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View Full Version : Looking for a grain mill....



Heimdhal
29th August 2010, 03:48 AM
Looking to get a hand operated grain mill, can any one recomend a good, cheap one. I see them priced from 25$ all the way to $500 and Im lost.

I know they make one for my kitchenaide, but I want one thats handpowered in case I dont have power, and I dont want to put anymore strain on my stand mixer, since I already use it for baking and making sausage.


I was thinking something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/CAST-IRON-CORN-NUTS-GRAIN-MILL-grinder-HEAVY-DUTY-NEW-/160446711529?pt=Small_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item255b5e86e9

But I dont want to spend too too much because Im not sure if I'll use it alot. we back pretty much all our own stuff at home. I get the 50lb bags of bread and AP flour and store em, but flour doesnt store than long. I've lost some due to age before. But from what I hear tell, fresh ground flour is pretty tasty, I wouldnt know since I've never used or had any, but I can imagine. And wheat berries store significantly longer than flour does.

Defender
29th August 2010, 09:38 AM
Where do you plan to get wheat berries from?

I considered 1 requirement to be absolute, that replacement burs be available. This ruled out a lot of grain mills. Of course, feel free to ignore this restriction yourself.

From my previous research this is supposed to be the best. Built like a tank, made in America, expensive, can be motorized.
http://countrylivinggrainmills.com/

I consider the Family Grain Mill the best value. Made in Germany, grinds v. fine, easy to crank, very versatile (grinding attachments, motor, can even be attached to Kitchen Aide & Bosch Food Processors.). http://www.google.com/search?q=grain+mills&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8&rlz=1I7DVXA_en#hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-US&rlz=1I7DVXA_en&q=family+grain+mill&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=45f8175d9183fb0a


Here is a good write up - click on the links for individual reviews. http://www.internet-grocer.net/grinders.htm

StackerKen
29th August 2010, 11:20 AM
Heimdhal Like most things you are going to get what you pay for.

I bought this cheapie
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SD8eaGTRO8TJn1-6Jr5XL9S96TvoFQW64qGNcnFoW-ehWIAhW3uus_7qe4JLG6v-d7Mgu41gToVsvtqc_xswvqJrt8RwJC0VBG0LakfZsOcZ5cSB_q SeMdtZ8kCaZqEQdS8n1zkfE6IE0FXTQYBIbWdqkBqG4_Pvpyy_ DrFdaaw4aYcNZ_JNoI6DnMD-bRbo0GL8kTz72R6TYHZuBBVd

at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-555-Grain-Mill/dp/B000PCDTNI

It works.....But im not real happy with it.

The one Defender posted cost 10 times as much....lol Im sure it is probably a good one

Saul Mine
29th August 2010, 12:59 PM
For 40 bux it's not too bad. Who's going to crank it? You'll probably wish you had a couple of sons to do the cranking for you.

Defender
29th August 2010, 01:36 PM
Heimdhal Like most things you are going to get what you pay for.

I bought this cheapie
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SD8eaGTRO8TJn1-6Jr5XL9S96TvoFQW64qGNcnFoW-ehWIAhW3uus_7qe4JLG6v-d7Mgu41gToVsvtqc_xswvqJrt8RwJC0VBG0LakfZsOcZ5cSB_q SeMdtZ8kCaZqEQdS8n1zkfE6IE0FXTQYBIbWdqkBqG4_Pvpyy_ DrFdaaw4aYcNZ_JNoI6DnMD-bRbo0GL8kTz72R6TYHZuBBVd

at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-555-Grain-Mill/dp/B000PCDTNI

It works.....But im not real happy with it.

The one Defender posted cost 10 times as much....lol Im sure it is probably a good one

10 times!? The basic Family Grain Mill can be had for around $110 - $120 and actually works. Of course if you want to add all the accessories then the cost gets to be 10x but that then would not be comparing apples to apples.

Heimdhal
29th August 2010, 03:55 PM
Thanks for the replies guys.


