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"I'm a heavy duty mechanic for the last 21 years. I have always enjoyed building things: I have built towable backhoes, woods splitters, gold wash plant, BBQ's, front-end loaders, a wood chipper, and the list goes on."
Roll mills are designed to crush the hulls of wheat, barley and other feed grains between two rollers. The crushing action maximizes the digestibility and nutritional value of the grains, turning it into an excellent food source for a variety of livestock. Ken designed and built his own mill to aid in his animal feed production: given his mechanical knowledge and knack for building things, we have no doubt that this mill does the trick!
Nice project, Ken! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Q: What is it used for?
A: For crushing grains like wheat, oats, barley, corn, and peas for feed. My wife Charlotte and I over the past few years have taking up farming. We have mini horses, chickens, pigs, and now a cow. When we got the pigs we needed a way to crush the grain we were getting.
Q: What is the main power source for your project? (e.g. electric motor, gas engine etc.)
A: A 1/2 HP 120V electric motor.
Q: How do you control your project? (e.g. hydraulic control valve(s), electric switches etc.)
A: Just plug it in switch it on!
Q: What components are used to perform the work for your project? (e.g. hydraulic cylinder(s), hydraulic motor(s), sprockets, pulleys etc.)
A: Two steel rolls, keyed shaft, flange bearings, sprockets, chain, belts, and pulleys.
Q: What design/build challenges were overcome?
A: Getting the rolls to turn together. When I built the rolls I had to get them to turn into each other. Getting the sprocket and drive chain just right so everything would clear was the hardest part.
Q: If you had to build it again, what would you do differently?
A: If I build another, I will make the rolls wider and adjustable to get a finer feed (maybe flour), and a better guard over the belt.
Q: Which Princess Auto location do you visit most?
A: Kamloops, BC