DIY motorized grain mill motor question

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jstebell

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Hello all so I'm in the process in piecing together the parts to build a motorized mill. And I can't get a brand new motor for a steal. Only problem is it's 2hp. I know that's over kill. But will it even work for what I'm trying to do I'm obviously gonna have it geared down from 1700rpm to about 500-600. Any help is greatly appreciated. Cheers!!
 
Are you using sheaves or gear reducer? How about some details on the motor. I opted for a (relatively) cheap chinese one from Global Industrial. Mine was about $140 for 1HP with 56C face. Is the motor 110 or 220 volt? If the former its going to pull about 15 amps, just fyi.
 
ebstauffer said:
Are you using sheaves or gear reducer? How about some details on the motor. I opted for a (relatively) cheap chinese one from Global Industrial. Mine was about $140 for 1HP with 56C face. Is the motor 110 or 220 volt? If the former its going to pull about 15 amps, just fyi.
Click to expand...

I was planning on running with sheaves just to save money really. I don't have the info in front of me right now but I do know that it is 110volt. I'll get the info when I get home. I actually just found a 1/2hp general duty motor on harbor freight. Only 100$ http://m.harborfreight.com/12-hp-general-purpose-electric-motor-67839.html would this be a better option? Thanks.
 
I am just about done building my Mill I used the 1/2hp general duty motor from harbor freight. works great I can fill my Hopper and then turn it on and it powers though the grain, I use pulleys 1 1/2 in on the motor and 11 in on my Mill I used the jsp with gear driver I have one issue I am losing a little bit of grain out the back by the pulley due to my bucket dose not go all the way back I think I am going to add like a chute under the mill
 
Thanks! Sadly I'm not as mechanically inclined as some on here, so I'll still need to figure out what I need to buy. I already have the MM2, base, and hopper. Just need to find a motor and whatever other parts I need.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm going with the 1/2 hp motor from harbor freight. And i was planning on running pulleys but I ended up ordering a 10:1 reducer from surplus center. Only 89$ plus I like the idea of no pulleys to get caught up in as I'm already buzzed by the time I start milling my grain on brew days. I'm gonna mount it all on a stainless steel cart so I can have some mobility. I will post pics as the parts start to come together. Thank yall. Cheers!!
 
Here's my BOM. Minus my mill which I already have. It's a barley crusher w the 7# hopper which I'm about to upgrade with a custom 50# hopper for my 1bbl brews.

1: 1/2 hp general duty motor - 99.99$
http://m.harborfreight.com/12-hp-general-purpose-electric-motor-67839.html

1: 10:1 gear reducer - 92.95$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...R-REDUCER-0-77-HP-LEFT-OUTPUT-13-133-10-L.axd

2: 5/8" L-050 Jaw coupling half aka Lovejoy - 3.75$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...lers/5-8-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-HALF-1-3419-G.axd

1: 3/8" L-050 Jaw coupling half aka lovejoy - 3.75$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...lers/3-8-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-HALF-1-3419-C.axd

1: 1/2" L-050 Jaw coupling half aka Lovejoy - 3.75$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...lers/1-2-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-HALF-1-3419-E.axd

2: L-050 spacers - 1.80$ each
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...-N-INSERT-FOR-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-1-3419-X.axd

1: Stainless Steel cart 76.75$
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/cho...-utility-cart-33-3-4-x-21-x-37/922T20020.html

Total price 284.54$
Not including the electrical parts from HD to wire in a switch. Ill post a pic of the wiring diagram I used to wire my chuggars to switches. I can't take credit for it tho. I found it on here at least a year ago. It's very simple even I had no problem figuring it out. Props to who ever posted it. It's helped me out numerous times. Hope this helps some one out.
Now all I have to do is wait to get off the darn business trip so I can start building.
Cheers yall

image.jpg
 
Here's my BOM. Minus my mill which I already have. It's a barley crusher w the 7# hopper which I'm about to upgrade with a custom 50# hopper for my 1bbl brews.