Defender: I hadnt thought about replacement parts for it, I guess thats something to consider, lol. I've got some sources for the wheat berries, but nothing cheaper than just buying the bread flour to the time being.

Im prepping as much as I can, but Im also NOT prepping for the TEOTWAWKI where I'll need 20 years of wheat and food stored up. I really just wanted to ability to have some fresh flour when I wanted and extend my preps a little longer than the 6 months to 1 year that flour usualy last.


Saul: Im working on the sons. Ive got one pretty strong 3 year old daughter though, I guess thatll have to suffice for now! :D


Stacker: Thanks for the info. I saw those and wasnt sure.

perhaps I'll forgo the grain mill for now. 100$+ is a bit steep for me at this time, but it seems its not really worth going cheaper (like most things) so I'll have to sock a few extra bills away on pay day and get it later.

RJB
29th August 2010, 05:01 PM
Heimdhal Like most things you are going to get what you pay for.

I bought this cheapie
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SD8eaGTRO8TJn1-6Jr5XL9S96TvoFQW64qGNcnFoW-ehWIAhW3uus_7qe4JLG6v-d7Mgu41gToVsvtqc_xswvqJrt8RwJC0VBG0LakfZsOcZ5cSB_q SeMdtZ8kCaZqEQdS8n1zkfE6IE0FXTQYBIbWdqkBqG4_Pvpyy_ DrFdaaw4aYcNZ_JNoI6DnMD-bRbo0GL8kTz72R6TYHZuBBVd

at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-555-Grain-Mill/dp/B000PCDTNI
Does it grind it fine enough for regular flour?
It works.....But im not real happy with it.

The one Defender posted cost 10 times as much....lol Im sure it is probably a good one

StackerKen
29th August 2010, 05:43 PM
Does it grind it fine enough for regular flour?


Thats it...I don't think it does...I only used it once so far and it didn't seem fine enough, so I used half white flour and half the stuff i ground....the bread was good but a little dense :)

RJB
29th August 2010, 05:46 PM
Then that would be a good question: What is the cheapest hand cranked grain mill that actually makes flour? Thanks.

StackerKen
29th August 2010, 06:18 PM
Then that would be a good question: What is the cheapest hand cranked grain mill that actually makes flour? Thanks.


Yep that is the question

RJB
29th August 2010, 06:23 PM
Actually, can you still make a decent bread out of the flour you made?

Saul Mine
29th August 2010, 07:14 PM
The Family Grain Mill is up to $139, and with all attachments it costs $359. A motor addition to a hand grinder typically costs about $400 more.

Yes, it is considered normal to have to grind flour a second time in a hand powered grinder. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to turn the mill with your hand. Stone or steel grinders are also quite noisy.

The Wonder Mill (http://www.everythingkitchens.com/wonder-mill-grain-mill.html) is priced at $239 and it is wonderful as long as you have electric power. One third the price and one third the noise. At that rate you could afford to buy a gennie to run it.

BTW, here is a comparison of grain mills. (http://www.everythingkitchens.com/comparemills.html)

StackerKen
29th August 2010, 10:41 PM
Actually, can you still make a decent bread out of the flour you made?


Im not sure...thats why I used half store bought flour.

But next time I will run it though two or three times like Saul suggested..and see if that makes it finer

Saul Mine
30th August 2010, 12:53 AM
Hmm, I have never tried this but I am told that whole wheat doesn't really need to be ground as finely as white flour. I guess it depends on what you are willing to put up with versus how much effort you are willing to expend.

Heimdhal
30th August 2010, 01:49 AM
would some one be willing to sell me a pound of their home ground flour so I can try some stuff out with. Maybe 1 pound of once ground and 1 pound of 2 twice ground, or something like that. I've never baked with it before so I'd like to run some test, but I dont know of anyone local that preps, much less has a wheat mill. ;)

RJB
30th August 2010, 04:32 AM
But next time I will run it though two or three times like Saul suggested..and see if that makes it finer
Hurry up. We await your report. ;D

StackerKen
30th August 2010, 09:09 AM
But next time I will run it though two or three times like Saul suggested..and see if that makes it finer
Hurry up. We await your report. ;D


OK :) I will get right on it.

