Crankandstein Arrived Surface In 2 Weeks

[roach]

thanks for the info Doc and i am sure you get a beter crush as a result. just as an side - what is your efficiency BTW?

i guess my efficiency will suffer a bit as a result of leaving the setting at one level. hopefully adding more to the grain bill to cover the loss will help and won't affect the result. i suppose that is the tradeoff for getting a cheaper mill

cheers

 

[Doc]

just as an side - what is your efficiency BTW?

Currently sitting around 75-80%.

Beers,
Doc

 

[user 384]

Hi Roach

I have a Valley Mill and rarely adjust the setting. I've found a gap I like and now leave it alone. I used to double mill, and adjust the gap, but have found it makes little difference to my system.

Cheers
MAH

 

[roach]

Thanks MAH. Comforting to know others in AHB are getting quality results without having to adjust their mill regularly. I would hate to have to dismantle the crank and adjust for every brew.

I won't know 4 sure until i start cranking though( and yes I mean crushing grain with a crankandstein :->.

i wonder if others have differing results when they have adjusted their mill for each different brew/grain - cf when they don't adjust at all

cheers
Roach

 

[Justin]

Roach, I have a BC which is adjustable. I do play about with it a bit as I find that the english malts are a different size and I adjust it wider for wheat because it's bloody hard stuff. I probably don't need too though and I'm thinking about setting it a bit wider so if feeds and crushes a bit easier then run the grain through again. Which brings me to my next recommendation.

Obviously you are going to drill power your mill (no handle) as I do. I got a 500W (I think. Might be 700W but most likely it's 500W) 1/2" drill from bunnings for $17 with variable speed. It's pretty much a right pain in the ass trying to use it as the slower speeds have no torque and it keeps stalling-probably going to burst into flames one day soon. I'm pretty unhappy with it, it's a XU1 drill I think so if you have the option steer clear and find a better one. My opinion, find a different drill. My 14.4V ryobi cordless drill does a great job though but I'm scared of burning it out so don't use it. It has a geared low speed on it. I'm going to start looking around for a pulley to fit the 3/8" drive. Apparently the bigger pulleys don't come in 3/8" shaft size but yet I haven't looked. Then I plan to mount it permanently with a decent motor.

Just my thoughts mate. Semi-adjustable(you know what I mean) is going to be fine.

Cheers, Justin

 

[roach]

Thanks Justin for the tips. I am sure you could get an adapter to go from 3/8 to 1/2 to enable pulley set up.

i have an el cheapo $20 cordless i was gonna try 1st up, but based on your experience it seems i might be tempting fate with a burnout.

i also have a 1/2 AEG 650w variable speed corded drill that will prolly do the job well. can't wait to drill - better than hand cranking as i did with the mill i was using.

cheers

 

[user 384]

Roach

Why not do what one our fellow Adelaide brewers has done and use a windscreen wiper motor. It will have the gearing at low speed to do the job nicely. This is on my to do list, as I've had the same problems using a drill. At low speed it's just got no torqoue.

Cheers
MAH

 

[Guest Lurker]

I vary the setting on my valley if I do a double crush. 8 kg of grain through a valley damn nearly melted my good quality cordless. But the corded AEG rips through 8kg at lowish speed with plenty of torque and no burny smells. (Except wheat on closest setting, have to do that flat out). At max revs I definitely get a few more intact looking grains than at low revs, but they are still cracked.

 

[roach]

thanks GL - will go the aeg initially with confidence and then go the windscreen wiper motor option suggested by MAH on an opportunity basis.

MAH who uses the windscreen wiper motor option. i usually rock up to meet fellow Adelaide AG'ers at the drinkin end of the process rather than the brewin end and so dont see the kit in operation

cheers
Roach

 

[Justin]

No kidding! Someone is using a windscreen wiper motor. I have one of these, I'm going to give it a go if I can rig up some sort of way to couple the two. Might find a dead 3/8" drill and steel the chuck then find some way to join it.

What does he use for a power source as these motors draw a few amps? I thought about using my battery charger but I'm not sure if this is going to burn it out. Guess I can try it as wiper motors are pretty much a dime a dozen.

