Sugar clump grinder

[tonka]

What do you guys think about getting something like this to process/grind sugar clumps up? https://www.homebrewing.org/Cereal-Killer-Grain-Mill_p_2310.html

[Sugarmaker]

That may work well. But here I have to ask, because I don't get many lumps. Are you processing good early syrup to 260F and stirring? We just don't get many lumps. Also the small half the size of a pea size nodules that we sometimes do get we just sift those out and sell them as sugar crumbles for toppings for ice cream. I have used a food processor to grind some of these smaller but they seem to sell in the larger form just fine too.
Good luck with your sugar making. If I may ask how much granulated sugar are you making per batch and per year? We are small and make maybe 6 -8 gallons of syrup into sugar per year.
Regards,
Chris

[n8hutch]

I had an oh s___ moment and took some syrup up to 290 when making sugar the other day, to my surprise it made sugar just fine,I will say it was a finer sugar.

[tonka]

I'm just freshly getting into sugar. As of August 8th I've sold around 50 to 60 lbs so far, hope to be moving more once I get into local grocery stores. I spent one day and made about 160 lbs, 2 1/2 gallon batches in a 60 quart mixer. Of the 50 to 60 pounds sold I have about 3 gallons of crumbles ranging from rice size to big grape size. I'm taking the syrup to almost 270 because the invert % is 2.4, slightly high then recommended.

I was doing some reading last night and from one post I cant remember who said it, but they said the reason for clumps is it's not being stirred enough, from start to finish in the mixer takes about 3 min, than I dump out to cool and store in a 5 gallon bucket with a air tight lid and sift before packaging. How long do you guys leave your mixer run while making sugar? Is 3 minutes to short?

[SeanD]

What do you guys think about getting something like this to process/grind sugar clumps up? https://www.homebrewing.org/Cereal-Killer-Grain-Mill_p_2310.html

It should work. It says it's adjustable to 0.1". I use this food mill (https://www.acehardware.com/departments/home-and-decor/kitchen-utensils-and-gadgets/manual-food-choppers/6164842?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&&cid=PPC:G:Dynamic_Search_-_Catch_All_-_RLSA&k_clickid=e64540ae-063c-44d5-b54b-56ccb800874b&gclid=CjwKCAjwqML6BRAHEiwAdquMnRYcFq9MZRFdcJevI8iA UK_taRbCS8hH_jzhaJPU4htASa-TfOoSsBoChoAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) which works on the same idea. You make a lot more sugar than me, so it might be nice to have the big hopper. See what the return policy is. The only way to really know if it will work will be to try it. If it doesn't do what you want, you don't want to be stuck with it.

[tonka]

One thing I really like about the grain mill on the link I posted is you have the option of using a drill to run the mill and adjustable to accommodate different sized chunks.

[tonka]

Well, I bought the grain mill and just tried it tonight and it did not perform like I hoped it would have. It worked right away but after using it the fine teeth on the rollers gummed up with sugar to the point where the rollers would lock up. Back to the drawing board.

[fred]

Well, I bought the grain mill and just tried it tonight and it did not perform like I hoped it would have. It worked right away but after using it the fine teeth on the rollers gummed up with sugar to the point where the rollers would lock up. Back to the drawing board.


that's pretty common we take what we can in crumbles and the rest gets recycled back to syrup for jugs

[Woody77]

I use a burr mill coffee grinder it works great to grind the little chunks.