This is the 1st recipe I came across when I just did a search. Looks like it calls for both white and wheat
But in the comments, folks said the added more wheat each time they made it. and it was good.

I'll try it today :)

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/simple-whole-wheat-bread/Detail.aspx

StackerKen
30th August 2010, 09:10 AM
would some one be willing to sell me a pound of their home ground flour so I can try some stuff out with. Maybe 1 pound of once ground and 1 pound of 2 twice ground, or something like that. I've never baked with it before so I'd like to run some test, but I dont know of anyone local that preps, much less has a wheat mill. ;)


Heimdhal; Let me see how long it takes me to grind a pound...I'll get back to you.

StackerKen
30th August 2010, 02:18 PM
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SD8eaGTRO8TJn1-6Jr5XL9S96TvoFQW64qGNcnFoW-ehWIAhW3uus_7qe4JLG6v-d7Mgu41gToVsvtqc_xswvqJrt8RwJC0VBG0LakfZsOcZ5cSB_q SeMdtZ8kCaZqEQdS8n1zkfE6IE0FXTQYBIbWdqkBqG4_Pvpyy_ DrFdaaw4aYcNZ_JNoI6DnMD-bRbo0GL8kTz72R6TYHZuBBVd


ok I just filled the hopper with wheat berries and it ground to what looks like about 4 cups.
It took 6 min. of constant cranking (had to switch arms a couple times ;D)

Its pretty fine but not as fine as store bought white flour. And I have never bought wheat flour so I dont know how fine it's spose to be.

The stuff I just ground looks a lot like cream of wheat cereal

Im gonna grind it a 2nd time (as soon as my arm is rested...lol)

StackerKen
30th August 2010, 03:17 PM
I ran it though a 2nd time....It seems a liiiitle bit finer (i think) but not much.

Thats a lot of work!

Gotta rest a min. Then I will make bread :)

StackerKen
30th August 2010, 08:05 PM
I got an Idea

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs159.ash2/41284_150218788341409_100000598668148_369610_43642 14_n.jpg


The bread turned out great!!

Very yummy!!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs182.ash2/44511_150218798341408_100000598668148_369611_20675 14_n.jpg

zap
30th August 2010, 08:07 PM
Good job Ken that's using you head ! (ah drill ) :D

The bread looks delicious !

StackerKen
30th August 2010, 08:11 PM
Heimdhal; I just sent you a PM :)

MNeagle
30th August 2010, 08:13 PM
lol! Once a carpenter...

Thanks for the chuckle. BTW, great idea too!

StackerKen
30th August 2010, 08:14 PM
Good job Ken that's using you head ! (ah drill ) :D

The bread looks delicious !


Thanks Zap :) Honey wheat bread...the recipe is posted above. Its a good one.

My arm got tired from cranking ....then it came to me....lol

Saul Mine
30th August 2010, 08:22 PM
Everything goes better with power tools!

(But don't use duct tape in the oven, ok?)

Heimdhal
30th August 2010, 09:23 PM
Ken, thats great man. Depending on how that flour is, I might just get myself a mill like that and use my cordless on it as well! :)

gunDriller
31st August 2010, 05:47 AM
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs159.ash2/41284_150218788341409_100000598668148_369610_43642 14_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs182.ash2/44511_150218798341408_100000598668148_369611_20675 14_n.jpg


2 classic photo's !

i bet you could sell them to Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes & Gardens, or some other survivalist magazine for a cover shot.


one other thing i do with sproutable wheat berries is to just sprout them & eat them. i also saute them (butter + tarragon or similar spice). with some melted Gouda cheese, it tastes Gourmet, it's cheap ($1.09 a pound), and it even makes me look like a know how to cook ;D

Tumbleweed
3rd September 2010, 08:05 PM
I've got a grinder like yours Ken and it does a good job. Takes about 15 minutes to grind a hopper full and didn't seem to hard. One hopper full of wheat will make a loaf of bread. Everyone who's tried the bread thinks it's really good. I've used half white flour and half what I've ground, also made it totaly out of what I've ground. It's good both ways. I bought the wheat from a local farmer and ground it up with chaff, grasshoppers, bugs and all ;D It has more protien that way! I thought this grinder was worth the money it cost.



