Cheaper Grain Mill?

[saltydawg]

I'd like to know what motor you're going to power this mill with. I'm thinking about this mill myself with this motor:

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?i ... e=electric

The guy at Monster Mill said it might work, but wasn't sure. I like it especially well since I can drive it directly with a Lovejoy coupling.

[slanted & enchanted]

I got a humongous ac motor, a 5hp baldor. got it for free, otherwise it's way oversized and probably costs 800 bucks new.

[foomench]

I'd like to know what motor you're going to power this mill with. I'm thinking about this mill myself with this motor:
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?i ... e=electric

I think that is slightly under-torqued, but it should work. I've motorized one mill with a gear motor, and have a second mill and motor I need to build a stand and hopper for.

[Blunt]

I bought a basic bare bones 2 roller mill from Crankandstein.net a couple of years ago for under $100. I works good but it is hard to adjust.

[Kbar]

I use a goddamn blender. Yep, a blender. 20 bucks. 2 cups at a time, pulsing ever so gently. She works fantastic. Havent had a stuck one yet, neither, and the beers are yum-yum.

So, if you can, why not let your LHBS shop perform the crush or orer crushed?? Why the effort and lack of precision to grind your own??

[snowcapt]

I use a goddamn blender. Yep, a blender. 20 bucks. 2 cups at a time, pulsing ever so gently. She works fantastic. Havent had a stuck one yet, neither, and the beers are yum-yum.

So, if you can, why not let your LHBS shop perform the crush or orer crushed?? Why the effort and lack of precision to grind your own??

My nearest LHBS is Northern Brewer and it is 2 hours away and I buy full sacks of base malts. I store it in buckets with lids. I grind it as I need it. I dont want to have that much crushed grain sitting around for that amount of time. A friend of mine just bought a new mill and says that I can borrow it, but I havent seen him in a while , because he lives about an hour away. Also, I have made the same recipe a couple of times and could not tell the difference. I wll be getting one pretty soon, anyways. I just started back up in January and I have been a brewing madman. Starting to collect pieces here and there, ya know?

[Crackin]

I bought a Crankandstein a few years ago for $88. Double adjustable, works great. Build your own hopper and base and it will save you a few bucks. With a cheapo right angle drill adapter, I can run it off my drill press, which turns at the appropriate speed. My mill has easily paid itself off. You can get bulk grain for about $1.10 / lb, versus the $2.25 I was paying at my LHBS. Two bags of grain and the mill pays for itself.

[foomench]

You can get bulk grain for about $1.10 / lb, versus the $2.25 I was paying at my LHBS. Two bags of grain and the mill pays for itself.

Or get in on a group buy for less. Our club is ordering from a Colorado maltster start up right now and I think the price is $0.75/#. And there is a periodic Denver area group buy from North Country Malt Supply where the bags run $33 to $50 each. We usually order 2 or 3 pallets to get those prices. (42 bags to the pallet as I recall.)