The crank shaft on my malt mill is 12mm. Seems my drill chuck is 3/8". Can anyone recommend an adapter or other connection between the drill and the malt mill so I can use the drill to mill grain?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Malt Mill Adapter
- Thread starter Tobor_8thMan
- Start date
Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:
mirthfuldragon
Well-Known Member
Cheapest solution is probably to buy a 1/2" drill. Everything else I can think of is more complicated, and a new Harbor Freight 1/2 drill is ~$20-$30.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2008
- Messages
- 154
- Reaction score
- 19
They make a sleeve (3/8” to 1/2”) that makes the difference. Used one for 25 years. Got it local.
1/2 drill is $30 at Harbor Freight. My opinion, if you can swing it, is get a good name brand for more $$ at Home Depot.
I'm a took fanatic, and I use them a lot, so maybe my world is different than yours.
I'm a took fanatic, and I use them a lot, so maybe my world is different than yours.
OP
OP
I checked my local HD on Sunday. Difficult to find corded drills and pricey too. No, I'm not interested in a cordless drill.
I see Sears has a nice craftsman 1/2" drill. Thoughts on craftsman drill?
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2007
- Messages
- 1,719
- Reaction score
- 759
Craftsman was bought by Stanley Black & Decker recently FWIW. I can't speak directly to the Craftsman drill but about 4 years ago my friend gave me his ancient corded B&D 1/2" drill and it has been rock solid crushing hundreds of pounds of grain with a Maltmill. If I was buying one I'd do like several posters have already suggested and get a 1/2" corded one from Harbor Freight. Use a 20% off coupon and you should be able to get it for next to nothing.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2016
- Messages
- 110
- Reaction score
- 22
So I found a cheap drill with variable speed for under $20, but it sucks, let me save you some time, don't buy this!
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-Tough-6-0-Amp-1-2-Inch-Corded-Hammer-Drill-DL1137/739032180
I really wanted this to work because it was one of the only variable speed drills with a keyless chuck. Sadly, it does not have enough torque to get started and the minimum variable speed setting about 3 up from lowest will start milling but once its going RPMs spool up to be way to fast. The lower settings are better at steady state but wont start even if I try to spool up by hand. If I run it then feed grain the RPMs are too fast with no load. It is going back.
So I am a bit hesitant on the Harbor freight one now. Have people used this drill with built in variable speed with success? Granted the HF drill motor is higher amps 7.5amps vs the Walmart one is 6amps. Does this make the difference to make this useable at low speeds with enough torque? I want to be able to set it and clamp the trigger and walk away without babying it of feathering the trigger.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-Tough-6-0-Amp-1-2-Inch-Corded-Hammer-Drill-DL1137/739032180
I really wanted this to work because it was one of the only variable speed drills with a keyless chuck. Sadly, it does not have enough torque to get started and the minimum variable speed setting about 3 up from lowest will start milling but once its going RPMs spool up to be way to fast. The lower settings are better at steady state but wont start even if I try to spool up by hand. If I run it then feed grain the RPMs are too fast with no load. It is going back.
So I am a bit hesitant on the Harbor freight one now. Have people used this drill with built in variable speed with success? Granted the HF drill motor is higher amps 7.5amps vs the Walmart one is 6amps. Does this make the difference to make this useable at low speeds with enough torque? I want to be able to set it and clamp the trigger and walk away without babying it of feathering the trigger.
I have had good luck with Harbor Freight tools. You need to look at what you are buying, there is some crappy stuff.
The power drills in that price point are probably all made in the same Chinese factory!
I have the 1/2 inch heavy duty reversible hammer drill. $34.99 It might be difficult to find the right pressure on the trigger to run slowly clamped. I have never tried. I have used it for all my milling for about 6 years as well as other drilling projects.
The power drills in that price point are probably all made in the same Chinese factory!
I have the 1/2 inch heavy duty reversible hammer drill. $34.99 It might be difficult to find the right pressure on the trigger to run slowly clamped. I have never tried. I have used it for all my milling for about 6 years as well as other drilling projects.
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2013
- Messages
- 7,916
- Reaction score
- 15,513
Not sure this is much help, but I have the harbor freight 1/2" and I do have to feather the variable speed trigger but I also use a corona mill. Used without issue about a year, only about 260# run through with it.
OP
OP
What is the rectangle box next to the drill? Variable speed controller? If so, where purchased?Craftsman was bought by Stanley Black & Decker recently FWIW. I can't speak directly to the Craftsman drill but about 4 years ago my friend gave me his ancient corded B&D 1/2" drill and it has been rock solid crushing hundreds of pounds of grain with a Maltmill. If I was buying one I'd do like several posters have already suggested and get a 1/2" corded one from Harbor Freight. Use a 20% off coupon and you should be able to get it for next to nothing.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2007
- Messages
- 1,719
- Reaction score
- 759
That is a router speed controller. I got that one on Amazon for $15 IIRC but Harbor Freight sells what looks to be the exact same one.
https://www.harborfreight.com/router-speed-control-43060.html
Craftsman was bought by Stanley Black & Decker recently FWIW. I can't speak directly to the Craftsman drill but about 4 years ago my friend gave me his ancient corded B&D 1/2" drill and it has been rock solid crushing hundreds of pounds of grain with a Maltmill. If I was buying one I'd do like several posters have already suggested and get a 1/2" corded one from Harbor Freight. Use a 20% off coupon and you should be able to get it for next to nothing.
This is just my opinion, but back in the day, Black and Decker was the gold standard. Then they were bought out and the quality went down. If you can get the older stuff, I'd agree, they are terrific.
The newer stuff? I've been burned by B&D so they aren't on my radar any longer.
I am not sure if you figured out a solution yet. I recently picked up a corded drill at Home Depot (I don't need a drill often and when I do my cheap cordless is always dead). They have a separate section for corded drills...I looked around by the cordless ones for a while first. Though I think a Ryobi was the only cheaper 1/2" drill and they can be hit and miss on quality.
I found this adapter on Amazon that seems like it would work if your 3/8" drill is decent (http://a.co/d/fHm8efY). My 3/8" Dewalt drill turns my Barley Crusher just fine.
OP
OP
Thanks to everyone for their input. Went with a simple solution of a Hitachi drill with 1/2" chuck. Got a great price and, if needed, I can use the drill for other things around the house.
OP
OP
Curious, how to know the item works in a 3/8" drill. I don't see indication in description/specs.
The Answers and Reviews seem to indicate that is can do that. I do not have any first hand experience with the item though.
Similar threads
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
-
Fermentrack: Fermentation monitoring & BrewPi-www Replacement for Raspberry Pi
- Latest: Drinking Sensibly
-
-
-
