18 replies to this topic

[CaptRon]

So my b-day is on the 21st, and the boss has given me the go for launch on getting a grain mill. So help me out my brews bros, which one should I get and why. I was thinking a Barley Crusher because from what I have read the factory setting is a pretty good crush. But I'd still like input from my homies.. :DDiscuss..

[ncbeerbrewer]

I have had the Barley Crusher or a year and a half and used it to the tune of around 40 batches since then. I have never touched the factory settings and think the crush is great. I get around 80% eff. I know there are other good grain mills out there but I don't think you can go wrong with the BC. Plus you can just hook up the mill directly to a drill and let it roll. No additional maintenance or needed parts or the drill hook up just remove the hand crank. I also suggest getting it right from BC Products. You could have it out to you in a few days I am sure. I ordered on an Monday it arrived on a Thursday. Another thing as well. I purchased the 7lb hopper for $132.00 and sorry I see no reason to get the larger 15lb hopper. Just fill the thing up as it comes to empty and you crush your grains. Good LuckBC Products

[MakeMeHoppy]

I'm very happy with the Barley Crusher I got. I used a drill a couple of times and now just hand crank. I can get thru a typical batch of 11 lbs of grain in about 10 minutes. The price along with the ready to go hopper was the selling points for me.

[3rd party JKor]

I got a Monster MM-3. It chews through grain fast and the factory setting looks great to me. I've never used a two roller mill, so I can't really say whether the 3-roller is worth the extra money, but it works great for me.Fortunately for you, this seems to be one of those items that pretty much everyone is happy with what they have. Barley Cursher, CrankandStein, Monster, JSP Malt Mill. They're all good products.

[CaptRon]

I got a Monster MM-3. It chews through grain fast and the factory setting looks great to me. I've never used a two roller mill, so I can't really say whether the 3-roller is worth the extra money, but it works great for me.Fortunately for you, this seems to be one of those items that pretty much everyone is happy with what they have. Barley Cursher, CrankandStein, Monster, JSP Malt Mill. They're all good products.

yeah, I'm just trying to avoid buying something and then not long after being like "Oh man, I should have gotten the other one because of ..."

[strangebrewer]

Love my BC. I've had it for 4 years now and while I have tightened the gap up a little I haven't touched anything else on it. In this last month alone I've run about 130lbs of grain through it using a drill. Eventually I'll build a stand and hook it up to a motor.

[CaptRon]

Love my BC. I've had it for 4 years now and while I have tightened the gap up a little I haven't touched anything else on it. In this last month alone I've run about 130lbs of grain through it using a drill. Eventually I'll build a stand and hook it up to a motor.

Isn't there a certain motor that you can direct drive the mill with that has the perfect number of RPM's or something? So you don't need a pulley?

[strangebrewer]

Isn't there a certain motor that you can direct drive the mill with that has the perfect number of RPM's or something? So you don't need a pulley?

The Beefy Bodine is the one I have seen reference the most. 1/3HP, 180RPM, and easy to rig for direct drive.

[ncbeerbrewer]

The Beefy Bodine is the one I have seen reference the most. 1/3HP, 180RPM, and easy to rig for direct drive.

I am under the impression that the Beefy is not a stocked item anymore. I know I wanted one awhile back but never seen it sold again at sciplus.com. Maybe I am wrong but thats what I remember about it.

[3rd party JKor]

I am under the impression that the Beefy is not a stocked item anymore. I know I wanted one awhile back but never seen it sold again at sciplus.com. Maybe I am wrong but thats what I remember about it.

Someone posted a link to it recently. I don't think it was on sciplus, though.

[gnef]

How handy are you with tools and building things, and limited wiring?If you are good at building things, then I would recommend you go with something like a monster or a crankandstein, where you buy the mill itself, and you build the base and hopper. This is the route I took, and am very happy I did it this way. I am not even that great with tools. My mill setup looks pretty ghetto, but it works quite well for me.I knew I didn't want to hand crank, and I wanted a larger hopper, so I decided to just get the mill and build everything else. I bought a motor that spun at the correct RPM, just in the opposite direction, so I just flipped a roller, and was good to go with spider couplings - I didn't want to risk having belts, chain, sprockets, or pulleys to get my hand mangled in.I personally have a crankandstein 2 roller design with adjustable spacing. I've never fiddled with it. I am happy with my setup, but if I had to do it again at this point, I would go for a Monster 3 roller (I am out of college and working now, so funds aren't quite as tight).

[tag]

You can order a JSP MaltMill to your needs too.I have used a nonadjustable MaltMill for at least 10 years now with no problems.

[CaptRon]

Well, I pulled the trigger. I ordered a Barley Crusher with the 7lb hopper. I also ordered a stainless false bottom which should prevent it from floating again like my plastic one did in my last batch. SWMBO didn't approve the FB, but hey - it is for my birthday coming up!

[ncbeerbrewer]

Well, I pulled the trigger. I ordered a Barley Crusher with the 7lb hopper. I also ordered a stainless false bottom which should prevent it from floating again like my plastic one did in my last batch. SWMBO didn't approve the FB, but hey - it is for my birthday coming up!

I am sure the SWMBO approved the more expensive item in the BC than the FB therefore getting the FB seems reasonable to me. Good luck I am sure you will be pleased with the BC as well. Happy B Day!!

[Jimmy James]

Congrats on the purchase. Now you can start getting into all sorts of trouble.

Well, I pulled the trigger. I ordered a Barley Crusher with the 7lb hopper. I also ordered a stainless false bottom which should prevent it from floating again like my plastic one did in my last batch. SWMBO didn't approve the FB, but hey - it is for my birthday coming up!

[CaptRon]

Congrats on the purchase. Now you can start getting into all sorts of trouble.

heh, I'm surprised that she is still being really cool about brewing - being I destroyed the kitchen floor last time. Maybe she is way cooler than I give her credit for.

[CaptRon]

Too funny. these are going to be delivered today and I am like a fat kid in a chocolate cake store. I don't know why, because I don't have any grain to mill at home and wont be able to use it for like a week or so. lol

[ncbeerbrewer]

Its just cool to look at as well. You can look at it till you use it and drool till then. Then when you use it bam you will really be thrilled. Enjoy!!

[3rd party JKor]

You can build your stand for it!