[blatz]

I think what Denny is alluding to is what I'm thinking... is this a solution looking for a problem?

I'll try it a few batches from now when I get to one of my house recipes that I know what the output is consistently like and post my results...

[Thirsty_Monk]

Bottom line.
It looks pretty 

[uthristy]

Only my third test batch and too early to get any solid proof its better but so its a faster run off, no rice hulls, crystal clear wort. My efficiency  has only changed from 77-78%  up to 81% but that could be a number of other factors and I'll just have to keep track and see if it stays stable on other batchs.

Brewing again thursday.

Yes it is really pretty 

[denny]

you get less dust.

I don't get enough dust to worry about

Great grain cruch (no need for rice hauls)

I already get a great crush and don't need rice hulls

great run off.

I already get great runoff and never a stuck runoff
 

I think it is worth it.
You get about the same efficiency.

And I'm certain that for you and others it is worth it.  But my point is that, as Kai says, for many of us there's no need for it.  I'm all for doing whatever it takes to improve your beer or brewing process, but I also firmly believe in not doing things that don't make a difference.  If you have problems you need to solve, conditioning is one way of possibly solving them.  But carefully evaluate whatever you do and decide it if really makes a difference for you.

[nyakavt]

I certainly do need to condition the malt or use rice hulls when crushing at a gap of 0.025".  I've tried it many times without, and the result was a very slow runoff and several visible quarts of wort being held back in the MT.  Alternative solutions would be to crush less fine, or use rice hulls, but conditioning seems a 'free' solution with the small sacrifice of 2-3 min of stirring.

[denny]

Yeah, it sounds like you have a situation where you've determined malt conditioning is helpful.  In my case, I've never had a stuck runoff and I crush fine enough to get an average 85% efficiency, so there's no reason for me to do it.

[bluesman]

Yeah, it sounds like you have a situation where you've determined malt conditioning is helpful.  In my case, I've never had a stuck runoff and I crush fine enough to get an average 85% efficiency, so there's no reason for me to do it.

Denny - What kind of mill do you use and do you know the gap?

On topic...I usually get about 75-80% efficiency and don't really see the need for conditioning.

[nyakavt]

Yeah, it sounds like you have a situation where you've determined malt conditioning is helpful.  In my case, I've never had a stuck runoff and I crush fine enough to get an average 85% efficiency, so there's no reason for me to do it.

And, of course, I haven't opened up the gap to see if I can still achieve 80-85% with a coarser crush.  Sounds like you do have a good mill though!

[denny]

Sounds like you do have a good mill though!

10 year old JSP adjustable.

[bluesman]

I also have an adjustable JSP maltmill that I haven't adjusted since I got it. Factory setting of .040" I subscribe to the old motto "If it's not broke don't fix it". As I said, I am pleased with 75-80% efficiency.

[denny]

I also have an adjustable JSP maltmill that I haven't adjusted since I got it. Factory setting of .040" I subscribe to the old motto "If it's not broke don't fix it". As I said, I am pleased with 75-80% efficiency.

About 6-7 years ago, I got the experimentation bug with the mill.  I closed the rollers as tight as they'd go, then opened them til I could just barely see them move.  It's been that way ever since.

[bluesman]

I would wager to say you have a tighter setting than I do. Maybe that's why you get a little better efficiency than I do. 

[denny]

Yeah, my efficiency went up quite a bit when I tightened it, so being the pragmatic type, I left it there!

[babalu87]

There are so many parameters (especially milling)  in homebrewing that its worth a shot
IF
You want to give it a try.

My run-offs improved and I got an efficiency bump (from 82 to 84/85)
I always needed rice hulls with Wheat beers prior to conditioning, havent bought rice hulls since last Christmas 

Plus
Its one more thing to get my hands dirty with 

[uthristy]

After 5 batchs and I'm holding at 81%.

 [Scale grain->mix in water- >scale hops and return to grind the grain 15mins total time]

But I'll wait till batch #10 before saying its the conditioning.