I got an Idea

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs159.ash2/41284_150218788341409_100000598668148_369610_43642 14_n.jpg


The bread turned out great!!

Very yummy!!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs182.ash2/44511_150218798341408_100000598668148_369611_20675 14_n.jpg

StackerKen
3rd September 2010, 09:19 PM
Tumbleweed; I agree
I think is well worth the 40 bucks

Heimdhal
3rd September 2010, 09:23 PM
howd it work with the cordless drill and how fast did you drain the batts? :D

StackerKen
3rd September 2010, 09:38 PM
howd it work with the cordless drill and how fast did you drain the batts? :D


I used the drill to do the 2nd grind first, it worked great
But I had to put the drill on low and I had to go slow cause the flour was flying everywhere! ....

....then I tried to use the drill for A 1st grind but the chuck keep slipping back and It wouldn't grind fine....The Idea needs work...maybe a Not hand tighten chuck...


But Like I said before...Hand cranking one full hopper, did about 4 cups.
It took 6 min. of constant hand cranking

StackerKen
3rd September 2010, 09:39 PM
Did you get the flour I sent?

Heimdhal
3rd September 2010, 09:42 PM
hmmm.... Perhaps saul was right...i need me some strong sons. Perhaps a large hamster type wheel for my daughter......

Heimdhal
3rd September 2010, 09:42 PM
Did you get the flour I sent?


Not yet. Maybe tomorrow. Cant be much longer. ;)

StackerKen
3rd September 2010, 09:49 PM
Did you get the flour I sent?


Not yet. Maybe tomorrow. Cant be much longer. ;)


sending you a PM

Heimdhal
4th September 2010, 11:53 AM
I spent a few minutes just now with Stacker Kens flour he was kind of enough to send. It was very nice. We got some ice cream, talked all night, it was very intimate. It didnt end well, I asked it to get on the scale, it called me a chauvonist, it wasnt pretty. Words were said, but thats neither here nor there.


What I found was thus:

There was a total of roughly (and I say roughly cause I spilled a little) 18.60 ounce of over all product. I sifted it as fine as I am able and came up with the following:

12.90 ounces of flour and small bits of Bran
and
5.70 ounces of course, large Bran (the darker color stuff, that is the hull of the wheat berry).

The finer flour was still not super fine, but I feel will suffice. The bran was very course and heavy. This is likley where you home grinders are experiencing heavier loaves that need to be mixed with commerical bread flour. It is common with whole wheat as well. A way I feel this can be remedied is to simply sift the flour with a fine sifter once or twice and then add in a little of the bran.

5.70 ounces of bran in 18 ounces over all is a LOT of ground hulls that do little as far as leavening is concerned. It will absorb water that the proteisn would otherwise use to form gluten. HOWEVER, the bran is where MOST of the nutrients and minerals are, as well as the fats, which give it a better flavor and healthier over all make up. So excluding it all together is not the best decision either, especialy in SHTF.

It can be saved and either ground further, or used in other dishes like oatmeal or grain cerals, etc. I know there are limits to how fine a hand operated grinder is going to grind the flour. Im not expecting commerical powder type flour, as its not neccessary for good bread.

