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Author Topic: Milling Wheat  (Read 3617 times)

Offline KellerBrauer

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Milling Wheat
« on: August 21, 2018, 12:00:14 pm »
I read recently that wheat should be milled separate from other grains because wheat does not have a husk and as such, should be milled with the mill rollers closer together to get a finer grind and more extract.  Makes sense.  However, the article fell short of recommending how much closer the rollers should be.  So, I’m thinking .004”. 

I’m wondering if anyone else even does this, if it’s worth the effort and if so, how much closer should I make my gap?  Currently, I’m at .039” on my Barley Crusher.
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Offline denny

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2018, 12:15:20 pm »
I run a tight gap on my mill all the time and mill everything together.
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Offline dmtaylor

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2018, 01:30:05 pm »
Set your mill to crush the wheat properly.  Then, mill all your grains all the time at that same gap.  Watch your efficiency improve by 10% overnight.  True story: It happens to thousands of people every year.
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Offline KellerBrauer

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2018, 01:35:19 pm »
Set your mill to crush the wheat properly.  Then, mill all your grains all the time at that same gap.  Watch your efficiency improve by 10% overnight.  True story: It happens to thousands of people every year.

Interesting and quite logical.  Good call!  I’ll try that.  The for the help!!!! :)
Joliet, IL

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Offline BrewBama

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Milling Wheat
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2018, 03:39:29 pm »
I run a tight gap on my mill all the time and mill everything together.

I have my mill adjusted as tight as it will go and mill it all together also.


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Offline KellerBrauer

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2018, 04:14:31 pm »
I run a tight gap on my mill all the time and mill everything together.

I have my mill adjusted as tight as it will go and mill it all together also.


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Would you happen to know how wide the space is between the rollers?
Joliet, IL

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Offline BrewBama

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Milling Wheat
« Reply #6 on: August 21, 2018, 04:26:14 pm »
I run a tight gap on my mill all the time and mill everything together.

I have my mill adjusted as tight as it will go and mill it all together also.


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Would you happen to know how wide the space is between the rollers?

I think it’s .025 but I’m not 100% sure. It’s as close as a JSP Malt Mill will go whatever that ends up being.


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Offline Robert

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2018, 04:28:10 pm »
FWIW I have mine at 0.030" which gives a crush that best approximates ASBC coarse grind. This is also the setting my LHBS uses so they can run everything together.
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Offline denny

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2018, 04:33:24 pm »
I run a tight gap on my mill all the time and mill everything together.

I have my mill adjusted as tight as it will go and mill it all together also.


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Would you happen to know how wide the space is between the rollers?

I have no idea what mine is.  I adjust based on the crush, not a measurement.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline Bob357

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2018, 04:57:31 pm »
I agree with the others. If it does a good crush on wheat and rye it's set right for everything.
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Offline BrewBama

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #10 on: August 21, 2018, 06:48:07 pm »
I run a tight gap on my mill all the time and mill everything together.

I have my mill adjusted as tight as it will go and mill it all together also.


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Would you happen to know how wide the space is between the rollers?

I have no idea what mine is.  I adjust based on the crush, not a measurement.

Yeah I set it to the tightest it will go because the crush is good, I don’t get stuck recirculating/lautering, and I get good mash conversation efficiency. I just guessed at the gap.


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Offline KellerBrauer

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2018, 05:53:54 am »
All very good information and advise.  Thanks for your help Brewers!
Joliet, IL

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Offline reverseapachemaster

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #12 on: August 22, 2018, 09:22:48 am »
I have my roller mill set to the tightest setting but you can go even finer milling wheat than what any roller mill will do. You aren't limited by needing to keep husks intact like barley. You can get all the way down to a flour if you want but you need to test how fine you can go for how much wheat before your mash system gets stuck.

I use wheat and rye a lot but when it's 20% or less of the grain bill I usually mill it through my roller mill like everybody else. When it's a greater portion I mill it separately through a corona-type mill set to mill not quite to flour but closer to a cornmeal texture. Otherwise I find my efficiency really suffers.

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Offline coolman26

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #13 on: August 22, 2018, 12:14:36 pm »
My roller gap measures .030


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Offline denny

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Re: Milling Wheat
« Reply #14 on: August 22, 2018, 12:30:35 pm »
Unless you use exactly the same brewing system as someone else, and use exactly the same process, knowing what someone else's mill is set to may not do you much good.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell