Happy New Year everybody! I got a 15-lb barley crusher for Christmas from my wonderful wife. I had wanted it because I have struggled with my effiiciency, I normally get 60% efficiency using grains crushed by my online supplier. So I got 85% efficiency on my very first batch with it, awesome! It turned my SNPA clone into SNIPA, I guess. I am so stoked! If anyone out there is debating whether a mill is worth the money, stop wondering and get one!
Crush is a significant factor in efficiency. The better the crush the better the efficiency.
Congrats!! A good mill is a purchase that will never be regretted. Depending on how much you brew and the price you pay in grain, it can pay for itself in a year. Easier to justify buying bulk grain too!!
+1 I have definitely regained the cost of the mill in grain value. Plus it make me feel like a
“Real” brewer having a bunch of grains and specialty to just muck around with. I usually have
what I need and I rarely have to run to the store for anything any more.
;D That’s awesome!
The title worried me.
I was afraid he’d say he went from 75% to 100% 
No, that’s over on the “other” board.
Even worst from 80 to 105% 
Great news!
I recently motorized my Schmidling Malt Mill. Mine is the Non-adjustable type. I think my RPM for the mill is about 300 RPM.
Any guess as to what efficiency I might expect with the crush this mill will make? Haven’t used it yet
TD
I bought a barley crusher http://www.barleycrusher.com/barleycrusher.phpmalt-mill about a year ago, and left the gap default setting at .039 (as set at assembly). Is the the opimum setting? My efficiency is running at about 68%, whether i batch sparge or fly sparge.
Would setting this roller tighter, and the subsequent better cracking, give me a better yield? or, should i be looking for other reasons for my low efficiency?
You would almost certainly see a gain in efficiency by setting the roller tighter, especially when you mill wheat or rye. I drop my LHBS’s mill down to .03, and that increased my efficiency by 20% from whatever I was getting when I used their old corona-style mill.
I crush barley at .025 and wheat/rye at .015 and never a problem with my sparging.
I’ve never seen a reason to measure my gap…I brew with grist, not gaps! 
;D
I know these mills are despised and I am in the minority but after minimal tweaking I consistently get 80-83% efficiency with my Corona mill. Okay, here come the “yeah but’s” :-*
I don’t think there are lots of “but”s. If it converts sufficiently and lauters good enough there should not be a problem.
Kai
All I can add is don’t get too cocky closing the gaps on your mills. I was thinking I was a fantastic brewer getting 85-90% then noticed my beers weren’t as good. Astringent and clarity issues in every brew. Lots of flour and shredded husks. I opened the gap back a bit to where I get between 75-80% and all was good again. I think I have mine set at .035 now. Had it down to .020