Grain Grinders - Choosing a Grain Mill

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Things to consider when choosing a grain mill

Updated February 15, 2009

There are several kinds of grinders. The grain grinder that's best for you depends on how you'll use it.

Grain grinders, grain mills or flour mills come in three basic styles:

Stone
Stone Grinders are the oldest type of grinder there is. It was the only kind until only a few years ago. Stone grinders have two circular grinding stones. One stone turns against a stationary stone. Grooves are cut into the stone radiating out from the center of the stone to the ends. These grooves become shallower as they near the ends of the stone, until they disappear at the outer edges. When grain is ground, it falls through a channel into the center of the two stones. As the stone rotates, it pulls the grain out through the channels where it is ground. The flour falls out the outer edges of the two stones.
A hundred years ago these stones were two or three feet across, weighed hundreds of pounds and were turned by windmills, water wheels, animals or slaves. In modern home grinders the stones are small, usually only about three inches in diameter. They're not natural stones like the old grinders, but are made from very hard materials that will last a lifetime if used with care.

Burr
Burr grinders are nearly identical to stone grinders except their grinding wheels are made out of steel with small burrs protruding out the sides (sometimes called "teeth") which shear the grain into flour. Burr grinders have some advantages and disadvantages over stone grinders. More on that later.
Impact
Impact grinders use rows of 'blades' placed in circular rows on metal wheels. One wheel turns and the other wheel is stationary, like the stone grinder. But this is where the similarity ends. The two wheels are aligned so that the rows of blades intermesh, running extremely close, yet never touching the blades on the opposite wheel. The rotating wheel turns at several thousand RPM. As grain is fed into the center of the fixed wheel, the interaction between the two wheels `impacts' the grain and pulverizes it into fine flour as the grain works its way to the outside of the wheels.

Hand or Electrically operated?
You should consider whether you want a hand or motorized grinder, or both. This depends on what your present circumstances are and your needs for the future. Powered grinders are nice, but the speediest grinder won't do you much good if you've got no power. Two of the manufacturer's pamphlets for hand grinders we sell claim they can be motorized. But after having a bit of experience with both of them, Al thinks that the Country Living Mill is the only

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one that could easily be changed over. (Some hand operated mills come in both stone and burr varieties. Impact grinders must turn far too fast for manual operation.) One last thing: Hand grinders are more work than you might, at first, guess. Al owns a Little Ark, which takes about five minutes to grind two cups of wheat. After the wheat's ground, he knows his arms have had a workout. (Our experience with the Family Grain Mill has proven much more pleasureable! It's a less tiring grind.) We prefer an electric grinder for everyday use, and a relatively inexpensive hand grinder for emergencies. Of course, you'll need to make your own decisions based on your situation.

Here are some of the positive and negative features of each class of grain grinder:

Stone Grinders

Favorable Characteristics

Very durable

Adjustable to any setting from cracked wheat to fine flour

Much safer if you are grinding grain that has not been completely cleaned of grain-sized stones and small pieces of metal

Should last a lifetime

Unfavorable Characteristics

Usually larger, bulky machines that can't easily be put away
Grind more slowly than impact grinders
Stones quickly become `loaded' if you grind oil bearing seeds or nuts

Little Ark (Hand operated, can be motorized), (X025) 10 lbs., $126.00 - stones and burrs. NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

Burr Grinders

Favorable Characteristics

Will grind dry grains as well as oil bearing seeds (wheels will not "load up".)

Unfavorable Characteristics

Will not grind as finely as a stone grinder. (But close!)

The Family Grain Mill (Can be ordered with a hand and/or a Bosch-motorized electric base.) Numerous attachments available. See pricing and attachments on linked page. Hand mill, (BP27) $129.95

Little Ark (Hand operated, can be motorized) (X025) 10 lbs., $126.00 - stones and burrs. NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Clamp for Little Ark (P084) 1 lb., $19.80 NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Golden Grain Grinder (Motorized, comes with manual handle) (Z004) 51 lbs., $455.00 **Unknown period of wait for this Grain Mill**

Country Living Mill (Hand operated, can be motorized), (Z011) 15 lbs., $395.00

Country Living extra set of burrs (Z012) 5 lbs., $109.50
(extra burrs are temporarily out-of-stock)

Country Living Power Bar Extension (extends 12" flywheel to 19" for easier grinding). (Z013) 2 lbs., $25.95

Country Living Nut-Bean Auger Assembly (Z014) 1 lb., $36.95

Country Living Clear Polymer Flour Bin w/ lid (Z015) 1 lb., $24.95

Back To Basics Grinder (Hand operated) (X024) 3 lbs., $53.50

Impact Grinders

Favorable Characteristics

Very small, light and compact. Can be put in the cupboard when not in use.
Grinds very quickly
Grinds grain into very fine flour

Unfavorable Characteristics

The blades are somewhat fragile. Small rocks or metal pieces will damage and misalign the wheels. (Grind only well-cleaned grain and these grinders will last many years.)
Noisy (except the motorized Family Grain Mill)
Even on the coarsest setting the flour comes out relatively fine. (You won't be able to crack wheat.)

Kitchen Mill (Electrically operated) (X040) 8 lbs., $179.90

Bosch Universal Kitchen Machine (H030) 18 lbs., $423.00

Bosch Slicer Shredder (H031) 4 lbs., $125.00

Bosch Cookie Whisk set (H032) 1 lb., $16.30

Bosch Cookie Paddle (H036) 1 lb., $22.30

Bosch Wire Whips, each (H033) 1 lb., $26.70

Bosch Meat Grinder (H034) 5 lbs., $107.50

Bosch Pasta Attachment (works with meat grinder) (H035) 2 lbs., $142.00

Adaptor for using the Bosch Kitchen Machine with the Family Grain Mill (BPxx) $38.00

Other Products

Soy Wonder Machine (make your own soy milk or rice, nut, seed milks) (Q074) 7 lbs., $188.00
The Wonder Mill, electric grain mill (X091) 15 lbs., $239.00
We have DE-LISTED the CHAMPION JUICER because the manufacturer threatened to blacklist us for selling it below their price-fixed price. We do NOT recommend buying the Champion Juicer anymore. Price fixing is unamerican!

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Best Prices Storable Foods
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Quinlan, Texas 75474
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