Thanks for the idea, had no idea they had that much torque.

Cheers, Justin

 

[Jazman]

i use my bc on default setting and get 79 % eff and have used a cheapo drill no probs

 

[Justin]

Yeah I set mine a bit inside factory setting usually (about 2mm from the marked notch) so this narrower gap increases grinding effort a fair bit more I think, but then I also get in the order of 85-90% efficiency regularly. I am looking for a more permanent set up though, really keen to try adapting the wiper motor.

Looking on the net I have found reference to a Valley Mill powered by a truck wiper motor (guessing these may be a bit stronger than a normal car one??) but I can't get to the pictures. If anyone can help me get to the Craftbrewers pictures let me know.

Here's the link that I found anyway:
http://lists.craftbrewer.org/pipermail/cra...ust/001276.html
There are no instructions but I'm sure I can work something out. Anyone got any good ideas for a 12V power source?

Cheers, Justin

 

[MCWB]

An old AT power supply perhaps? They can be had for around $5 at your local computer swap meet, and can output a few amps on the +12 V rail. I don't know how much these wiper motors draw, but it might be a decent idea to load up the +5 V rail on the PSU with some resistors just in case.

 

[user 384]

Hi Roach

IIRC it's Pedro who uses the wiper motor. Maybe he can give some more details on how he powers it.

Cheers
MAH

 

[roach]

thanks MAH. I forgot it was pedro. we'll be catching up in a few weeks, so i'll have a chat to him then.

Cheers
Roach

 

[dicko]

Hi All,
Just to bring up an old post.
Before xmas I ordered a Crankandstein mill from Fred Francis and I will say that this guy is more than helpful.
As Roach said, he answered my enquiries promptly also, and my mill arrived eleven days from me placing the order. (Fred said ten days).
Not bad considering it was xmas time and where I live, it arrived on the 23rd of December.
I ordered a fully adjustable three roller model so Fred had no reason to up sell to me.
I think he makes the two roller mill with adjusters now but it would pay to check the website.
I also took the option of a 1/2" drive shaft as I am powering it with an electric motor and it is a lot easier to match pulleys with this size shaft.(Cost $20.00 US extra)
The adjustment is in 5 thousands of an inch increments and is operated by turning two spring loaded steel knobs on the third roller.
The rollers are 1.5 inches dia, and 5 inches long on the one I ordered.
I have powered it with a 240 volt Rotisserie spit motor geared to 100 rpm and stepped up with two pulleys to turn the mill at 125 rpm.
The price of the three roller mill delivered to my place including freight and insurance was $280.00 Aus (Paypal deduction) freight and insurance was $61.00 US.
I guess I could have opted for cheaper freight but what the heck, I wanted the sucker there and then as you do when you buy something.
I have built it into a frame and built a hopper along the design of the plan that comes with the mill.
I have only put 10kg of grain through it but it is excellent IMO.

Cheers

 

[jayse]

Very nice dicko, give the margo the desent burial it deserves. :huh:
Actually for that money you could have brought another three margos' and have them all lined up along side each other with one giant hopper feeding them all. :blink: ...maybe not, anyway don't forget to post some pics.


Jayse

 

[roach]

I think he makes the two roller mill with adjusters now but it would pay to check the website.

Top stuff Dicko. The 3 roller job sounds gr8 and would luv to see a few pics. Crankandstein sold an adjustable 2 roller one when I bought the 2s, but I went the cheapest possible option - ie $96US to my door = about $135 Aussie.

 

[dicko]

Hi Jayse,
The Marga is still going strong and I have been inundated with requests for it. At this stage I believe it is going to my son in law in Adelaide as he is interested in doing some AG next year.
He has also claimed my old mash tun and the 50litre boil kettle but i'll tell you one thing-
he's not gettin' the March Pump :lol: :lol:

Cheers

 

[Gulf Brewery]

but i'll tell you one thing-
he's not gettin' the March Pump :lol:

Dicko

That's very good of you to buy him one of his own

Pedro
(who is looking for protective cover )