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Author Topic: How to Motorize a Grain Mill  (Read 35900 times)

Offline Jeff M

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #30 on: November 22, 2013, 08:55:01 pm »
I've decided to upgrade my milling after a couple other upgrades. I'm going to add a pump system and another 15 gallon kettle. Will end up with a 9gallon HLT, 15 Gallon recirculation MT, and 15 gallon BK with a RIC. Then add a mill powered with a Dewalt drill. Found these guys in Yacolt, Wa.

http://www.millarsmills.com/

Nice looking mills. how do the Legs attach to the mill itself.  thats really the only thing i dont like the look of. most mills give you a solid MDF base for stability etc, not sure how 2 thin pieces of metal will work for ya
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Offline klickitat jim

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #31 on: November 22, 2013, 09:05:51 pm »
Mine would be bolted to the top of a cart, tall enough for a 6 gallon bucket to sit under on a shelf.

Offline Franklin

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #32 on: November 23, 2013, 04:51:48 am »
I bought one of those millars mills. I wish i would have bought a JSP mill. The mill i have was made in china and it doesn't stay in adjustment. it was 99 bucks. The bushings for the roller shafts wear out really fast, leaving this black metallic residue. I use a Black & Decker 1/2 inch electric drill to power this mill. It also got stuck alot.   
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Offline MDixon

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #33 on: November 23, 2013, 05:47:34 am »
I need to relink my old website. Here is my article from a long long time ago.
http://www.ipass.net/%7Empdixon/brew/Education/Motorizing%20a%20Mill.pdf
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Offline Thirsty_Monk

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #34 on: November 23, 2013, 09:15:02 am »
Check this out, local guy to me started making his own mills after working with a MM3 that was in Ice Harbor's Homebrew Shop  http://www.maltmills.com/
Those are really nice mills, a local homebrew shop has one.  They're pricey though.
I like that rollers are geared but for that price I can buy entery level commercial grade mill.
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Offline klickitat jim

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #35 on: November 23, 2013, 09:33:39 am »
I bought one of those millars mills. I wish i would have bought a JSP mill. The mill i have was made in china and it doesn't stay in adjustment. it was 99 bucks. The bushings for the roller shafts wear out really fast, leaving this black metallic residue. I use a Black & Decker 1/2 inch electric drill to power this mill. It also got stuck alot.   

Sounds like they have made a few upgrades. Food grade case hardening and sealed roller bearings instead of bushings. At $140 with 10lb hopper, seems reasonable. And they are only a couple hours away in case it fails.

Offline Jeff M

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #36 on: November 24, 2013, 07:28:08 am »
I bought one of those millars mills. I wish i would have bought a JSP mill. The mill i have was made in china and it doesn't stay in adjustment. it was 99 bucks. The bushings for the roller shafts wear out really fast, leaving this black metallic residue. I use a Black & Decker 1/2 inch electric drill to power this mill. It also got stuck alot.   

Sounds like they have made a few upgrades. Food grade case hardening and sealed roller bearings instead of bushings. At $140 with 10lb hopper, seems reasonable. And they are only a couple hours away in case it fails.

A Barley Crusher is about the same money and they have years and years of experience and testing placed upon their machines.  Might be a better option.  I know a few of the guys on this forum rave about theirs.
Granite Coast Brewing Company.
Building a clone of The Electric Brewery to use as a pilot system for new recipes!

Offline thatgeekguy

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #37 on: November 25, 2013, 11:13:35 am »
I've decided to upgrade my milling after a couple other upgrades. I'm going to add a pump system and another 15 gallon kettle. Will end up with a 9gallon HLT, 15 Gallon recirculation MT, and 15 gallon BK with a RIC. Then add a mill powered with a Dewalt drill. Found these guys in Yacolt, Wa.

http://www.millarsmills.com/

I've got one of the earlier generation Millar Mills, all hand cranked until I recently did my previously described motorizing. Overall quality is OK, and I was on a tight budget at the time. I've ran a few hundred pounds of grain through it with no issues, and I run a real tight gap (~ .020") since I do BIAB.
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Offline klickitat jim

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #38 on: November 25, 2013, 04:41:46 pm »
Good to know.

Offline sdsmith4u

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #39 on: January 29, 2014, 08:15:28 pm »
Here is the best setup I have found.  It does not use spinning flywheels or v belts, which have taken too many fingers over the years.  It has powerful torque, it is quiet, and chews through grain in seconds. Unlike drill motors, it turns the mill at a slow constant speed - 180 rpm. And best of all, it is not expensive!


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Offline klickitat jim

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #40 on: January 29, 2014, 09:19:37 pm »
I want!

Offline james

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #41 on: January 29, 2014, 09:38:31 pm »
Here is the best setup I have found.  It does not use spinning flywheels or v belts, which have taken too many fingers over the years.  It has powerful torque, it is quiet, and chews through grain in seconds. Unlike drill motors, it turns the mill at a slow constant speed - 180 rpm. And best of all, it is not expensive!


It does look considerably expensive and it also looks like a spam post

Offline klickitat jim

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #42 on: January 29, 2014, 09:44:54 pm »
$177, but the .org freaks me out

Offline euge

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #43 on: January 29, 2014, 10:00:28 pm »
Here is the best setup I have found.  It does not use spinning flywheels or v belts, which have taken too many fingers over the years.  It has powerful torque, it is quiet, and chews through grain in seconds. Unlike drill motors, it turns the mill at a slow constant speed - 180 rpm. And best of all, it is not expensive!


It does look considerably expensive and it also looks like a spam post

Damn I didn't notice that. However it isn't unrelated. Others have pushed brewing related products before no?
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Offline Stevie

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Re: How to Motorize a Grain Mill
« Reply #44 on: January 29, 2014, 10:06:54 pm »
An LHBS near by uses the same type of motor. I'll see if it is from the same place next time I stop by there.