Burt Gummer
Veteran Member
I need to buy a grain mill to make flour if things go bad. (Already bad...if they get worse.). Anyone have suggestions for a good NON-ELECTRIC quality mill that won't break the bank? Many thanks!!!
Food Grain Mill Recommendations
- Thread starter Burt Gummer
- Start date
Codeno
Veteran Member
We have a Family Grain Mill and flaker from Pleasant Hill Grain that we're happy with. Can be manual or electric, but the base is sold as a manual grain mill, very affordable, made in Germany. We have only used it manually, never bought the electric motor.
It's about half way down this page:
pleasanthillgrain.com
It's about half way down this page:
Grain Mill, Flour Mill, Grinder | Stone Burr, Impact & Steel Burr Mills at Pleasant Hill Grain
Shop Grain Mills/Grain Grinders, Flour Mills, Oat Flakers and Grains at PHG for Whole Grain Baking: Lowest prices, Fast shipping, Click for details.
pleasanthillgrain.com
1911user
Veteran Member
I have a wondermill junior that was the full kit at the time (20 years ago). Mainly that meant it came with both stone and steel burrs plus a table clamp mount. Now, they've improved a few things and added a nut butter auger, but it's still the same grinder. Like the OP, I was looking for a decent manual grinder for just in case use. It works, but it requires real work to operate. Grinding wheat by hand takes effort and typical flour normally requires at least 2 trips through the grinder.
The buy-once, cry-once option at the time was the country living mill and I suspect it still is. I have no experience with the family grain mill mentioned above. I used the wondermill enough to verify everything worked then put it in storage. The price has gone up quite a bit on all of them.
If you plan to seriously use this grinder post-whatever, I suggest you think about what it would require to not have to hand crank one. Anyway, I'll link the wondermill site below. They have a few articles about motorizing them as well as some (expensive?) accessories that would help. The pleasant hill grain website listed above sells wondermill items. It looks like a good resource.
www.thewondermill.com
The buy-once, cry-once option at the time was the country living mill and I suspect it still is. I have no experience with the family grain mill mentioned above. I used the wondermill enough to verify everything worked then put it in storage. The price has gone up quite a bit on all of them.
If you plan to seriously use this grinder post-whatever, I suggest you think about what it would require to not have to hand crank one. Anyway, I'll link the wondermill site below. They have a few articles about motorizing them as well as some (expensive?) accessories that would help. The pleasant hill grain website listed above sells wondermill items. It looks like a good resource.
WonderMill Grain Mill & Wonder Junior Wheat Grinder
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I have the Country Living Grain Mill bolted to a stand and an electric motor. I also have the long handle if I need to hand grind the wheat, etc. Right now I use it to grind chops when I can't get plain yellow corn meal for my garden. I've probably had mine about fifteen years but it's still in great shape.
I use to grind wheat and make all of our bread...I did it for years but I just don't have time now. There is a learning curve for using hand ground flour. Don't wait til TSHTF to learn to cook with it. Start practicing now. Hand ground flour requires a lot more kneading to develop the gluten and keep the bread from falling in the middle. Most of us have a mixer with a dough hook now so it's not an issue. Narrow loaf pans work much better than the wide ones IMHO.
I use to grind wheat and make all of our bread...I did it for years but I just don't have time now. There is a learning curve for using hand ground flour. Don't wait til TSHTF to learn to cook with it. Start practicing now. Hand ground flour requires a lot more kneading to develop the gluten and keep the bread from falling in the middle. Most of us have a mixer with a dough hook now so it's not an issue. Narrow loaf pans work much better than the wide ones IMHO.
John Deere Girl
Veteran Member
I have the country living mill as well, and I love it!
I have a wondermill junior that was the full kit at the time (20 years ago). Mainly that meant it came with both stone and steel burrs plus a table clamp mount. Now, they've improved a few things and added a nut butter auger, but it's still the same grinder. Like the OP, I was looking for a decent manual grinder for just in case use. It works, but it requires real work to operate. Grinding wheat by hand takes effort and typical flour normally requires at least 2 trips through the grinder.
The buy-once, cry-once option at the time was the country living mill and I suspect it still is. I have no experience with the family grain mill mentioned above. I used the wondermill enough to verify everything worked then put it in storage. The price has gone up quite a bit on all of them.
If you plan to seriously use this grinder post-whatever, I suggest you think about what it would require to not have to hand crank one. Anyway, I'll link the wondermill site below. They have a few articles about motorizing them as well as some (expensive?) accessories that would help. The pleasant hill grain website listed above sells wondermill items. It looks like a good resource.
WonderMill Grain Mill & Wonder Junior Wheat Grinder
I too have the WonderMill Junior model. While it works well, you definitely do not want to hand crank the mill, it's a lot of work. One piece that I found there that they offer as an option is a "drill adapter". This part allows the mill to be cranked using a hand drill motor. I would suggest a 3/8' drill motor, but even a Dewalt 18v cordless screwdiver would crank the mill. This approach may offer a bit more flexibility in your use (but hey, I'm a tool guy at heart....)
1911user
Veteran Member
I was looking on ebay and found this auction ending about noon tomorrow. Normally I wouldn't post an auction link. However, if cost is a major consideration and they just want to grind wheat into flour, I'd strongly consider bidding on this grinder. It's essentially identical to the wondermill that I purchased in the past. Someone bought this and never used it.