Heres are some pictures I took after sifting:
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m179/TeamPointBlank/garden/100_4282.jpg
The red bowl is the Bran, the cake pan on the right is the flour, post sifting

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m179/TeamPointBlank/garden/100_4285.jpg
A close up of the hulls. It almost looks like beach sand.


http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m179/TeamPointBlank/garden/100_4286.jpg
A close up of the flour, much finer and smoother

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m179/TeamPointBlank/garden/100_4287.jpg
Commerical whole wheat flour for comparison. Notice a significant amount of the hulls are removed, much closer to the post sift flour above. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the flour as it was originaly in the package, but for you home grinders, you know what it looks like ;).


None of this is to be take as an put down to staker ken who was overly generous enough to grind me a pound of flour and send it while refusing any compensation. I thank you sincerley for it and will be making a loaf of bread or some bagels promptly. I just wanted to post my findings and thoughts for other out there who are on the fence and also to share some ideas on how you home grinders and bakers may improve upon you products post SHTF when commerical flour wont be available to mix in.

Thanks again brother ken, I appreciate it all!

StackerKen
4th September 2010, 12:10 PM
My pleasure Heimdhal.

Great Idea to sift it......Why didn't i think of that ???

Next time.

I guess what I made was wheat Bran bread...lol...its good though...im gonna have a piece right now.

skid
4th September 2010, 07:14 PM
I grind wheat berries all the time in my Champion Juicer with the grain mill attachment. I've had it for near 20 years with no problems. No need to sift out the bran, as the flour is quite fine (on it's finest setting), but 100% whole wheat bread is dense. I mix it half and half with white flour.

Most commercial whole wheat bread is white flour with some bran thrown in.

If you want the very best hand mill, look up the 70 pound cast iron diamant http://www.lehmans.com/store/Natural_Goods___Hand_Cranked_Items___Diamant_Grain _Mill___525?Args= The price is absurdly high though, but it is a work of art unchanged for near 100 years if I remember correctly. You can buy from the importer for much less. I'll buy one someday..

mightymanx
4th September 2010, 11:03 PM
Take the bran and use it on the top of the bread for enriched crust just like the fancy loaves from the store. Take the rest and add to your daily cereal.

Heimdhal
5th September 2010, 12:59 AM
I grind wheat berries all the time in my Champion Juicer with the grain mill attachment. I've had it for near 20 years with no problems. No need to sift out the bran, as the flour is quite fine (on it's finest setting), but 100% whole wheat bread is dense. I mix it half and half with white flour.

Most commercial whole wheat bread is white flour with some bran thrown in.

If you want the very best hand mill, look up the 70 pound cast iron diamant http://www.lehmans.com/store/Natural_Goods___Hand_Cranked_Items___Diamant_Grain _Mill___525?Args= The price is absurdly high though, but it is a work of art unchanged for near 100 years if I remember correctly. You can buy from the importer for much less. I'll buy one someday..



Thats a rather steep price there, lol. A bit out of my wallets range at this time, but it does look very nice.

When I make whole wheat breads at home, I usualy do a 60-40 mix. 60% of the total flour is regular bread flour, 40% is whole wheat. Its a good balance that gives you the look and benefit of the whole wheat with a homebaked taste and flavor but without the density. Only thing is, as I mentioned before is that if it comes to be that we cant wander down to the store for commercial flour, we can only use what we grind at home, so I wanted to find ways to improve upon that with little cost.

The sifting seemed to be a step in the right direction for sure. I dont have a grinder, so I wonder if a third grind would be beyond question, if that flour after being sifted is too fine for the grinders. If not, it might be the way to go. Yeah, its a lot of work, but hey, top quality products usualy are, and are usualy worth it!

Book
7th September 2010, 08:52 PM
My arm got tired from cranking ...



http://monkeysmashesheaven.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/poverty-children_below_the_povert_line.jpg

Hand crank sounds good reading about it but actually DOING the cranking quickly dispels the notion. Millions of these hand cranks are rusting away untouched in the Third World...lol.

:D

DMac
7th October 2010, 06:28 AM
Bump for an excellent thread!

Thanks to all for the knowledge contained herein.