1: 1/2 hp general duty motor - 99.99$
http://m.harborfreight.com/12-hp-general-purpose-electric-motor-67839.html

1: 10:1 gear reducer - 92.95$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...R-REDUCER-0-77-HP-LEFT-OUTPUT-13-133-10-L.axd

2: 5/8" L-050 Jaw coupling half aka Lovejoy - 3.75$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...lers/5-8-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-HALF-1-3419-G.axd

1: 3/8" L-050 Jaw coupling half aka lovejoy - 3.75$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...lers/3-8-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-HALF-1-3419-C.axd

1: 1/2" L-050 Jaw coupling half aka Lovejoy - 3.75$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...lers/1-2-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-HALF-1-3419-E.axd

2: L-050 spacers - 1.80$ each
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...-N-INSERT-FOR-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-1-3419-X.axd

1: Stainless Steel cart 76.75$
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/cho...-utility-cart-33-3-4-x-21-x-37/922T20020.html

Total price 284.54$
Not including the electrical parts from HD to wire in a switch. Ill post a pic of the wiring diagram I used to wire my chuggars to switches. I can't take credit for it tho. I found it on here at least a year ago. It's very simple even I had no problem figuring it out. Props to who ever posted it. It's helped me out numerous times. Hope this helps some one out.
Now all I have to do is wait to get off the darn business trip so I can start building.
Cheers yall
 
jstebell said:
Here's my BOM. Minus my mill which I already have. It's a barley crusher w the 7# hopper which I'm about to upgrade with a custom 50# hopper for my 1bbl brews.

1: 1/2 hp general duty motor - 99.99$
http://m.harborfreight.com/12-hp-general-purpose-electric-motor-67839.html

1: 10:1 gear reducer - 92.95$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...R-REDUCER-0-77-HP-LEFT-OUTPUT-13-133-10-L.axd

2: 5/8" L-050 Jaw coupling half aka Lovejoy - 3.75$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...lers/5-8-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-HALF-1-3419-G.axd

1: 3/8" L-050 Jaw coupling half aka lovejoy - 3.75$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...lers/3-8-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-HALF-1-3419-C.axd

1: 1/2" L-050 Jaw coupling half aka Lovejoy - 3.75$
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...lers/1-2-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-HALF-1-3419-E.axd

2: L-050 spacers - 1.80$ each
http://www.surpluscenter.com/Power-...-N-INSERT-FOR-L-050-JAW-COUPLING-1-3419-X.axd

1: Stainless Steel cart 76.75$
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/cho...-utility-cart-33-3-4-x-21-x-37/922T20020.html

Total price 284.54$
Not including the electrical parts from HD to wire in a switch. Ill post a pic of the wiring diagram I used to wire my chuggars to switches. I can't take credit for it tho. I found it on here at least a year ago. It's very simple even I had no problem figuring it out. Props to who ever posted it. It's helped me out numerous times. Hope this helps some one out.
Now all I have to do is wait to get off the darn business trip so I can start building.
Cheers yall
Click to expand...

How is everything working out? Would love to see pics.
 
I just got home from my trip yesterday. Still awaiting the arrival of the stainless cart. But as soon as it arrives I'll have pics up. Cheers!!
 
The Two HP motor is a bit absurd.......... but a motor draws only as many amps as the load it is pulling... except during startup. An honestly rated motor...... and most of them are NOT honestly rated, will draw about 12 amps per HP on 115VAC....If they rate is at much less, they are flat out lying. 10 would be a more typical value... but it's less than honest. That draw is at full rated load. A two hp motor will draw SLIGHTLY more than a 1 hp motor at the same load as a rule....but not very darn much. "Compressor Duty" motors are absurdly over rated....... their numbers are a flat out lie.
If you are looking for motors at Harbor Freight......... look at tools with motors on them.... I've seen cases where a tool with an induction motor is cheaper than a stand alone motor!

H.W.
 
Anybody ever consider setting up a rolling mill using bicycle parts? For the short time period you use it, it would make sense, and be one of a kind.



H.W.
 
Owly055 said:
The Two HP motor is a bit absurd.......... but a motor draws only as many amps as the load it is pulling... except during startup. An honestly rated motor...... and most of them are NOT honestly rated, will draw about 12 amps per HP on 115VAC....If they rate is at much less, they are flat out lying. 10 would be a more typical value... but it's less than honest. That draw is at full rated load. A two hp motor will draw SLIGHTLY more than a 1 hp motor at the same load as a rule....but not very darn much. "Compressor Duty" motors are absurdly over rated....... their numbers are a flat out lie.
If you are looking for motors at Harbor Freight......... look at tools with motors on them.... I've seen cases where a tool with an induction motor is cheaper than a stand alone motor!

H.W.
Click to expand...

It says 1/2 HP.