One clarification: dry grains like wheat and corn typically use stone grinding plates. Oily things like beans and nuts need steel burr grinding plates since stone would clog badly.
One clarification: dry grains like wheat and corn typically use stone grinding plates. Oily things like beans and nuts need steel burr grinding plates since stone would clog badly.
Sunshine Nugget Manual Crank Stone Grist Flour Mill Cereal Grain Corn Wheat | eBay
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Optimus Prime
Senior Member
Country living, hands down
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
I have this:
I've only used it a couple of times and it takes awhile.
I've only used it a couple of times and it takes awhile.
Country Living definitely.
I have been using mine non stop for 20+ years and it is going strong. Replaced the plates, but the old ones only show minor wear and I could use them again.
DH motorized it, but it could go back to manual in minutes. It could also be used with a stationary bike to turn it or some other ingenious way of powering it.
Today I am making sourdough multigrain and seed bread with wheat, corn, rye, barley, and sorghum ground in the C.L. mill.
I have been using mine non stop for 20+ years and it is going strong. Replaced the plates, but the old ones only show minor wear and I could use them again.
DH motorized it, but it could go back to manual in minutes. It could also be used with a stationary bike to turn it or some other ingenious way of powering it.
Today I am making sourdough multigrain and seed bread with wheat, corn, rye, barley, and sorghum ground in the C.L. mill.
hiwall
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Like many things, a grain mill is you get what you pay for. But that does not mean you must buy the most expensive one.
If you are buying just in case of SHTF then maybe you should not buy the the most expensive.
If you are buying because you now want to grind all your own grain so you know exactly what it contains then you should buy the most expensive.
I don't care what anyone says, SHTF is not a sure thing. And if it does happen maybe the $500 you save by getting a cheaper grain mill would be better spent on something else.
If you are buying just in case of SHTF then maybe you should not buy the the most expensive.
If you are buying because you now want to grind all your own grain so you know exactly what it contains then you should buy the most expensive.
I don't care what anyone says, SHTF is not a sure thing. And if it does happen maybe the $500 you save by getting a cheaper grain mill would be better spent on something else.
GRINDING WHEAT STARTS WITH BUYING WHEAT
Hard wheat is high in gluten and is good for baking things that need toughness and strength, like yeasty breads, bagels, and puff pastries. Soft wheat is low in gluten (high in starch) and is better for baked goods that need to be tender, like pancakes, cookies, and pastries.
Hard wheat is high in gluten and is good for baking things that need toughness and strength, like yeasty breads, bagels, and puff pastries. Soft wheat is low in gluten (high in starch) and is better for baked goods that need to be tender, like pancakes, cookies, and pastries.
Great Globs of Gluten! Which Wheat Flour Has The Most?
https://www.sciencebuddies.org › cooking-food-scienceBarry Natchitoches
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Will any of these mills you all are recommending crack whole grains for chickens?
I am not looking to make flour. I want something that will crack whole grains like wheat or corn or oats, to make bite sized food morsels for my toothless flock of laying hens.
I am not looking to make flour. I want something that will crack whole grains like wheat or corn or oats, to make bite sized food morsels for my toothless flock of laying hens.
The Country Living Grain Mill
MSRP: $679.00 $679.00
20 reviews
The Country Living Grain Mill will be shipped within one to two weeks of your purchase date.
MADE IN THE USA
LIFETIME WARRANTY*
A rugged and durable mill, designed to last for generations
- Solid I-beam construction from cast aircraft aluminum
- Double sealed agricultural-grade bearings
- FDA approved, food-grade powder coating
- Stainless steel shaft
- High-carbon steel grinding plates
- Adjustable output; from cracked wheat to pastry flour in one pass
- Stainless steel spring auger designed for small grains. Large auger for dry corn or dry beans is sold separately.
- This mill is not intended to grind wet, moist, or soft grain.
- 12-inch Custom American-Made aircraft aluminum flywheel compatible with 1/2″ v-belt for motorization or pedal power
Safecastle
Emergency Essentials Store
LAST 2 DAYS for getting an exclusive discount of $100 on Mountain Essentials Grain Mill (Launch Offer)
Offer to expire on 25th March.
ONLY 4 UNITS LEFT
Effective Price- Only $349.99
Offer to expire on 25th March.
ONLY 4 UNITS LEFT
Effective Price- Only $349.99
AlaskaSue
North to the Future
I was using a small hand mill to grind wheat I bought in 50# bags starting around 1974 - I made all kinds of breads (hard red winter wheat for the protein) and pastries (soft white wheat). I ended up selling loaves and rolls for gas money at different times when husband was between carpentry jobs. Went thru a few fairly good and a couple really bad mills - all hand cranked.
Love my CountryLiving grain mill; I have extra burrs plus the one for corn. It’s just lovely, though it’s not getting used atm, as no one in the house eats wheat! But I do recommend it for heavy use.
Love my CountryLiving grain mill; I have extra burrs plus the one for corn. It’s just lovely, though it’s not getting used atm, as no one in the house eats wheat! But I do recommend it for heavy use.
Telescope Steve
Veteran Member
We have had the Corona Mill for a very long time. They work fine and a are solid, but it is hard work especially cracking or grinding corn.
The Corona Mill and similar ones can be adjusted for a very coarse setting so it just cracks the corn or wheat instead of grinding a flour. So it would work for chicken feed. But I would want a motor for a bunch of chickens.