Powering a grain mill

[Ged]

Been thinking of this since Alelover posted up his mates beautiful motorised mill. Its also spurred me on to making some more brews as I've been very slack of late.

 

Does anyone have comments on this for powering a mill. Would plan on using a flexible link between the gearbox and the mill...

 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Business-farming-industry/Industrial/Engin...

 

Currently using my drill but that still rips crap out of the grain and if I go too slow it stalls and smells very bad :(

 

If the above link isn't suitable, where is best place to find sheaves in NZ for gearing down a faster motor. I've googled but haven't come up with anything other than marine pulleys etc.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

Ged

[JoKing]

Look perfect - if you put it together in such a way that the motor and box can be removable - it'd be perfect for a spit roast too!

[Greig McGill]

Snigger.

[Barry]

Cripes, that's low brow, even for you Greig. But damned if I can wipe the smile off my face.

[Chris Banks]

What sort of mill do you have I would be wondering if that would be sufficient torque to crush the grain?

[Ged]

Hey guys.

Monster Mill 2 - the basic version...How much torque do you reckon I'd need?

[Steve Baker]

I've heard 1/4 horsepower is just enough, but maybe not enough to self-start after getting stuck. 1/2 hp if you want to be safe.

A few places sell pulleys, but they ain't cheap and you might need to get an adaptor made to fit your shafts.

http://www.blackwoodspaykels.co.nz/ -> POWER TRANS... -> PULLEYS

I harvested a 1/4 hp motor from a dryer, but finishing that project is not at the top of my homebrew-homebrew list anymore.

[Chris Banks]

From what I discovered while building mine 1/3hp 5-6nm and 200-300rpm (at the mill) is a starting point

Of course any speed reduction via pulleys etc will also multiply torque.

I ended up using a mega torque gear reduction drill and chain drive on mine.

As Steve says pulleys aint cheap - most bearing sales places sell them however!

[Patrick]

I would be looking at pick-a-part or similar, there will be all kinds of pulleys off air con compressors, alternators etc. Cheap as chups.

[Ged]

Thanks for all the help.

Am also thinking of this...Bolting it on sideways..The chuck would negate a lot of connection issues. Saw something similar on Aussie home brewer this morning when I was working hard in the office !

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Building-renovation/Tools/Power-tools/Dril...

Given my current 1000w drill stalls at slow speeds on the mill and 1000w converts to more than 1hp...Wouldn't this press at 1/3 hp stall sooner or have I missed a magic formula regarding torque etc?

[Chris Banks]

Most variable speed power tools only put out there rated power at full noise slowing them down massively reduces the power output!

[Ged]

Thanks Chris...I assume that applies to my variable speed handheld. Would it also apply to the drill press ( in your opinion)

Cheers

[Chris Banks]

No that wouldnt apply to the drillpress it uses belts and pulleys to get its speed reduction
so its motor always runs at full speed.

The drillpress could be a little clumsy to adapt but not impossible?

This is the drill that I used
http://www.hitachipowertools.com/store_item.php?iID=115&arrPath...
its quite compact with gear reduction and runs at 550rpm of course I got it second hand with a snapped of handle but you may be able to find somthing like that on trade me etc

Heres a couple neither states the output speed but I would say they are both 500ish?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Building-renovation/Tools/Power-tools/Dril...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Building-renovation/Tools/Power-tools/Dril...