 of the plastic feet. All issues were easy to fix and I just made a new sliding feed gate out of a piece of stainless sheet, it did come with the set screw!

Overall I'm very happy with this grinder.

[Hambone]

The skids will help in a blizzard, corncrib....