Monster Mill

[QldKev]

Got my Monster mill during the week. I was after a design to make milling easy, but also had to allow for limited woodworking skills.

The design


The feed


Crush 1


Crush 2


What do you think, the crush looks pretty good to me.

QldKev


Edit: Thought I may add a pic of the brewery in action. (yep hops in the background)

 

[atkinsonr]

Very nice work.
I've had mine since Feb and it's still a semi assembled jumble of bits.

 

[yardy]

nice job Kev B)

I've only just housed the marga that i got off Andrew but you've inspired me and i think a new mill may be my next buy.

Cheers
Yard

 

[warrenlw63]

Looks awesome Kev. Nice big hopper too.

In regards to your crush Kev I've found mine seems to work well set at 0.9mm I used a set of feeler gauges to verify.

Warren -

 

[matt white]

Just make sure the mountings between the mill and the platform are solid. It will work its way loose if its mounted into wood, mdf etc and alter your crush diameter and therefore efficiency.

Any flat surfaces will hold grain so see if you can slope them all towards the slot if possible.

Looks good for prototype number 1.

I invested in an alloy hopper and mounting after the mdf prototype failed dismally after a couple of brews. Cost me $200 but have now crushed several hundred kilos of grain with no dramas.

 

[QldKev]

Just done my first full crush. Speed no problems at all, it just roared through the grain bill. Mmmm, hopper could have been a bit big, next time I will calculate the volume. Good if I need to crush for 4 or 5 batches, though

Last minute ideas,
- Possibly move the angled slide to make the capacity about half, and use the other half for storage of home brew junk.
- Put plates on the sides of the mill to help divert all grain downwards. I didn't loose much from the sides of the bucket, but I want to collect all possible.
- Also thinking maybe a lid to cover it all when not in use. I have enough hinge and wood to finish it ready.

Richy, thanks for the pos feedback, looking forward to getting a few crushes from this design.

Yardy, feel free to drop in anytime to check it out for ideas; like any project the next model will always be better. If your looking at the Monster mill remember if you can get someone local to get one at the same time you can get 2 in the post for the same prie as one.

Warren, yep need to get some new feelers gauges. My old automotive ones have rusted a bit. I still have it at factory settings and am quite happy with the crush so far.

gilbrew, I know what you mean about the mount of the mill to the base board. I used pine hoping it would be stronger than the mdf. When I bolted the mill to it the washers are now embedded into it. I made the slide for the grain mounted on a hinge (almost can see it in the pic). This way I can open it up and clean out under there and also check the tension of the bolts.

QldKev

 

[sumo]

Hey QldKev,

Are you using the Monster Mill 2 (1.5 inch dia. rollers)? The hopper design is pretty good, easy to build?

Any chance you can give the measurements of the MM itself? (length / width etc)

Cheers
James

 

[QldKev]

Hope this helps



EDIT:
Yep the design of the hopper was as simple as I could make it. A sqaure box with an angled board inside. I wanted it to be a fun project for my wife to help out on. I think she ended up enjoying it more than me. Project cost < $30

The original design it was to sit on a bucket, but as it grew we changed plans. The legs are just 42x19mm pine, $1.40 for a 1.5m cut in half for 2 legs. Just takes the strain of trying to balance it on the bucket.

QldKev

 

[QldKev]

Today was a brew day, sitting there looking at the mill (looks like a trojan horse)

mmm maybe the hopper is to big, tape measure out.. just over 25L internal maybe it is too big.


New divider in place, and a couple of lids. A bit better. Also added some grain diverters underneath,.




The centre divider is actually angled but doesn't really look it in the pic.
10L in the hopper side, 15L storage..

Just got to get something to cover the screws that jut out.

QldKev

 

[Sammus]

Bah, cant have too big of a hopper. Then again, mine isn't as big as yours ...probably close, it fits 12-13kg grain, which is on the 20L mark. Right now I can't imagine needing more room for grain...especially considering I'm a hand cranker (getting big shoulders lol) but who knows what the future holds?

 

[rowanb]

Hello Sammus - just looking at your mill on the crate. Are you using a crate as a base, and if so, does it do the job? I need a simple replacement mounting for my Valley Mill & am wondering if a crate might do it. If you are using a crate, how have you attached it to the mill (e.g. bolts/clamps)?

View attachment 26815

 

[Sammus]

Nah I have an alu bar bolted to one side of the mill and it just sits on top of my bucket, I sit on the crate, hold the mill with one hand and crank with the other.

 

[sumo]

Hope this helps

View attachment 26812

EDIT:
Yep the design of the hopper was as simple as I could make it. A sqaure box with an angled board inside. I wanted it to be a fun project for my wife to help out on. I think she ended up enjoying it more than me. Project cost < $30

The original design it was to sit on a bucket, but as it grew we changed plans. The legs are just 42x19mm pine, $1.40 for a 1.5m cut in half for 2 legs. Just takes the strain of trying to balance it on the bucket.

QldKev

Magic thanks Kev.

J.