Beer Forum

Okay, so I know I have the best wife in the world, but that's beside the point. Anyway, for Christmas she gave me a virtual grain mill. Basically I just need to pick one out and she'll pay for it! After some research I have decided that "The Barley Crusher" is the best one for the buck. Anyone have one? Likes or dislikes? Have another that you would recommend for less than $150?

http://www.northernbrewer.com/grain-mills.html

The Barley Crusher

A high quality, precision-machined grain mill constructed of materials that will last a lifetime: 1018 cold-rolled steel for the rollers, 6061 aluminum for the mill body and hopper, tool steel for the axles with oil-impregnated bronze bushings.

The 5-inch rollers have a 12 TPI knurl to efficiently pull the grain through the rollers while leaving the hull intact to form an excellent filter bed for sparging. Rollers are adjustable at both ends to keep the gap spacing parallel and give a uniform crush along the entire length of the rollers. The default gap spacing is marked and set at 0.039" at assembly; the gap adjustment range is from 0.015" to 0.070".

The standard hopper model holds 7 pounds and the large hopper model holds 15 pounds. No adapters needed to use a 3/8 drill motor; using a 3/8 drill motor at 500 RPM gives a throughput of 6 pounds a minute.

Comes with hopper, solid base, crank and handle, and lifetime warranty.

#40133 Barley Crusher w/ 7# Hopper $119.99

I have not used one, nor have one at this point, but from my looking around, thats what i am planning on getting next week with Christmas money. Seems to be a good deal for the money. Included mill rollers and hopper, and can be hooked up to a drill or motor. I plan on using the drill method for now until i can salvage a small motor.

P.s. Vanna you rock!

I use the model A (Model A allows you to change the space between the rollers on one end for an improved crush). This mill works very well for the money, it is easy to adjust for different grains, My efficiency is 70% when my HBS crushes my grains I tweaked the crush and was spot on my numbers by my 3rd batch only compliant it could use a bigger hooper

I just got this last week and put my first 10 poundz through it and it worked quite well.

I made up my mind and am order the barley crusher TOMORROW! GOt some money to go toward it today, and after crushing a 17lb grain bill for tomorrow by hand, i said the hell with that. NO LOOKING BACK NOW.

For the most part all the homebrew mills work very well. I have yet to hear many complaints about any of the available mills. That said I have a CrankandStein 2a and love it. It does what it is supposed to do quite well, and for the price you really can't beat it.

I have a Barley Crusher with the 7lb. hopper and drive it with a cordless drill. Works great, no complaints.

My arm hurts this morning