"Power Grinder is a 1/2 hp, 110 volt, capacitor start, reversible, 400 watt, single phase electric brute of a grain mill motor, coupled with an armoured gear reducer which will power your home brew grain mill at one of two ideal grinding speeds*. with the appropriate hardware (sold seperately) this monster will chew through your grain in seconds!"
 
Somebody beat me to the punch............ I guess I'll have to try the "original idea" of using water power ;-)................. I have an irrigation ditch in the back yard that runs a strong stream most of the summer, and have been threatening for years to build an undershot wheel........ Oops.... I'm a few hundred years too late!! Here we get a LOT of wind, but that would be a bit more complicated to use.

My favorite idea was the "Cyclovision"......... a sofa with pedals and a generator. The family would have to pedal to watch TV. I talked about it for years, and someone else finally designed and built one...... of course! I'm a NON_TV guy........... Never had a TV in my life..... the ultimate time waster!!

H,W.

day_trippr said:
HBTers didn't just fall off a turnip truck. They've been there and done that - almost always ;)

Cheers!
Click to expand...
 
Owly055 said:
Anybody ever consider setting up a rolling mill using bicycle parts? For the short time period you use it, it would make sense, and be one of a kind.



H.W.
Click to expand...

Go ahead and build one... I looked at the videos, people have built one, but I have never seen grain milled with one. Just pedaling the bike and turning a unloaded mill. Post up.....
 
Airplanedoc said:
Go ahead and build one... I looked at the videos, people have built one, but I have never seen grain milled with one. Just pedaling the bike and turning a unloaded mill. Post up.....
Click to expand...


I have some ideas.......... thinking about it. I pay $1.75 per pound for grain from my LHBS, which is 80 miles from home. I can buy base malt from the local micro brewery where I am a regular customer, and bring him kombucha frequently......At $33.00 a for a bag of two row. He buys by the pallet....... 2.5 times as much retail......... and the micro brewery is 30 miles closer. The big thing is being able to have it on the shelf, and mill it as I use it. Right now I have about 10 lbs of msc malt on hand that's milled already. I've got to use it fairly soon.


H.W.
 
Alright yall I finally got a tracking update on the stainless cart. It's supposed to be here wends. So I'll have the build posted up then. Cheers
 
So I got tired of waiting to get the mill built before I brew so I'm brewing with the old setup. Here's a pic. I'm brewing a wake n bake clone. It's an imperial oatmeal coffee stout made by Terriapan here in Athens.

image.jpg
 
I know the OP already has a motor picked out, but for anyone that's interested you can find some great used motors at the local scrap yard for next to nothing. I got a 1/4 horse 1750 RPM motor that was in really good shape for $3. There's no warranty of course, but if it's no good you can sell it back and grab another one. I got lucky and picked a good one that was exactly what I needed on my first visit. Beats paying $50 or more for a brand new one. I think the last time I looked at a similar new motor at Rural King ( a farming supply chain with descent prices), it was $68.
 
BBL_Brewer said:
I know the OP already has a motor picked out, but for anyone that's interested you can find some great used motors at the local scrap yard for next to nothing. I got a 1/4 horse 1750 RPM motor that was in really good shape for $3. There's no warranty of course, but if it's no good you can sell it back and grab another one. I got lucky and picked a good one that was exactly what I needed on my first visit. Beats paying $50 or more for a brand new one. I think the last time I looked at a similar new motor at Rural King ( a farming supply chain with descent prices), it was $68.
Click to expand...

I wish I woulda thought of that. Coulda saved 100$ or so. Oh well the harbor freight I purchased came with a 2 year warranty so I can't complan. The shipping on the cart supposedly got delayed so it should be here tomorrow. So standby for the build. Cheers!!
 
Great approach for your build. Using a gear reducer is the way to go. Belt and sheaves makes the cart more complicated and is just dangerous.

I've had mixed results with the Barley Crusher. My idle roller kept sticking and I was always cleaning gunk out of the bushings and lubricating them. I upgraded to Monster Mill which is a little beefier.


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew
 
Alright so the cart arrived today. And as you can see they sent me the wrong size. I'm gonna try to make it work but it's not gonna be pretty

image.jpg
 
Webstrauntsupply.com I take back what I said earlier. After I reviewedy order I guess I had a brain fart and ordered the smaller of the two. I do have the larger one already on the way. So the build is on stand by. Now I have an extra stainless cart. What to do with it?
 
For some reason it won't let me add more than one pic per post. But here is the stand with the reducer mounted

image.jpg
 
Here's the progress so far. Everything is mounted. All I got to do is wire everything together.

image.jpg
 

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